Companies getting greener

Regardless of the economic crisis, no company can afford to neglect the protection of our environment, because consumers are getting increasingly sensitive to such issues. – We spend a lot of money on the protection of the environment and our investments are often returned only in decades – emphasises Mónika Hackl from the Tesco chain. – We are pioneers in the use of renewable energy sources like geothermal or solar energy – she adds. They use the so called ECO standard, building all of their new stores in accordance with its provisions and converting older ones as well. Energy consumption in stores built in line with the ECO standard is 15-20 percent lower. Their intention is to reduce the CO emission of their stores by 50 percent by the year 2020. Selective waste collection is also a prerequisite of green behaviour. PET and aluminium bottles are collected in 49 Tesco stores at present. Green Tesco bags made from materials which break down in nature within 18 months are also very popular among consumers. Revenues from Tesco bags are donated to local NGO-s. 25-30 percent of their PR budget is allocated to green projects. As a result, Tesco is seen as the “greenest” retail chain by consumers. The protection of the environment is also a priority for Heineken Hungária. As Éva Kiss, communications director has told us, they continuously monitor the effects their activities and products have on the environment. One of their major environmental projects has been the sewage water cleaning plant in their Sopron brewery. Another similar project was the top multipack packaging (with 5 bottles in a single line) introduced in 2008 for the Zlaty Bazant and Kaiser brands which has lead to a reduction in the quantity of packaging materials used and also in transportation costs. The new multipack products can be placed in crates which helps to rationalise transportation. The main motive for the introduction of the new packaging was not cost reduction, but the protection of the environment by generating 44 tones less waste packaging material (including 38 tonnes of paper) annually. – Environment- friendly operation and the protection of the environment is part of the CSR strategy followed by Coca-Cola Magyarország which is not a campaign but a long term commitment – says Éda Pogány, communications director. Their CSR strategy is expressed in three words: “Everybody, everyday, everywhere”. They do not have a separate green budget but support current environmental projects on a regular basis. The importance of selective waste collection is pointed out on all their labels and during all events organised by them. They also regard the conservation of rivers and lakes as a top priority. Last year, they began to work on the revitalisation of Szabadság island near Mohács together with WWF Magyarország and the local government.