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“A Fresh Spin, Not the Bin” – Upcycling practices at the Circular Economy Working Group meeting

Upcycling, or value-adding recycling, was the focus of the Circular Economy Working Group meeting on September 9, 2025, hosted by Dr. Gábor Farkas, managing director of SolServices Kft. at their office in Spitz-Villa.

Upcycling is the creative, value-adding reuse of waste or by-products, resulting in a product of higher value than the original. Unlike traditional recycling, which often results in lower quality materials, upcycling creates value. Ivett Takács, circular economy project manager at BCSDH, gave a brief presentation on the theoretical background of the topic, good examples, and the benefits available to companies.As an inspiring example of practical implementation, Bettina Bondár-Marosvári, Ayvens’ marketing and PR group leader, presented the company’s upcycling project. During the merger of LeasePlan Hungária Zrt. and ALD-Automotive Hungary Kft. and the rebranding process, the marketing materials of the two companies were not discarded as waste, but were recycled in a value-creating project. The end result was 250 bags, laptop bags, and backpacks used by employees. In addition, they also became tools for change management and internal communication.

Orsolya Jeney, founder and managing director of Upcycling Productions Kft., a unique business in Hungary, also introduced herself as the manufacturing partner for the Ayvens project products. Orsolya highlighted the opportunities of upcycling for individuals and companies through her personal journey.The second half of the meeting focused on the joint preparation of the Circular Economy Hotspot international conference, which will be held in Hungary for the first time between October 5 and 7, 2026. Led by Irén Márta, director of BCSDH, the participants began jointly planning the professional direction and focus points of the event. The working group once again demonstrated that the corporate sector is committed to circular solutions and is ready to think collectively for a circular future.

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Professionalism, inspiration, community – BCSDH Team Building

Active recreation, quality time spent together, professional preparation, an inspiring environment, special culinary experiences – we held our two-day team-building event in Noszvaj, which was a great place and opportunity to strengthen our community and prepare professionally for 2026.

The program began with a new experience for many of us: we visited the caves of Noszvaj and the beehive stones of Szomolya on electric bikes provided by our member company, HelloVelo.

The active program was accompanied by delicious lunches and dinners with special flavor combinations, most of which were made from locally sourced ingredients by our accommodation, the Nomád Hotel Noszvaj.

We devoted our second day to professional tasks, moderated by Attila Kelemen, CEO of ProSelf International, in the spirit of the BCSDH’s three pillars: professionalism, inspiration, and community. The assessment of the current situation, the review of new methodologies, and the professional preparation for 2026 played a prominent role in this, with an emphasis on the European Circular Economy Hotspot organized under the leadership of BCSDH.

We would like to thank HelloVelo and ProSelf for their active support and we are confident that the inspiring environment and joint thinking will be put to good use in the implementation of the tasks ahead of us.

Digital Awareness Week in cooperation with BCSDH – September 22-28

BCSDH has joined as a collaborating partner in Digital Awareness Week (DT7), which will be held between September 22 and 28, 2025, and is being organized in partnership with our member company, Carbone.Crane. This unique initiative is an awareness-raising program that provides a comprehensive overview of sustainability, cybersecurity, and reliable information in the digital world.

The organizers are dedicating a specific period of time—one day—to each topic, during which experts will summarize the most important information with the help of articles, interviews, and podcasts. In order to ensure that concrete steps are taken, challenges related to the topics will also be published, which participants will be able to join.

The aim of the program is to make the environmental, energy, and social impacts of digital technology visible to users and, as a result of the series of events, to articulate the need for #digital awareness and to develop conscious use based on this.

Read more: https://digitalistudatossaghete.hu/

How many days does life last? – BCSDH Weekend at Agroloop and Master Good

How can we ensure the growing population’s need for high-quality protein in a circular manner? This topic was at the center of this year’s exciting BCSDH weekend program for executives and their partners.

The professional program began on Friday at AGROLOOP’s Üllő plant, which was handed over last December, where host Rajmond Percze, founder and managing director, welcomed the participants. He presented the history of the company’s founding and the basics of its operations, which are based on a specifically sustainable strategy. His personal commitment was greatly influenced by the BCSDH “Future Leaders” program, after which he decided to found a company operating on sustainable principles. Sustainable food, agriculture and animal husbandry are major challenges for the world. A company that produces high-nutritional-value animal protein and fat suitable for animal feed from fly larvae offers a solution to this problem in a fully circular process. This low-carbon and low-water-footprint solution was created to help make animal husbandry sustainable so that we will not have to live on insects in the future. The factory tour followed the process from the arrival of the eggs to the “harvesting” of the 12-day-old larvae.

The next day, Master Good hosted the team in Kisvárda, and after a video message from Péter Bárány, managing director, Csaba Farkas, director of innovation and sustainability, welcomed the participants and presented the tremendous progress made by the Bárány family in the field of poultry breeding and processing. Master Good’s pioneering sustainability measures, which are based on emission and carbon footprint data that are unique and detailed in the industry, place the company at the forefront internationally. During the factory tour, which ended in the beautiful Japanese garden, participants were able to see the almost completely circular process, from feed production to 100% utilization of waste and by-products.

We would like to thank the leaders and staff of Agroloop and Master Good for their hospitality and for organizing such an informative program.

A selection of photos from the event is available here.

A Response to Changes in International Regulations – Amendments to the ESG Act Enter into Force

The final days of the Parliament’s spring session were closely followed by ESG-focused professional organizations, as the National Assembly voted on the amendment to the ESG Act on 17 June.
The final text was published in the 19 June issue of the Magyar Közlöny (Official Gazette of Hungary).

What does the final text include?

Narrowed Scope of Applicability

As expected, the scope of companies subject to the ESG Act has been significantly reduced.
Following the entry into force of the amendment, according to Section 1 (1) b) of the Act, the obligations apply only to large enterprises that:

  • carry out their main activity in one of the sectors listed in the Annex to the ESG Act, and
  • have an annual net revenue exceeding HUF 90 billion, and
  • employ at least 500 people as of the balance sheet date of the financial year.

Public interest small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are now exempt from the Act.

Reporting Simplifications

ESG reports covering the financial years 2024, 2025, and 2026:

  • no certification is required,
  • no submission to the ESG Authority is required,
  • and no public disclosure is required.

However, affected companies are still obliged to prepare the ESG report during these years, which must be approved by the company’s executive body.

Data Provision Requirements

Until 30 June 2027, micro and small enterprises cannot be required to provide ESG-related data and may not commit to doing so via contracts or written declarations.
(This restriction also applies to medium-sized enterprises.)

SMEs can fulfil their ESG data provision obligations by obtaining an ESG rating from the state-appointed ESG certifier.

That said, companies subject to the ESG Act may still reach out to their suppliers using questionnaires, so it is advisable for SMEs to continue collecting ESG-related data.

Refined Corrective Measures

Instead of the previous 3-month period, companies are now only required to suspend business relations with a direct supplier for 30 days in case of failed corrective actions.

The Social Capital Working Group Moves Forward as a Creative Hub

On 19 June 2025, Randstad Hungary hosted the latest meeting of the BCSDH Social Capital Working Group. The event also marked a new beginning: going forward, the group will operate as a creative hub — an inspiring professional community working together toward a more sustainable and human-centered world.


The meeting began with a presentation by Sándor Baja, Managing Director of Randstad Hungary, who shared the latest findings from Randstad’s recent research. In addition to highlighting current trends, he addressed some of the key challenges expected to shape the next 5–10 years.

Next, Irén Márta, Director of BCSDH, and Attila Kelemen, CEO of ProSelf Zrt. and leader of the Social Capital Working Group, presented the group’s recent professional achievements related to the theme of human value. They also introduced a five-point action plan developed last year, offering concrete recommendations for the business sector.


A találkozó második felében a résztvevők közösen gondolkodtak arról, hogy vezetőként milyen területeken tehetünk konkrét lépéseket a következő időszakban. Olyan témakörök merültek fel, mint a munkahely, mint „safe place”, a munkatársak edukációja fenntarthatósági témákban, a pénzügyi tudatosság fejlesztése vagy például a nyugdíjba vonulók tudásának bevonása.

In the second half of the meeting, participants engaged in a collaborative discussion about the areas where leaders can take tangible steps in the near future. Key topics included: the workplace as a “safe space”, educating employees on sustainability topics, fostering financial awareness and involving the expertise of retirees.

The Three-Legged Stool is the most stable – How can a company, franchise partner, and supplier work together for a circular economy?

Progress Étteremhálózat Kft., which operates McDonald’s restaurants in Hungary, hosted our second Circular Economy Working Group meeting on June 11, which members of the Circular Economy Platform could follow in person or online.

At the working group meeting, we gained insight into McDonald’s sustainability strategy and the main findings of the 2025 Circularity Gap Report, as well as learning about the circular solutions of Master Good Kft. and Progress Restaurant Network Ltd. and the characteristics of supplier relationships that prioritize sustainability.

To kick off the meeting, Judit Szabó, Head of Communications and Sustainability, presented how McDonald’s can have a positive impact on people and the planet. She emphasized that among the solutions supporting the circular economy, the responsible and sustainable use of raw materials and waste management are key elements of the company’s sustainability strategy.

Dr. Bálint Bartha-Horváth, CBRE’s senior sustainability advisor, presented this year’s Circularity Gap Report. In addition to macroeconomic trends, the report focused on circular economy indicators, with 23 sub-indicators included in the document. The report reveals that although we have taken small steps forward, global circularity is still moving backwards due to increasing material use. The latest data shows that compared to last year’s 7.2%, only 6.9% of global material flows can be considered circular. Another important finding of the report is that recycling alone will not solve the problem: if we only recycle all waste and do not reduce material consumption, circular material use (CMU) could be increased to around 25%.

“We can use everything except chicken breath,” said Attila Szabó, innovation and sustainability manager, who presented the circular model of Master Good Kft. in detail. Thanks to the company’s efforts, Master Good became the first company in the world to receive certification from McDonald’s Flagship Farm program in 2015.

The meeting concluded with a roundtable discussion moderated by Irén Márta, director of BCSDH, with the participation of Dr. Tibor Cselényi, senior quality and product development manager at Progress Étteremhálózat Kft., and Attila Szabó, on successful supplier cooperation. McDonald’s partnerships are based on a Three-Legged Stool strategy. They believe that any party (company, franchise partner, supplier) can only grow if everyone grows. High-level partnerships are based on mutual benefits, shared values, and consistently high quality.

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We need to assess climate risks – The question is no longer why, but how!

In 2025 BCSDH’s focus topic is climate adaptation, of which risk assessment is a key part. At our Race to Zero Working Group meeting on June 4, we explored the above issue, focusing on practical knowledge and implementation. This time, ALTEO was the host and one of the speakers of the event, as a leading company in the topic.

Irén Márta, Director of BCSDH, opened the working group meeting, followed by Anita Simon, Deputy CEO for Sustainability and Circular Economy at ALTEO, who highlighted in her welcoming speech that climate change represents both challenges and opportunities in the fields of energy and waste management. The details were presented by Éva Klein-Stiller, Sustainability and IIR Manager at ALTEO, presenting the process and practical implementation of the climate risk assessment, the physical and transition risks, the methodologies and tools used, thereby providing help and ideas for other member companies.

After the practical example and answering participants’ questions, the National Adaptation Center gave a presentation. First, Pál Selmeczi, head of department, presented the organization’s activities, the basic legal background and regulatory environment, and regulations related to climate change preparedness, emphasizing the obligations this entails for companies. The methodologies used, climate scenarios, and the specific tool, NAGiS (National Adaptation Geographic Information System), which companies can use to assess climate risks along 18 layers, providing a clear basis and guidance on the main points to know about each topic area. The NATéR online system was presented step by step by Dr. Maigut Vera, senior geoinformatics expert, who described its main functions and useful tools to make it as user-friendly and effective as possible for companies.

 

The series of presentations was concluded by Andrea Nagy, BCSDH Race to Zero project manager, who presented the planned BCSDH recommendations on climate adaptation together with the related action plan. The programs for the coming period and related autumn events were also discussed.

We would like to thank our host for their hospitality and for sharing their practical experiences, our colleagues at the National Adaptation Center for their exciting and informative presentation and demonstration, and the participants for their many questions and constructive discussions.

 

We would like to thank the sponsors of our Race to Zero program:

Sponsor of our carbon-conscious events:

BCSDH ‘Transform Talks’ 2025: Climate adaptation is crucial and necessary, it must be addressed in a meaningful way alongside mitigation!

Extreme climatic and weather events such as prolonged rainfall shortages, heat waves, sudden downpours and their consequences, droughts, widespread fires and floods are becoming more frequent and severe. Our current systems and infrastructures are no longer able to cope with all this, and there is an urgent need to adapt to changing climatic conditions. This is also important because the positive effects of mitigation measures on the climate are not immediate. Moreover, in Hungary we are more exposed to the negative impacts of climate change than our contribution to global GHG emissions.

According to the World Economic Forum Global Risk 2025 report, surveyed leaders rank extreme weather conditions as the second biggest risk factor in 2 years and the first in 10 years. Only environmental and climate challenges are in the top four.

The problem is urgent and growing, so climate adaptation was the topic of this year’s BCSDH ‘Transform Talks’ CEO Roundtable, where top executives from member companies participated and shared their thoughts. The events were led by Irén Márta, BCSDH Executive Director.

In general, climate change mitigation is the primary focus for companies, and adaptation has been less of a focus, while the impacts of climate change are increasingly felt in their day-to-day operations.

It was also clear that there are more and more events that require intervention at a strategic level, whether it is unexpected phenomena that previously occurred only rarely but have now become common, changed working conditions or a product portfolio that requires rethinking. During the discussions, we came across many good practices, and there are companies for whom climate change is a business opportunity, as it opens up new solutions and markets. It is certain that every company and industry is affected in some way, the question is how quickly they can react and act meaningfully, ensuring business continuity and evaluating risk as an opportunity. The importance of thinking in the whole value chain also came to the fore, as this is the only way to manage complex processes well, and the responsibility in this is mutual.

The concrete results of the ‘Transform Talks’ CEO Roundtable discussions and the resulting recommendations will be presented at the BCSDH Business Lunch on 7 October, together with corporate best practices.

Special thanks to the event hosts for providing the venue. Related photos and LinkedIn posts can be viewed by clicking on the link:

6 May

Sió-Eckes Kft.

PhotosLinkedIn post
13 May

BKM Nonprofit Zrt.

PhotosLinkedIn post
15 May

Prímaenergia Zrt.

PhotosLinkedIn post
21 May

Graphisoft Park SE

PhotosLinkedIn post

Thanks for the sponsor of the Time to Transform 2030 program!

Main sponsor: 

Sponsor of the carbon-conscious implementation of events:

Business Council for Sustainable Development in Hungary
1118 Budapest, Ménesi street 9/a.

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