Coca-Cola Hungary won BCSDH’s For a Sustainable Future 2020 Award

Providing adequate food for the world's growing population is essential. Due to the pandemic, we have experienced what it means to be dependent on food from other countries in times of crisis, and due to closed borders. What can business do? At the Virtual Business lunch of the Business Council for Sustainable Development in Hungary (BCSDH), the “For a Sustainable Future” awards were presented at the event this year in an atypical way, as not only were outstanding leaders and corporate solutions recognized, but also sustainability initiatives that have been implemented during the pandemic.

The three-point recommendation for the business sector was presented at the event, which points the way forward regarding the implementation of sustainable food systems that take all the issues of biodiversity into consideration. The organization, which brings together 98 member companies that generate about 30% of Hungarian GDP, presented the “For a Sustainable Future” Award for the fourth time, in the Change leader, Social Responsibility category.

BCSDH’s recommendations for the business sector related to increasing the sustainability of food:

1. Establish shorter and more diverse supply chains to support resilience 
2. Develop action plans to minimize food waste by increasing efficiency and raising awareness
3. Manage and invest into the rehabilitation and preservation of biodiversity

“For a Sustainable Future” Award 2020 – Companies and leaders for sustainability

The awarding ceremony of the “For a Sustainable Future” Award was also hosted at the Virtual Business Lunch.

The winners were selected by a jury consisting of five members: Dr. Gábor Bartus, Szilvia Krizsó, Irén Márta, István Salgó, and Prof. Dr. Diána Ürge-Vorsatz.

The winner of the Change leader category: Ágnes Kovács (Sió-Eckes)

The winners of the Social Responsibility category:

• Coca-Cola Hungary's "Subsidies provided in the first phase of the COVID-19 pandemic" program, which provided rapid business support as a noble goal;
• Generali Biztosító Zrt.'s "Life-long partnership even during a pandemic" is an initiative that aims to create COVID-resistant operations internally and with partners;
• Grundfos Magyarország Kft.'s "Security and stability in the time of a pandemic" program, which takes care of both employees and stakeholders.

The "Subsidies provided by Coca-Cola Hungary in the first phase of the COVID-19 pandemic" program earned the award for its extremely quick response to the pandemic. During the program, significant financial and professional support was provided to the Red Cross. Business goals were subordinated to a nobler goal, while employees were also involved in volunteering tasks. In addition to helping inform society, the mobilization program also helped those in need. 

The award was received by Péter Kerekes, The Coca-Cola Company's General Manager in Hungary, and László Békefi, General Manager of Coca-Cola HBC Magyarország Kft.

You can read more information about Coca-Cola’s support during the pandemic on this link.