CSR Hungary: Awards for the best

Takács Júlia

“For us, success is also measured by the increasing popularity of the CSR Hungary Award, which has existed since 2006, among companies and institutions. This contributes to the spread of corporate sustainability and responsibility in Hungary and the incorporation of its principles into a company’s DNA. All without losing sight of the primary goal of a company: to generate profit and ensure the smooth, successful operation of its core activities. Call it by any acronym – CSR, sustainability, or ESG – the core principles and reasons are the same; only the implementation differs from company to company,” highlighted Takács Júlia, CEO and founder of CSR Hungary.

The Hungarian Business Responsibility Award, the CSR Hungary Award program, has become an effective and recognized platform for sharing best practices, benchmarking, and learning from one another. This program offers organizations an annual opportunity to build trust and awareness among stakeholders by showcasing responsible and sustainable governance. This is significantly supported by the CSR Hungary brand, which has provided a comprehensive professional background since 2006. After several years of preparation, the renewed application structure now supports a voluntary certification system that facilitates credible corporate responsibility management systems for businesses operating in Hungary.

The CSR Hungary Award program has become an effective and recognized platform for sharing best practices, benchmarking, and learning from one another. This program offers organizations an annual opportunity to build trust and awareness among stakeholders by showcasing responsible and sustainable governance. This is significantly supported by our CSR Hungary brand, providing a comprehensive professional and communication background since 2006. Visit CSR Hungary.

“At CSR Hungary, we emphasize not just the professional aspects of corporate sustainability and responsibility with the existence of the Hungarian Business Responsibility, the CSR Hungary Award. We believe every new innovation and trend starts with just one idea… But that single idea can be the beginning of a new, sustainable business model. Today, CSR Hungary, with its comprehensive portfolio of mutually reinforcing elements, can assist companies and institutions in their implementation journey,”

stressed Takács Júlia.

Group photo of the jury members

Committee photo

Members of the CSR Hungary Award Committee

• Takács Júlia, CEO & Founder of CSR Hungary, founder of the “CSR Hungary Award”
• Dr. Zoltán Doór, President of the Hungarian Logistics Association
• Dr. Ádám Balog, Vice President of the Budapest Chamber of Commerce and Industry
• Tamás Bihall, Vice President for Education and Training Affairs of the Hungarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and President of the Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén County Chamber of Commerce and Industry
• Dr. habil Levente Kovács, Professor, Rector of Óbuda University
• Dr. Mária Kőrösi, Associate Professor, Communications Expert, Board Member of the Széchenyi Society
• László Németh, President of the National Federation of Craftsmen’s Corporations (IPOSZ)
• Dr. Ágnes Szent-Ivány, Chair of the Joint Venture Association’s Ethical Business Conduct Committee, Partner at Sándor Szegedi Szent-Ivány Komáromi Eversheds Sutherland Law Firm
• Dr. József Sztranyák, Vice President of the Budapest Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Vice Chair of the Regional Management Board of VOSZ Central Hungary

The 2024 CSR Hungary Award Winners

The winners and the founder of the award, Takács Júlia

Best Responsible and Sustainable Company

• AUCHAN Hungary / Environmental and Social Sustainability at Auchan Hungary
• Knorr-Bremse Rail Vehicle Systems Hungary Ltd. / “Sustainability, Corporate Responsibility, and LEAN Approach at Knorr-Bremse Budapest Service Center”
• KOSTAL Global Business Services Center Hungary / KOSTAL’s Sustainability Journey and System
• Lidl Hungary / “On the Road to the Future” – Sustainability Strategy
• MBH Bank Plc. / The MBH Bank Sustainable Future Bank Program

Best CSR Program – Shared Issues, Shared Responsibility

• Knorr-Bremse Rail Vehicle Systems Hungary Ltd. / Sports Clubs for Healthy Employees
• Merkbau Ltd. / Carbon Neutralization with Community Power
• Samsung SDI Hungary Ltd. / “Gifting by Supporting” Program
• TRUMPF Hungary Ltd. / TRUMPF’s Stakeholder Focus
• Veolia Energia Hungary Ltd. / “Talent Deserves a Chance” Program

Best Innovation for the Circular Economy

• Cup Revolution Ltd. / Introducing the Cup Revolution reusable cup and food container system
• TRUMPF Hungary Ltd. / Sustainable Manufacturing at TRUMPF

Best Environmental Responsibility

• K&H Healthy Society Foundation / K&H Green Car Financing – On the Path to Sustainable Mobility
• Knorr-Bremse Rail Vehicle Systems Hungary Ltd. / Eco-design Approach in the Railway Industry: Right from the Start
• Mercedes-Benz Manufacturing Hungary Ltd. / “Our Path to CO2-Free Vehicle Production. Sustainability Activities and Achievements of Mercedes-Benz Kecskemét Plant”
• Schaeffler Savaria Ltd. / Climate Protection at Scale – Schaeffler’s Largest Solar Power Plant in Szombathely

The “Soul of CSR” – Best Internal CSR Solutions

• Harman Becker Automotive Systems Manufacturing Ltd. / Harman for Employees
• HiPP Production and Trading Ltd. / Employee Well-being
• Knorr-Bremse Rail Vehicle Systems Hungary Ltd. / Communities in Focus
• Lidl Hungary / “On the Road to the Future” – YOU empowered by #teamlidl – International Sustainability Initiative
• Trivium Packaging BSC Europe / Employee Community

Junior

• E.ON Hungary Group / Champions of the Earth – Communities Together for a Green Future
• Samsung Electronics Hungary Ltd. / Solutions for Tomorrow 2024

Best CSR Communication

• HELL ENERGY Hungary Ltd. / “ALUMANIA 2023 – A Successful Program for Sustainability and Aluminum Can Recycling”
• Lidl Hungary / “On the Road to the Future” – SzelektálOK Campaign

Best Sustainable Agriculture Solution

• K&H Group / K&H Agri CO2 Calculator

Special Awards

Trade Magazine Special Award

• Lidl Hungary / “On the Road to the Future” – SzelektálOK Campaign
• K&H Group / K&H Agri CO2 Calculator

Founded in 2006, CSR Hungary and Trade Magazine, also established in 2006, continue their collaboration in awarding exemplary CSR programs. In addition to its own sustainability competition, Trade Magazine has joined the CSR Hungary competition for the 5th time this year, highlighting two winning FMCG sector applications to further promote their initiatives.

This year, K&H Bank’s Agri CO2 Calculator, as the Best Sustainable Agriculture Solution program, and Lidl Hungary’s “On the Road to the Future” – SzelektálOK Campaign received the Trade Magazine Special Award.

Best Sustainable Agriculture Solution

The K&H Agri CO2 Calculator, based on real production data of the company and international statistics from the sector, shows the carbon footprint of the given business. This tool supports awareness and sustainable operations while also enhancing profitability and contributing to ESG reporting requirements, giving further momentum to the transition to a green economy.

Best CSR Communication Special Award Goes to Lidl[/caption>

Lidl Hungary’s comprehensive SzelektálOK campaign, launched in 2023, helps consumers not only commit to selective waste collection but also provides extensive information on proper waste separation. Effective selective waste collection requires identifying materials and understanding which can be recycled, with numerous considerations to ensure that collected waste is reusable.

– We hope for many more joint competitions with CSR Hungary. Congratulations to all the winners, – said Zsuzsanna Hermann, CEO and Editor-in-Chief of Trade Magazine.

BKIK Special Award

• AUCHAN Hungary / Environmental and Social Sustainability at Auchan Hungary

The Budapest Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BKIK) considers it essential to present good examples to Budapest entrepreneurs, whether they are based in the capital or the countryside. Auchan has consistently demonstrated a sustainable strategy over the years, which is why BKIK awarded the special prize for a non-Budapest-based organization.

Auchan has followed a systematic approach to sustainability since 2019. Starting with introducing cardboard shopping boxes and later alternative packaging, the company has managed to save 172 tons of plastic annually and aims to ensure that its entire private label portfolio uses recyclable packaging by 2025.

This year, all stores and logistics centers will activate solar panels, and since 2016, they have been present in the domestic e-commerce market, offering nationwide services since 2021. Their goal is to minimize environmental impact while maintaining high service quality. They also champion electric vehicles, being the first local retail chain to install charging stations in store parking lots five years ago.

As a socially responsible company, they are committed to supporting local communities and promoting healthy eating, launching several initiatives in recent years. With the support of the Auchan Foundation, they organized the “What and How Much Should I Eat?” digital education program and the sixth school supply drive.

Their exemplary collaboration with non-profit organizations, such as the Hungarian Food Bank Association and the Hungarian Red Cross, ensures that unsold but quality food from all Auchan stores, logistics centers, and online dark stores is donated to nearby communities in need through daily rescue operations. In 2023, they donated a total of 874,899 kg of rescued food.

EUROPA DESIGN Special Award

• HiPP Production and Trading Ltd. / Employee Well-being

CSR Hungary Award website: https://www.csrhungary.eu