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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.

Thanks to our sponsors:

 

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:

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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:

Role Models and Good Practices Are the Keys to Systemic Change – Inspirational Breakfast with the Winners of the “For a Sustainable Future” Award

The application period for the 2025 For a Sustainable Future Award has officially begun. In support of this initiative—and to promote action and sustainable corporate operations—the Hungarian Business Council for Sustainable Development (BCSDH) held its first-ever Sustainable Future Inspirational Breakfast on May 27, 2025. The event aimed to showcase exemplary practices.

The event, hosted by Kinstellar, provided an opportunity to gain deeper insight into the outstanding individual and corporate achievements recognized with the 2024 For a Sustainable Future award. Balázs Sepsey, Office Managing Partner, welcomed the participants.

“As we face growing challenges to sustainability—and as the impacts of climate change are increasingly felt in day-to-day business operations—swift action is more important than ever to make our systems more sustainable and resilient,” emphasized Attila Chikán Jr., President of BCSDH, in his welcome remarks. “With this award and today’s event, we aim to inspire companies and leaders to integrate sustainability into their decisions and to develop business solutions that go beyond the usual practices. By scaling these across the sector, we can create real, widespread impact and accelerate systemic change,” he added.

Irén Márta, Director of BCSDH and the event’s moderator, highlighted the organization’s ongoing commitment to accelerating sustainability efforts by showcasing some authentic, exemplary initiatives and innovative measures taken by business leaders. These aim to trigger systemic transformation and promote the spread of creative and sustainable business models. One of the event’s key goals was inspiring high-quality applications for the newly launched 2025 award cycle, which remains open until July 18, 2025, by presenting previous award winners.

Achieving genuine strategic and company-wide sustainability is impossible without credible, committed leaders and outstanding businesses. A CEO roundtable discussion, moderated by István Salgó, Honorary President of BCSDH, explored the stories behind the individual winners of the 2024 prize, focusing on the personal motivations that drive dedication and commitment. Participants included:
• Zoltán Dapsy, Managing Director, Continental Automotive Hungary Kft.
• Anikó Körmendi, CEO, Arriva Hungary Kft.
• Zsuzsa Nagy, Managing Director, E.ON Energy Solutions Ltd.
• Károly Nyári, Vice President and Head of Group Finance, Grundfos A/S

Systemic change hinges on business solutions that go beyond routine operations and can be adapted and scaled by other actors in the business world. The event showcased and discussed the award-winning initiatives of 2024. Namely:

In 2025, BCSDH is launching the For a Sustainable Future Award earlier than in previous years, with the application period open from May 19 to July 18. The focus remains on areas where companies can make a significant impact on systemic transformation across the following four main categories:

  1. Change Leader – Award for outstanding leadership and responsibility
    Change Leader Award – BCSDH
  2. Leading Woman
    Leading Woman Award – BCSDH
  3. Corporate Transformation – Award for the most significant progress toward sustainable operations
    Corporate Transformation Award – BCSDH
  4. Business Model / Business Solution, in one of the following areas:

Major changes to domestic ESG legislation expected in mid-June

On 13 May, the Ministry of National Economy submitted to the Parliament its bill on the foundation of Hungary’s 2026 central budget, which introduces several significant changes to the ESG law.
This article summarises the proposals contained in the submitted draft, with the final vote (and publication of the final changes) expected in mid-June. Follow our online platform where we will keep you updated on the latest developments.

Narrowing of the scope of the affected companies

The new changes will significantly narrow the scope of companies covered by the Act. Following the entry into force of the amendment, the obligation under Article 1(1)(b) of the Act will apply only to large companies which:

  • carry out their principal activity in the sectors listed in the Annex to the ESG Act, and
  • their annual net turnover exceeds HUF 90 000 million, and
  • employ at least 500 persons at the balance sheet date of the financial year.

Large enterprises of public interest will continue to be covered by the law, and certain financial services providers will also be covered by the law on the basis of sectoral classification.
Small and medium-sized enterprises of public interest are excluded from the scope of the Act.

Simplifications in the area of reporting

For ESG reporting for the financial years 2024, 2025 and 2026:

  • no certification is required,
  • no need to send the report to the Authority,
  • no need to publish it publicly.

However, the ESG report must be prepared by the companies concerned for these years as well, and approved by the company’s management body.

Request for information

The government also wants to reduce the burden on SMEs, therefore:

  • Until 30 June 2027, micro or small enterprises will not be required to provide ESG data, nor will they be obliged to provide ESG data in the form of a contract or written declaration (the latter provision also applies to medium-sized enterprises).
  • It is expected that small and medium-sized enterprises will be able to fulfil their ESG reporting obligations by obtaining an ESG certification from a public ESG certification body, and will not have to fill in supplier questionnaires.

Changes to corrective actions

The scope of corrective actions is also being refined:

  • instead of 3 months, companies will only be obliged to suspend business relations with their direct supplier for 30 days if corrective action fails,
  • companies will no longer be obliged to cease doing business with their direct suppliers of high-risk activities.

Implementation of the Omnibus package has started

Also on 13 May, a bill on certain tax obligations and amending certain tax laws was submitted to transpose Directive 2025/794 of the European Parliament and of the Council, adopted as part of the Omnibus package.
Under this measure, CSRD Wave 2 and 3 companies will have to start applying the legislation two years later.

BCSDH also joined the Giving Manifesto

We believe that part of business success is the impact we have on the world. We are delighted to join the House of Giving initiative, which is strengthening the culture of conscious, effective and sustainable giving in Hungary.

One of the first professional pillars of the initiative is the Giving Manifesto, which is the first in Hungary to summarise how we can make giving thoughtful, effective and sustainable.

Building on international and domestic best practices, it presents the principles of a 21st century approach to giving. It is a tool to help business actors who want to give with a conscious strategy, for the long term and for greater social impact.

Read more about the points of the Giving Manifesto: https://houseofgiving.hu/giving-manifesto/

7 hectares, 700 trees, 30,000 shrubs and bulbs, unique expertise and commitment – an innovative eco-park that can inspire companies!

Is there self-sustaining green space? What are the climate adaptation solutions? And how can the lessons learned be transferred to businesses, even on a smaller scale? On our ‘Race to Zero on the Spot‘ programme, our member company BKM Nonprofit Zrt. FŐKERT Division for Urban Park Management, invited member companies to a unique tour of Pünkösdfürdő Park, dreamed up and created by BKM, with the help of Adrienne Szalkai, Head of the Department and Chief Designer.

The 7-hectare Pünkösdfürdő Park, which has also been awarded the Green Cities Europe national award, represents an ecological approach. A park attractive to all ages was created with natural solutions and contemporary architectural elements. The primary goal of the park, which was conceived with a regenerative approach, was to let nature prevail and create a truly sustainable and self-sustaining area.

The rain gardens help to make good use of the water that was previously stagnant there, and the wildflower meadow, which was created on 17,000 square meters and uses a special seed mixture that best suits the area, plays a major role in terms of biodiversity. There are also fruit trees in the area, with 24 species of trees harvested year after year. There are plenty of opportunities for sports and a nature trail for playful recreation.

Involving the public and thinking together is an important aspect in both the design and operation of the park. The area has an outstanding level of satisfaction, and the community also cooperates in protecting the park. The unique project is also extremely suitable for shaping attitudes, and many ideas and inspiration can be gathered not only for the public, but also for the implementation of corporate sustainability biodiversity programs.

If you would like to see the photos of the event please click HERE.

Accelerating climate adaptation is inevitable, requires action, and can only be achieved through cooperation

At the meeting of the Net Zero Advisory Board on September 16, hosted by the Ministry of Energy, Dr. Csaba Gondola, State Secretary for Circular Economy and Climate Policy, emphasized in his welcoming speech how important the work of the board is and how committed he is to professional cooperation. In his presentation, he outlined the regulations and plans for promoting climate adaptation.

As president of BCSDH, Attila Chikán Jr. emphasized the importance of adapting to a changing and increasingly fast-paced world, in which the business sector plays a key role. Those who act in time not only suffer less from the resulting damage and risks, but also create opportunities.

The work of the Luxembourg Advisory Board, presented by Prof. Dr. Diána Ürge-Vorsatz, Vice-Chair of the IPCC, may provide further ideas and inspiration for the work of the advisory board. Participants agreed that, in addition to scientific organizations, it is necessary to involve representatives of the sectors and industries concerned.

Irén Márta, Executive Director of BCSDH, presented the organization’s annual professional work and points of connection, emphasizing the wide-ranging involvement of stakeholders in relation to the year’s key topic, climate adaptation. On behalf of the organization, Andrea Nagy, project manager of Race to Zero program, presented the recommendations and proposed action plan for climate adaptation in the business sector that were developed during the professional work.

Participants of the event:

  • Zsombor Barta – Senior Advisor to the National Assembly, International Relations Officer, National Council for Sustainable Development
  • Attila Chikán Jr. – President, Business Council for Sustainable Development in Hungary (BCSDH)
  • Dr. Csaba Gondola – State Secretary for Circular Economy and Climate Policy, Ministry of Energy
  • András Kárpáti – President, Future Mobility Alliance
  • Kriszti Kocsis – Senior Policy Officer, British Embassy
  • Irén Márta – Managing Director, Business Council for Sustainable Development in Hungary (BCSDH)
  • Andrea Nagy – Race to Zero Project Manager, Business Council for Sustainable Development in Hungary (BCSDH)
  • Gábor Szarvas – President, Hungary Green Building Council (HuGBC)
  • Katalin Szmollár – Head of Cabinet, State Secretariat for Circular Economy and Climate Policy, Ministry of Energy
  • Prof. Dr. Diána Ürge-Vorsatz – Vice-Chair, UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)

A photo gallery of the event can be accessed by clicking HERE.

Thanks to the sponsors of our Race to Zero program:

 

What next after the Omnibus package and the changes to the ESG law? – ESG working group meeting at Colas

The ESG legislative framework in Europe and in Hungary (CSRD, CSDDD, Hungarian ESG Act) is going through a turbulent period. What changes are expected? How will this affect the preparation of companies?” – we sought the answers on 15 April together with more than 40 of our member companies at the BCSDH ESG working group meeting.

At the beginning of the meeting, Mátyás Bellaagh, CEO of Colas Hungária Zrt. IIR welcomed the guests. He emphasized that we have witnessed significant changes in the field of sustainability reporting in recent years, especially in this significantly changing environment.

On 3 April 2025, the European Parliament and on 14 April the EU Council voted in favour of the European Commission’s “stop-the-clock” proposal, which delays the implementation deadlines for the most important sustainability regulations – the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD).

Zsófia Reizinger, ESG Consultant and Ákos Veisz, Managing Director of BDO Hungary ESG Consulting Ltd. They confirmed that it is worth continuing to prepare and to pay attention to strategic initiatives. They also gave a brief presentation on the planned amendments to the Hungarian ESG Act.


Although less publicised, the VSME (Voluntary Sustainability Reporting Standard for non-listed SMEs), which can support companies in voluntary reporting, was finalised in December 2024. Julianna Nagy, Senior Manager at KPMG, pointed out that for companies that will no longer be covered by the CSRD, the Commission will adopt a voluntary reporting standard based on the VSME developed by EFRAG through a delegated act.

The presentations were followed by small group discussions where participants could directly share their experiences. Thank you to the working group members Julianna Nagy, Nora Stancsics and Ákos Veisz for moderating!

Thanks to our sponsors!

 

Collaboration and meaningful action are the keys to successful and timely climate adaptation – the Net Zero Advisory Board convened

Is action on the net-zero targets already visible in companies? Where are there improvements and challenges? Is climate adaptation really as important as climate protection? What collaborations and solutions can help to achieve meaningful progress and systemic change? What is the roadmap for the Hungarian construction industry to become carbon neutral and what are the tools to help achieve this? On 15 April, the Net Zero Advisory Board, set up to promote the carbon neutrality of the Hungarian economy, met again.

Hosting the event at the British Ambassador’s residence, Paul Fox, the UK Ambassador to Hungary, welcomed the participants and emphasized in his speech that they remain committed to meaningfully promoting climate-neutral actions in Hungary, and highlighted the need to give climate adaptation a more prominent role.

Attila Chikán Jr., President of the Business Council for Sustainable Development of Hungary (BCSDH), in his welcome speech at the multi-stakeholder platform, stressed that as global and European trends have the effect of softening sustainability goals and expectations for decisive action, this situation requires even more effort and cooperation from committed companies and other actors.

Irén Márta, Director of the BCSDH, stressed that whatever happens to climate targets, the consequences of climate change are already having a serious impact on the performance of companies. And this will only increase, at an accelerating rate. For this reason, the need for climate action is not an issue. Every company needs to assess where changes may present a business risk or even a new opportunity. The BCSDH’s Towards Net Zero survey published in January 2025 found that 91% of companies are feeling the effects of climate change, but only 16% have a climate adaptation action plan.

Andrea Nagy, Project Manager of the BCSDH Race to Zero programme, presented the further results of the research. 66 percent of Hungarian companies committed to a sustainable transition have specific climate change targets, and the number of companies measuring their emissions along the entire value chain has doubled. According to the survey, 26 percent of the leading companies in Hungary have scientific emission reduction targets that meet the 1.5 degree target. While this is higher than the global average, it is still far below what is needed to achieve it.

Gábor Szarvas, President of the Hungary Green Building Association (HuGBC), gave an insight into the work and achievements of his organisation. He presented their roadmap for the decarbonisation of the Hungarian construction industry and a guide to help them achieve this.

Board members participating in the event shared future goals and plans with other members, identifying numerous points of connection and joint collaboration opportunities in order to strengthen synergies and expand impact.

Participants of the Board meeting:

  • Zsombor Barta – Parlamentary Senior Counselor, National Council for Sustainable Development
  • Attila Chikán Jr – President, BCSDH
  • Paul Fox – Ambassador, British Embassy
  • Anikó Juhász  – Deputy State Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture
  • Csaba Kandrács Dr.  – Deputy Governor, Central Bank of Hungary
  • András Kárpáti – President, Future Mobility Association
  • Kocsis Kriszti – Attache, Senior Policy Officer, British Embassy
  • Csaba Kőrösi  – Strategic Director, Blue Planet Foundation, former President of UN General Assembly
  • Irén Márta – Director, BCSDH
  • Andrea Nagy – Race to Zero Project Manager, BCSDH
  • Gábor Szarvas – President, Hungary Green Building Council (HuGBC)

For a photo gallery of the event CLICK here.

The Net Zero Advisory Board, a multi-stakeholder, cross-sectoral Advisory Board of Hungarian industry and business leaders, government and professional organisations, was established in January 2021 at the initiative of the British Embassy and BCSDH.

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