The Symbols of Sustainability Awards 2024 Presented

By: Trademagazin Date: 2024. 09. 25. 22:20

For the fifth time, Trade magazine organized the Symbols of Sustainability competition, and the awards were presented during the largest FMCG industry conference, the five-day Business Days event, on September 25.

Winners of the Symbol of Sustainability 2024 competition

Trade magazine has been emphasizing sustainability in its publications and events for years. The Symbols of Sustainability competition recognizes companies and projects that contribute to reducing the carbon footprint, combating climate change, promoting the circular economy, fighting food waste, and improving waste management, including increasing the
use of eco-friendly packaging.

Ambassador of Sustainability: Csilla Zombory is the head of quality and environmental management at SPAR and the head of the environmental protection working committee of the National Trade Association (OKSZ)

The competition aims to showcase successful projects that contribute to a more sustainable future, adhering to the ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) guidelines. The entries were evaluated online by a professional jury, and those achieving 70% or more of the maximum score received the Symbols of Sustainability award. These companies and their brands set an example for the market, as well as their customers and consumers. This year, 14 entries were awarded the Symbols of Sustainability recognition.

For the second time, the Green Communications Special Award, presented by the Green Division of the Hungarian Marketing Association (MMSZ), was included in the competition. This award was given to the entry that best met the communication criteria, as evaluated by the division’s leadership.

The competition was also supported by MARS Hungary, which offered a special prize. As a global leader in sustainability, MARS Hungary not only participated in the competition but also continuously seeks partnership projects that embody its sustainability goals.

The awards ceremony took place on September 25 at the Business Days conference, where the winners received certificates and were granted the right to use the Symbols of Sustainability 2024 logo.

The table below lists the winners of the Symbols of Sustainability 2024 competition, along with a brief description of their projects.

Winners of the symbols of Sustainability Awards 2024:

Award Category	Company	Project Summary
Individual category
OKSZ	Zombory Csilla – Sustainability Ambassador	Zombory Csilla, Head of Quality and Environmental Management at SPAR, played a key role in launching Hungary’s deposit return system for PET and glass bottles and aluminum cans.
Product category
Real Nature Kft.	Lunter Tofu Product Line	Following centuries-old tofu production traditions using pure spring water, Lunter’s products support healthy eating with natural ingredients, produced with GMO-free soy grown in Central Europe.
Technology solution, process category
Rossmann Magyarország Kft.	Respray x Rossmann – Refillable Deodorant Spray	Respray developed refillable aerosol cans, reducing environmental impact. Available in Rossmann stores, this innovation allows customers to refill cans multiple times, reducing waste.
Packaging category
Prémium Kert Kft.	Green to green! Introduction of eco-friendly packaging	The company is upgrading its packaging lines and using sustainable materials like plastic-free biofilm and biodegradable cardboard. They plan to implement an ESG framework for sustainability and involve their suppliers in these efforts.
Procter&Gamble Magyarország Kkt.	New packaging for the Gillette and Gillette Venus product lines	The company is committed to environmental sustainability and aims for fully recyclable packaging by 2030 while reducing petroleum-based plastics by 50%. They are also implementing solutions like FSC-certified paper packaging to lower their environmental impact.
SPAR Magyarország Kft.	S-BUDGET Ground Meat Packaging Reduction	SPAR introduced flow-pack packaging for ground meat, significantly reducing plastic usage while maintaining product freshness, thus supporting eco-conscious consumer behavior.
CSR (Environmental) category
Master Good Kft.	Demonstrating the circular economy model with a focus on commitment to sustainability	They see their commitment to sustainability as a mission, using the latest technology and best production practices to lead in addressing environmental challenges. They were the first in the country to implement a fully circular economy.
Nestlé Hungária Kft.	Regenerative Agriculture Project	Nestlé’s Purina division promotes sustainable agriculture in Hungary’s West-Danube region through soil regeneration practices, reducing environmental impact and securing long-term sustainable sourcing.
Zwack Unicum Nyrt.	Green company – Zwack Dunaharaszti Factory renewable energy investments – Heat pump and solar panel park.	The Dunaharaszti factory aims to replace 85-90% of its natural gas with heat pumps and solar parks, using smart technology for efficiency. Their renewable energy project began in February 2023, targeting carbon neutrality, and they created a second Miyawaki mini-forest in Budapest.
CSR (Social) category
Auchan Magyarország Kft. and the Hungarian Dietetic Association	OKOSTÁNYÉR® National Student Quiz	Auchan partnered with the Hungarian Dietetic Association to promote healthy eating among thousands of school children, with educational materials and a student knowledge test on healthy dietary practices.
Coca-Cola Szolgáltató Kft.	“New Opportunities in the Labor Market” – Supporting disadvantaged women through education.	The initiative seeks to improve the job prospects of disadvantaged women for their economic and social advancement. The ‘New Opportunities in the Labor Market’ program offers training and self-development for women who have faced severe trauma.
Henkel Magyarország Kft.	Perwoll Sustainable Fashion Day	Perwoll’s mission is to extend the lifespan of our clothes and preserve their colors, supporting the slow fashion movement. Their #Rethinkfashion campaign promotes sustainable practices, and the Perwoll Sustainable Fashion Day highlights the importance of reducing textile waste.
MiReHu Nonprofit Kft.	Let R-power be with you, be a Superhero too!	To achieve sustainability, people must consciously change their habits, which requires proper knowledge. Their strategic goal is to actively protect the environment by developing and expanding their awareness programs across different communication channels for various age groups and lifestyles
Tesco-Globál Áruházak Zrt.	Cooking together – community cooking with Tesco volunteers to support those in need.	Tesco supports communities by partnering with the Hungarian Food Bank to deliver thousands of meals to those in need each year. They focus on rescuing unsold food to prevent waste, with employees volunteering at ‘Cooking Together’ events.

Special Award of MARS Hungary:

Award Category	Company	Project Summary
Tesco-Globál Áruházak Zrt.	Cooking together – community cooking with Tesco volunteers to support those in need.	Tesco supports communities by partnering with the Hungarian Food Bank to deliver thousands of meals to those in need each year. They focus on rescuing unsold food to prevent waste, with employees volunteering at ‘Cooking Together’ events.

Green Communication Special Awardees of the Green Section of the Hungarian Marketing Association (MMSZ):

Award Category	Company	Project Summary
Auchan Magyarország Kft. and the Hungarian Dietetic Association	OKOSTÁNYÉR® National Student Quiz	Auchan partnered with the Hungarian Dietetic Association to promote healthy eating among thousands of school children, with educational materials and a student knowledge test on healthy dietary practices.
Tesco-Globál Áruházak Zrt.	Cooking together – community cooking with Tesco volunteers to support those in need.	Tesco supports communities by partnering with the Hungarian Food Bank to deliver thousands of meals to those in need each year. They focus on rescuing unsold food to prevent waste, with employees volunteering at ‘Cooking Together’ events.

For a complete list of winners and more details on their projects, visit www.fenntarthatosagszimboluma.hu.

Congratulations to all the winners!

Sustainability Symbol 2024 Competition Jury Members

Name	Company	Position
Zombor Berezvai	Budapest Corvinus University; Competition Authority	University Lecturer; Head of Competition Economics and Market Research Office
Dr. László Szűcs	PwC Legal	Lawyer
Zoltán Fekete	Hungarian Brand Association	Executive secretary general
Tamás Gláser	Brand Way & Compass; VOSZ; Hungarian Trademark Association	Lead Consultant; Vice President of the Supervisory Board; CEO
Beáta Gönci	National Association of Packaging and Materials Handling	Secretary General
Gergely Hankó	Association of Environmental Service Providers and Manufacturers	Executive Director
Zsuzsanna Hermann	Trade Magazine	Executive Editor
Dr. Tamás Kozák	National Trade Association	Secretary General
Irén Márta	Hungarian Business Council for Sustainable Development	Executive Director
Katalin Neubauer	Hungarian National Trade Association	Secretary General
Szilvia Szabó	Hungarian Food Bank Association	Executive Director
Réka Szöllősi	Élelmiszervilág Consulting	Founder, Consultant
Tünde Turcsán	Consumer Panel Services GfK-YouGov	Executive Director
Attila Vörös	Responsible Food Manufacturers Association	Executive Director
András Wiszkidenszky	Green Brands	Regional Director

Sustainability Symbol MMSZ Green Communication Special Prize Jury Members

Name	Company	Position
Zoltán Guth	Duna-Dráva Cement Ltd.	Head of Communications
Dr. Erzsébet Némedi	Expedit Nodum R&D Agency	Founder, Lead Expert
Zsuzsanna Hermann	Trade Magazine	Executive Editor
Ildikó Slániczné Molnár	METRO	Marketing and Communications Manager
Attila Szűcs	Marketing Art Agency	Operational Director