Sustainability in every field of life

The 5R rule

Dr Zoltán Fehér, conservation manager at WWF Magyarország: “The 5R rule (Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Rot) explains what we should do in our daily lives for the sustainability of the planet. With food products the basic rule is to buy local and seasonal groceries, as their ecological footprint is much smaller. Before buying consumer durables (clothes, consumer electronics, etc.), ask yourself the question: Do I really need this product?”

WWF Magyarország has developed a smartphone app called Léptem, which relies on Hungarian data in calculating one’s individual ecological footprint, and then makes tailor-made recommendations on how to reduce it.

Ending famine is the ultimate goal

Lev Neretin, senior natural resources officer of the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO): “The food that we throw away would be enough to feed billions of people every year. Individuals also have their role in reaching the Sustainable Development Goals, but it is the responsibility of governments, corporations and international organisations to drive us towards new solutions.” FAO’s main task is ending famine and ensuring that everyone has access to food on planet Earth. In 2021 the organisation established a global coordination centre for helping countries in reforming their food systems. Last year famine affected approximately 702-828 million people, 150 million more than in 2019. 2030 is the date set for reaching the zero hunger goal – forecast is that more than 670 million people will still be going hungry in that year.

Training sustainability experts

Green Brands Academy has started its certified sustainability manager training programme, because today no company can do successful employer branding or win the trust of consumers if it doesn’t have a credible and well-working environmental, social and governance (ESG) strategy. Gábor Lévai and András Wiszkidenszky, the founders of the certified sustainability manager training programme: “The change is already tangible, we can say that there is a revolution going on in ESG all over the world, and hopefully this will make a positive impact. It isn’t enough if a company introduces selective waste collection; although this step can be communicated well, it doesn’t improve the overall situation. Instead of this we teach the stakeholder approach, asking future sustainability managers to map the stakeholders of their companies, and specify – with their characteristics in mind – what kind of strategy would work best.”

It is key to prepare for the changes

Gergely Hankó, managing director of the Hungarian Association of Environmental Enterprises (KSZGYSZ) is of the opinion that now that sustainability is a topical issue, we must take the next step and do things in practice. Higher energy prices have speeded up this process, but the most efficient solution is if we do planning in advance, and inform and involve the stakeholders. “We should communicate quick, fact-based information to people about the state of play in resources, and what they can expect because of the energy crisis and the climate change. Part of this has been done, but prevention, preparation and communicating the information could have been more detailed and better planned, as for instance it really matters how hundreds of thousands of people switch to a new type of heating.” //

I drink smartly

Diána Damásdi
sustainability expert
Dreher Breweries

“We have made a commitment that 20% of our product selection will be alcohol-free by 2030. Dreher Breweries is also dedicated to promoting responsible alcohol consumption, with the I Drink Smartly programme, which has been going on for 13 years. We are proud of the fact that at Dreher there is no discrimination based on sex, age, nationality or anything else, as we are strong supporters of the culture of involvement” – told Diána Damásdi, sustainability expert of Dreher Breweries.

//

Health-conscious products in the spirit of sustainability

Judit Tőzsér
head of corporate communications
Lidl Magyarország

For Lidl Magyarország it is a priority to keep increasing its permanent and temporary selection of vegetarian, vegan, organic, lactose- and gluten-free product selection. Customers can now choose from nearly 350 such products in Lidl stores. Head of company communication Judit Tőzsér told that sales of healthy and special diet products grew by almost 30% from 2020 to 2021. In the autumn of 2021 Lidl launched the carbon neutral Vemondo range – shoppers who purchase these contribute to climate protection. //

Positive changes

Dániel Salem 
national trade marketing
manager
Heineken Hungária
Breweries

Heineken Hungária has eliminated PET bottle products from its portfolio, saving 200 tonnes of plastic a year with this step. Single-use plastic cups have been replaced with biodegradable paper cups made by Hungarian companies. Dániel Salem, national trade marketing manager of Heineken Hungária Breweries Zrt.: “We want to reach carbon neutral production by 2030, and from 2040 Heineken breweries will switch to net zero emission across the whole supply chain.” //

Sustainability and competitiveness are driving forces in agriculture

CSR Hungary and Hipp Kft. organised the CSR Afternoon, a social responsibility and sustainable agriculture themed event in Hanságliget on 19 July 2022.

Júlia Takács
founder and MD
CSR Hungary

Dr. Csaba Bódi
managing director
HIPP

Dr Csaba Bódi, managing director of HIPP Termelő és Kereskedelmi Kft. explained that HIPP’s strategy is to manufacture healthy and tasty organic baby food, which is in line with the latest results in nutrition science.

dr. Zsolt Feldman 
state secretary of agriculture and rural development
Ministry of Agriculture

Dr Zsolt Feldman, state secretary of agriculture stated that the government gives priority to achieving a balance between the economic, environmental and social dimensions of sustainability. //

This article is to be read on pp 52-58 of Trade magazin 2022.08-09.