Lisbon, 15 October 2019 – During the annual Council Meeting of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), 24 CEO-led business organizations, and Global Network partners of WBCSD, representing about 2,000 companies, have launched the Lisbon Declaration, a joint initiative to support business action and commitment at scale towards addressing the challenges biodiversity faces today.

A strong business voice is critical to drive the change needed at a global level, these business organizations commit to work with their member companies to set out concrete and time-bound actions that will produce a real impact in the preservation of biodiversity at a local level. The initiative act4nature will serve as important inspiration for each local commitment: it was launched by EpE (also a signatory of the Lisbon Declaration) in France in July 2018, and signed by 65 companies.

Most signatories will also join the Business for Nature global coalition that will unify and simplify the leading business voices towards the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) COP 15 next year, through a dedicated feedback regarding local companies’ recommendations to constructively contribute to the political debate and bring the forward-thinking businesses’ perspective on the policy changes needed to address the nature crisis. The signatories will also build on the growing expectation that CBD COP 15 will achieve a global agreement on nature, just as UNFCCC COP 21 did for climate with the Paris Agreement. This global coalition hosted by WBCSD, brings together influential organizations such as the World Economic Forum, WWF, We Mean Business, Natural Capital Coalition, International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), World Resources Institute and others.

Iren Marta, Managing Director of BCSD Hungary said: “Preserve biodiversity is key for the survival of the Humanity. By signing the Lisbon Declaration we express our commitment to take actions.”

“The Lisbon Declaration is a pledge by many of WBCSD’s Global Network partners from around the world to seize the opportunity of making 2020 a turning point for biodiversity and enhance the critical role that natural capital must play to achieve truly sustainable societies and economies”, said João Wengorovius Meneses, Secretary General of the BCSD Portugal.

“The business sector in Brazil is taking the lead to foster that biodiversity conservation and its sustainable use are intrinsically linked to the economic development of our megadiverse country. The Lisbon Declaration is calling us to this path by gathering what is needed to refrain the loss of biodiversity on a global scale. Brazil has already followed through, led by CEBDS, and will launch its own commitment on 29 October 2019 setting nine targets to be met by 2030 based on the pillars of prevention, mitigation, compensation and knowledge generation and sharing”, said Marina Grossi, President of CEBDS – Brazilian Business Council for Sustainable Development.

“Act4nature was launched in France to raise nature in the CEOs agenda. It is fantastic that the Global Network members mobilize their many members for the preservation of nature. The movement is launched, let’s amplify and spread it widely. The Lisbon Declaration is a key move in this direction!”, said Claire Tutenuit, General Delegate of Entreprises pour l’Environnement (EpE).

“Collaboration and action at a global level must be accelerated if we are to reverse the loss of nature. The Lisbon Declaration represents an important pledge from WBCSD’s Global Network partners to work together with the business community on solutions which preserve nature and biodiversity” said Diane Holdorf, Managing Director, Food & Nature and Senior Management team of WBCSD.

“The Lisbon Declaration will catalyze bold business action on nature and biodiversity around the world. This global collaboration is essential to amplify a united and impactful business voice in 2020 and beyond.” said Eva Zabey, incoming Executive Director at Business for Nature.

“Day in and day out, WBCSD’s Global Network of partner organizations advance solutions, advocacy, and awareness-raising efforts across the world. The Lisbon Declaration is the latest example of local leadership that will translate global needs and ambitions into business action targeting sustainability challenges, including biodiversity and nature”, said Filippo Veglio, Managing Director, People and Outreach at WBCSD.

The signatories from 24 countries – Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Finland, France, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Ireland, Mexico, Netherlands, Panama, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, Ukraine and USA – represent a total of about 2,000 companies, with an estimated total of six million employees.

The launch of the Lisbon Declaration took place in Lisbon, during WBCSD’s Council Meeting, an annual event for members and partners that convenes over 400 business and sustainability leaders, as well as business councils from all over the world that represent WBCSD’s Global Network.

For more information on Business for Nature, please see here.

Link to the full letter text and signatories.

The majority of the effects of climate change will be highly related to water, so companies need to develop climate adaptation strategies considering the continuously changing water circumstances.  – emphasized participants at the CEO roundtable discussions in May and in September that focused on Water through the Action 2020 Hungary program.

BCSDH’s CEO round-table discussions were held in May and continued in September. The purpose of the events was to define those focal areas in which BCSDH can define concrete recommendations and activities for the business sector. The hosts of the round-table discussions were BCSDH’s member companies LeasePlan, Szentkirályi, Future FM and Zwack Unicum.

Participants agreed that all companies, regardless of industry and size, are affected by the drastically changing water conditions. The first significant step in this, is the development of climate adaptation strategies and the implementation of circular water management. Preventing consumption, reducing, reusing, and recycling used water, as well releasing it back will all contribute to reducing company’s water footprint. Finally, it is crucial to create partnerships in the value chain and operational environment to increase water efficiency and water renewal.

The aim of BCSDH is to define recommendations and activities for the business sector regarding water with which companies can create real impact. Moreover, companies can introduce their business solutions on 10th October at BCSDH’s business lunch and in related publications so that they can be adapted by other companies.

The main sponsor of the Action2020 program in 2019 is Nestlé; highlighted sponsor is McDonald’s; further sponsors include: Alteo, BDL, E.ON, Essity, Folprint, HungaroControl, HVG, MOL, Rossmann, Unilever.

Photos taken at these events can be found on a gallery at our website.

BCSDH’s Executive Board has decided in April to set up an Advisory Board in order to represent the increasing number of member companies more effectively, to contribute to their commitment towards the developement of the organisation’s actions.

The members of the Advisory Board are active members of BCSDH and are representing a wide range of sectors: Sándor Baja (Randstad), Andrea Bujdosó (Shell), László Flórián (Rossmann), Ágnes Horváth (Progress Reastaurant Chain LLC. / McDonald’s), Imre Horváth (METRO), László Török (Grundfos).

The Advisory Board includes one member delegated from the Future Leaders Talent program Alumni. After the assessment of the submitted applications, based on the votes of the Alumni members, Sarolta Katona (Budapest Airport) shall represent the young leaders of the program.

Their mandate shall be 3 years.

The tasks of the Advisory Board include attending the annual strategic board meeting of the BCSDH Executive Board, the strengthening of BCSDH’s role through their personal relations and representing BCSDH at external events.

The corporate members of BCSDH’s Advisory Board:

Sándor Baja

Managing Director

Randstad Hungary 

The Hungarian subsidiary of Randstad, the world’s second-largest consulting company, is managed by Sándor Baja. Prior to working at Randstad, Sándor Baja was the regional operational director of LG Electronics. He has previously gained experience in the FMCG sector as the marketing director of Eckes-Granini in France and as commercial director of Borsodi Brewery. In 2004, his book was published about his professional business experiences with the title Marketing adventures – Brands in Practice from Budapest to Paris. He obtained a degree in International Economics with an excellent qualification in Moscow, then graduated also from the Paris Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Andrea Bujdosó

Chairman of the board, Sales excellence lead – EMEA

Shell Hungary Zrt.

Andrea Bujdosó has joined Shell Hungary Zrt. in 2009. She was responsible for the road transport area of ​​euroShell Card in Hungary and Romania and then managed the entire euroShell Card of the two countries. From the beginning of 2012, her responsibilities also covered the management of the Bulgarian euroShell Card. From 2014 she supports the development of sales excellence in the B2B areas. In 2017 she became the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Shell Hungary Zrt. In addition to this role, she continued to work as a leader of sales areas in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. She started her career in sales in Romania, Timişoara and from 1997 she had worked for 10 years at Xerox Hungary Ltd. in sales and marketing and business management positions. She studied at the IT Department of the University of Timisoara and also finished an MBA program at the Open Business School.

László Flórián

Managing Director

Rossman Hungary

László Flórián has been the managing director of Rossmann Hungary since 2012. Until the end of last year, he was also responsible for the Czech market of the company and at his former job at Baumax, he also worked as a sales director for the Romanian subsidiary. Thanks to these, his experiences in negotiations has also been strengthened internationally.

As an executive, his goal is to perform better than the competitors every year. But in addition to increasing market share, he also considers quantitative and qualitative expansion, innovative marketing and communication, an ever-expanding and innovative range of products and consistent pricing policies. He prefers putting the decisions into practice as soon as possible. If the consumer does not perceive the change on his own skin, then the action is worth nothing.

Ágnes Horváth

Managing Director, Progress Restaurant Chain LLC (McDonald’s) 

founding president, Ronald McDonald House Charities

As a freshly graduated food engineer she accidentally found a job advertisement at one of the McDonald’s restaurants in Budapest. The brand was always close to her heart and the opportunity for progress convinced her to immediately apply for it. As a systematic person, she could easily adapt to the company. A year after joining the company, she became a restaurant manager, since 2001 she has been an operational manager and since 2005, she has been responsible for managing the operations of the entire Hungarian network.

Since 2010 she’s been the managing director of the company and is responsible for the McDonald’s brand in Hungary. Beyond maintaining a high level of operations considering their restaurants and supply network, as a responsible company, they are actively working on keeping the guidelines of sustainable development in all areas of their business. They are committed to working together on issues that are important to all. She sees the Ronald McDonald’s House Charities the heart of their brand, it has a special place in their lives.

Imre Horváth

CEO

METRO Cash & Carry Hungary

Since November 2013, he is responsible for METRO’s team, which contains 2500 people who work every day to support the success of more than 400,000 regularly served customers. During his professional career, he has gained marketing and sales experience considering both professional and managerial skills in four industries, from the FMCG, telecommunications, financial and commerce sector. He spent more than eight years as a manager in foreign countries, in London, South East Asia and Israel. Recently, as a member of the international METRO Sustainability Council, he has had the opportunity to influence the continuous development of the corporate group. In addition to his family programs, he spends his free time outdoors, mostly with a bike or near water.

László Török

COO Office Operations Director

Grundfos 

He started his career as a mechanical engineer at Videoton Zrt., then continued as a general deputy director at one of the Holding’s companies. From 2000, he worked at Tatabánya for Grundfos Hungary Kft., and from 2008, he is the managing director of the company. From 2019 he is the Operations Director of the Grundfos Group’s COO Office. Meanwhile, he attended the Grundfos Academy’s “Self and People Management” training and as of 2009, he is taking part of the talent management program of the group as a developer-appraiser. He graduated from the American University of Purdue in 2008 with an Executive MBA degree. He was born in Târgu Mureş, is 48 years old, married and a father of two children. 

The Alumni member of the Advisory Board:

Sarolta Katona

Financial analysis manager

Budapest Airport

She started working as a trainee at Budapest Airport in 2008, then worked as a junior financial analyst, senior financial analyst positions until 2019, when she has become a financial analysis manager at the Controlling Department. She graduated from the Future Leaders Talent Program in 2017 and has since been an active member of Alumni. She completed her studies at the Corvinus University of Budapest, where she obtained a Master’s degree in Economics in 2010 with excellent qualification.

This year’s BCSDH Weekend involved a delightful program for the 13 participating CEOs and their partners.

The first day was hosted by Zoltán Reng, Managing Director, Hungrana Kft. Visitors to the factory in Szabadegyház were introduced to the wide product range and sustainability features of the company. All parts of corn are used to produce alcohol, isosugar, dextrose, biofuel, starch, high-protein feed and biomass gas. Most of the products serve as raw materials for many domestic brands, ranging from pudding powders through soft drinks and spirits to fuel.

In line or even going beyond the very strict ISCC EU3 standard, Hungrana supports reuse and recovery and strives for responsible resource management. Sustainable development is one of the most important engines for the quality development of Hungrana Kft.

After a visit to the factory, participants enjoyed a pleasant dinner with wine in Kardosfa, Zselic, close to the location of the program for the following day.

On the second day, János Handó, the manager and owner of Katica Tanya, welcomed the team at Patca. János talked about the sense of mission, his own journey, and the conscious creation of Katica Tanya as an experience center that now receives 78,000 visitors a year.

The Katica Tanya Experience Center is an eco-conscious family park with the mission of raising awareness of sustainability. Sustainability is demonstrated in practice as well, since the farm operates using 100% renewable energy which is partly obtained from its own solar park.

Their own Root Zone  Wastewater treatment system is also remarkable. Waste-water generated in the Experience Center is purified with this natural solution that requires no chemicals or energy.

The experience was made unforgettable with the testing of a copy of a real medieval catapult, which, after careful preparation with the participation of the leaders, fired a stone ball more than 200 meters.

The two-day program ended with a delightful lunch. We would like to thank the host companies and their managers for their professional program and warm hospitality.

A gallery of pictures about the events can be found here.