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Unique environmental and community value – we visited the Westend rooftop garden with experts

Thanks to Gránit Pólus at our Race to Zero event on September 30, we gained insight into the Westend roof garden, which has been in operation for more than 25 years, with the help of renowned experts. This urban green space is an outstanding example of how community needs and sustainability considerations can be combined in an urban environment, and how roof gardens can contribute to climate adaptation.

As Miklós Gyertyánfy, CEO of Gránit Pólus Group, said in his welcome speech, the Westend roof garden was considered unique even at the time of its construction, and today it remains one of the “gems” of the company’s portfolio and the capital city. Irén Márta, director of BCSDH, confirmed this, recalling that even in the 1990s it was considered extraordinary: a building that was consciously designed to be organically connected to the surrounding neighborhoods, providing them with ecological services.

Dóra Diána Szemerédi, Head of ESG and Corporate Relations at Gránit Pólus Group, explained that with its 15,000 square meters of green space created using intensive technology, the roof garden not only insulates the building but also contributes to the sustainability of the urban environment with its microclimate-shaping capabilities and utilization of rainwater.

During the tour, Péter Dezsényi, Director General of BKM’s Main Garden Division, spoke about the role and function of green gardens and roof gardens in the urban environment, emphasizing that the roof garden on top of Westend is internationally recognized. Gábor Szőllősi, CEO and Senior Advisor of Agrofutura, gave a detailed presentation on the future development directions of the roof garden, which aim to strengthen biodiversity, sustainable water management, and further increase climate adaptation functions.

We would like to thank the Gránit Pólus Team and the invited experts for this unique opportunity and their assistance in providing us with a deeper understanding of both the Westend roof garden and general information.

 

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The Role of Communication: Embedding Sustainability into Corporate Culture – Report from the BCSDH Communication Working Group Meeting

What is the digital carbon footprint of our communication? What tools are available to reduce it? How can communication contribute to sustainability? To what extent is sustainability a matter of self-awareness?

The working group meeting, held on September 23, 2025, began with measuring the carbon footprint of the participants’ social media consumption. The event was hosted by Virág Váraljai, Head of Marketing and Communications at MET Hungary, who welcomed the attendees. Ákos Jakab, Head of Technology and Innovation at MET Green Division, presented the sustainability achievements of the group.

György Huszics, Co-Founder and Managing Director of CARBON.CRANE, provided insights into the possibilities for reducing the digital carbon footprint. In a panel discussion moderated by Irén Márta, Tibor Hodik, Managing Partner of Progressive Advertising Agency, György Huszics, Co-Founder and Director of CARBON.CRANE, and Szabolcs Pécsi, Managing Director of HighVibes, explored the role of communication in achieving sustainability goals, along with the personal and broader challenges it entails.

The digital carbon footprint of corporate communication can be significantly reduced through conscious decision-making. The footprint of a single webpage largely depends on the size and format of the images used, the number of visitors, and also on how carbon-consciously the data is stored. Education plays a key role in this process.

The roundtable discussion highlighted the importance of ensuring that communication about sustainability remains within the realm of inspiring action. It must not be overshadowed by ecological guilt or fatigue that could paralyze meaningful steps forward.

 

 

Transparency at all levels: the challenges of ESG reporting and the wage transparency directive

On September 18, the BCSDH ESG working group reached another important milestone: at a meeting held at the MagNet Community House, we heard first-hand experiences of preparing reports in accordance with the first Hungarian ESG law and gained insight into the details of the EU Pay transparency directive.

As Irén Márta, director of BCSDH, emphasized in her welcoming speech, our primary goal was for member companies to share their experiences and challenges through real-life examples, thereby supporting each other on the path to sustainability compliance.

In the first part of the meeting, representatives from MagNet Bank, ALTEO, Richter, and Grant Thornton shared their honest experiences with the process of preparing sustainability, CSRD and ESG reports.

Erika Barna, sustainability project manager at MagNet Bank, emphasized that reporting is not a goal in itself, but a tool for organizational renewal, cultural development, and deepening strategic focus.

Beatrix Szabó, sustainability and EBK director at ALTEO Nyrt., drew attention to the difficulties of the double materiality principle, new levels of data auditability, and the challenges of involving the supply chain.

Dorottya Magoss, Senior Sustainability Expert at Richter Gedeon Nyrt., and Dr. András Balásfalvi-Kiss, Partner at Grant Thornton Hungary, shared their experiences. They presented how the consultant helped the company with reporting and how they implemented cooperation with partner areas.

In the second half of the program, Zsófia Galambosné Dudás, project manager at BCSDH, presented the key points of EU Directive 2023/970 on pay transparency. The aim of the directive is to reduce the gender pay gap and eliminate wage discrimination, covering all employers regardless of size. Participants gained insight into the obligations companies must meet, from recruitment and employee information to reporting.

The event concluded with small group discussions, where participants were able to delve deeper into the topics discussed and share their best practices and dilemmas with each other. The working group confirmed that ESG compliance is not only a legal challenge but also an opportunity for long-term business value creation.

We would like to thank our Sponsors!

 

“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.

Thanks to our sponsors!

 

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.

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

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