The 2025 Symbol of Sustainability Awards have been presented

By: Trademagazin Date: 2025. 09. 25. 13:24

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Trade magazin announced the Symbol of Sustainability competition for the sixth time and it is now traditional that the awards are presented at the five-day Business Days conference – this time on 24 September – the biggest conference in the FMCG industry.

Symbol of Sustainability 2025 competition winners

For years Trade magazin has been focusing on the broader topic of sustainability on its pages and at its events. The Symbol of Sustainability competition recognises companies and projects that contribute to reducing carbon footprints, support the fight against climate change, increase the number of participants in the circular economy, combat food waste and make waste management more effective – including the wider use of environmentally friendly packaging materials.

The objective of the competition is to showcase as many successful projects as possible each year on the platforms of Trade magazin that contribute to a more sustainable future in line with ESG rules.

Entries in the announced categories were evaluated online by a professional jury. Projects that achieved 70% of the maximum possible score received the Symbol of Sustainability award. Whether through their corporate or brand-specific commitments, developments or investments, they can serve as examples to market players and consumers. This year 20 entries won the Symbol of Sustainability award.

In 2025 the Green Communication Special Award of the Green Chapter of the Hungarian Marketing Association (MMSZ) was announced for the third time. This award was given to the entry that the chapter’s board – representing the entire membership – deemed the best based on the communication criteria specified in the call for entries.

This year MARS Magyarország once again supported the Symbol of Sustainability competition and appeared as a special prize sponsor in the evaluation. MARS is a global leader in sustainability, so it wasn’t only important for the company to be involved in the competition, but also to keep searching for project opportunities with its partners that could serve as examples of these efforts.

The award ceremony took place at the Business Days conference on 24 September, the biggest professional conference on the FMCG market, where the winners received their certificates of recognition and were granted the right to use the Symbol of Sustainability 2025 logo.

The table below lists the winners of Symbol of Sustainability 2025 and a brief description of their applications.

Symbol of Sustainability 2025 winners

Company	Entry	Brief summary
Product category
Assist-Trend Kft.	Zero product line	It offers environmentally friendly hygiene solutions, led by the Sutter Zero product line, which provides effective, natural-based cleaning products for professional users. With its concentrated, sustainable and health-conscious formulas, the company represents economy, safety and environmental awareness all at once.
Bibo Franchise Kft.	Bioplastic product line	Domestically developed bioplastic products are compostable, reusable and their manufacturing significantly reduces CO2 emissions. Bibo Franchise Kft. has won several professional awards, including recognitions from SIRHA Budapest and the Green Innovation and Energy Efficiency Expo.
HARTMANN-RICO Hungária Kft.	MoliCare® washable underwear product line	MoliCare® washable absorbent underwear offers a sustainable medical solution to everyday hygiene challenges, reducing waste and ensuring a high level of comfort. This innovative product is rapidly gaining popularity on the domestic market and represents a significant step towards environmentally conscious personal hygiene.
Herbow International Zrt.	Souldrops baby drop hypoallergenic-sensitive detergent product line	Souldrops Baby detergents offer a safe, hypoallergenic and environmentally friendly solution for cleaning baby clothes, while effectively removing dirt. As a pioneer in Hungary, the brand is strengthening its market-leading position in the baby care segment, with environmentally friendly packaging and widespread positive customer feedback.

Company	Entry	Brief summary
Service category
E.ON Drive Infrastructure Hungary	Green energy and national charging network programme		It operates a nationwide electric charging network powered by 100% green energy, contributing to the spreading of sustainable transport in Hungary. Together with its strategic partners, E.ON Drive Infrastructure Hungary installs charging points in locations where charging can be done as part of everyday activities, thus making green mobility a natural choice.
Revo Union Kft.	Reuse systems – sustainability programme		It operates a market-leading circular reuse system that lowers environmental impact and replaces single-use plastics in hospitality, events and retail. RevoUnion’s complete ecosystem covers the product life cycle from manufacturing to collection, washing and recycling, replacing more than 22 million disposable cups to date.

Company	Entry	Brief summary
Technology solution, process category
SPAR Magyarország Kft.	Plastic use reduction programme		SPAR significantly reduces plastic use through technological innovations, recycled materials and circular solutions. It also promotes sustainability through educational campaigns and responsible waste management practices.

Company	Entry	Brief summary
Environmental CSR category
Master Good Cégcsoport	Circular economic model project		With its circular economy model, the Master Good Group achieves sustainable and resource-efficient operations, which is considered pioneering in Hungary and Europe. The goal is to become the most sustainable player in the poultry industry with green energy and innovative technologies, while offering healthy, environmentally conscious products to customers.
Mercedes-Benz Manufacturing Hungary Kft.	Sand martin nesting project		The Mercedes-Benz factory in Kecskemét supports sustainable operations with programmes aimed at preserving biodiversity. Nature-friendly developments, such as habitats created for sand martins serve both to protect the environment and to shape social attitudes.
MiReHu Nonprofit Kft.	Save As campaign		The “Save As” campaign seeks to reduce food waste by promoting conscious consumption through education and community involvement, with a particular focus on the general public and the hospitality industry. The awareness-raising campaign uses installations, education and humour, and is already supported by prestigious partners such as Hotel Palota Lillafüred.
Rossmann Magyarország Kft.	Rossmann x Respray refill vending machine project		With its sustainable refill cosmetics system, the Respray x Rossmann collaboration is revolutionising the aerosol product market, reducing waste and environmental impact. The technology serves the convenience of consumers, the social responsibility of brands and the promotion of green awareness all at once.
VPK Packaging	CO2 calculator – sustainable packaging project		The CO2 calculator accurately measures the total carbon footprint of packaging from production to transport, helping to make more sustainable decisions. The tool increases transparency, particularly with regard to indirect emissions associated with the supply chain, thereby supporting the environmental goals of companies as a solution from VPK Packaging.
Zwack Unicum Nyrt. és a 10 millió Fa Alapítvány	“A sip of nature every day” – a joint project by Zwack Unicum and the 10 Million Trees Foundation		In the first domestic application of the Japanese Miyawaki method, Zwack planted urban mini-forests in cooperation with the 10 Million Trees Foundation, in the spirit of sustainability. The initiative fits well with the company’s carbon footprint reduction efforts and sets an example for new forms of corporate responsibility.

Company	Entry	Brief summary
Social CSR category
Auchan Magyarország Kft.	StillGood! campaign		The “Still Good!” campaign, with professional support from Nébih, called attention to reducing food waste and conscious shopping in a novel way. The campaign served both environmental sustainability and social responsibility, reaching hundreds of thousands of shoppers thanks to the organisation work of Auchan.
E.ON Hungária Energetikai Zrt.	Champions of the Earth programme		The “Champions of the Earth” competition aims to promote sustainability through children and educational institutions. The initiative provides support, visibility and community knowledge sharing for those who implement environmentally conscious changes locally, organised by E.ON.
Essity Hungary Kft.	Libresse women’s health CSR programme		With support from the “It Is Easier Together” Women’s Health Foundation, Essity-Libresse has been raising awareness about endometriosis and the importance of women’s health since 2021, while also working to break down taboos surrounding women’s issues. They raise an average of HUF 3.5 million in donations each year and achieve significant social media reach, helping to improve the quality of life for hundreds of thousands of women.
K&H Bank	Ready for Life programme		The “Ready for Life” programme supports young people living in childcare, helping them to start independent lives and integrate into society through personalised training. The K&H initiative has so far helped 77 young people with a total of HUF 40 million in support and has generated significant social and professional response.
K&H Bank	Move! – PE teacher of the Year programme		The “K&H Move! PE Teacher of the Year” programme seeks to recognise physical education teachers who encourage an active, healthy lifestyle. Based on public nominations and voting, the initiative has become a nationwide movement that received significant social and media attention.
Lidl Magyarország Bt.	“In circulation with students” programme		The “In Circulation with Students” programme educated elementary school students about selective waste collection and food waste prevention through national competitions. The campaign reached thousands of students and strengthened social awareness by involving employees and social media followers, organised by Lidl.
Tesco-Global Áruházak Zrt.	“Start for the Future” programme		Twice a year the “Start for the Future” programme supports local organisations with a total of HUF 57 million, which implements development and community-building projects for children and young adults. From among the applications selected by a professional jury, shoppers vote to decide which initiatives will receive support in the Tesco store district.

Communication special award winner of the Green Chapter of the Hungarian Marketing Association (MMSZ):

Company	Entry	Brief summary
Zwack Unicum Nyrt. és a 10 millió Fa Alapítvány	“A sip of nature every day” – a joint project by Zwack Unicum and the 10 Million Trees Foundation	In the first domestic application of the Japanese Miyawaki method, Zwack planted urban mini-forests in cooperation with the 10 Million Trees Foundation, in the spirit of sustainability. The initiative fits well with the company’s carbon footprint reduction efforts and sets an example for new forms of corporate responsibility.

MARS Magyarország special award winner:

Company	Entry	Brief summary
Auchan Magyarország Kft.	StillGood! campaign	The “Still Good!” campaign, with professional support from Nébih, called attention to reducing food waste and conscious shopping in a novel way. The campaign served both environmental sustainability and social responsibility, reaching hundreds of thousands of shoppers thanks to the organisation work of Auchan.

On behalf of the jury members, we would like to congratulate all the winners and look forward to receiving more excellent sustainability projects for the next competition at www.fenntarthatosagszimboluma.hu!

Symbol of Sustainability 2025 jury panel
Name	Company name	Position
Zombor Berezvai	Corvinus University of Budapest; Hungarian Competition Authority	Associate professor; Head of Economics and Market Research Department
Zoltán Fekete	Branded Goods Association Hungary	Secretary general
Tamás Gláser	Brand Way & Compass; VOSZ; Hungarian Trademark Association	Senior consultant; Committee vice president; Executive vice president
Beáta Gönci	Hungarian Association of Packaging and Materials Handling	Secretary general
Gergely Hankó	Hungarian Association of Environmental Enterprises	Managing director
Zsuzsanna Hermann	Trade magazin	CEO and editor-in-chief
Hajnalka Kovács-Czövek	GREEN BRANDS Hungary	Country manager
Dr Tamás Kozák	National Trade Association	Secretary general
Irén Márta	Business Council for Sustainable Development in Hungary	Managing director
Katalin Neubauer	Hungarian National Trade Association	Secretary general
Szilva Szabó	Hungarian Food Bank Association	General manager
Dr László Szűcs	PwC Legal	Lawyer
Tünde Turcsán	YouGov Shopper	Managing director
Attila Vörös	Federation of Hungarian Food Industries	Managing director

Symbol of Sustainability MMSZ Green Chapter communication special award jury panel
Name	Company name	Position
Zsuzsanna Hermann	Trade magazin	CEO and editor-in-chief
Attila Szűcs	Marketing Art Agency	Chief operating officer