KÉSZ Group's first sustainability report published
Budapest, 29 June 2023 – KÉSZ Group has published its 2022 Sustainability Report prepared in accordance with the GRI 2021 Standard, summarising its activities of the year. This first report is a significant step in further developing the Group's ESG maturity enhancing the transparency of the implementation of its objectives which are partly voluntary and partly required by EU obligations. KÉSZ Group has a strategic approach to sustainability, and has set sustainability targets for the 2022-2030 period that go well beyond the mandatory requirements.
In November 2022, the European Parliament adopted the Directive on Corporate Sustainability Reporting (CSRD) which extended the Non-Financial Reporting Directive (NFRD) to nearly 50,000 companies. In order to prepare in due time for the reporting requirements for large companies from 2025, KÉSZ Group has reviewed its internal processes and data structures, carried out a comprehensive assessment, created a sustainability strategy until 2030 and launched an awareness-raising campaign. The KÉSZ Next programme, which has also won the "Greengage – Green Commitment" award, aims to integrate sustainability into business strategy and gradually integrate it into corporate culture, setting an example for players in the domestic market.
Sustainability is now a competitiveness issue
"KÉSZ Group aims to become an internationally-recognised, technology-driven market leader in the construction industry in several ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) dimensions, by exploiting synergies and cooperating closely with partners. We are aware that sustainability is a business and a competitiveness issue that determines the financing conditions and our role in the supply chain. We know that we have a lot of work ahead, and the first steps of this long journey are presented in this report,“ said Tamás Vida, CEO of KÉSZ Group.
The Sustainability Report includes the Group's environmental, social and governance performance and data, in line with the requirements of the GRI (Global Reporting Initiative), the most widely accepted international sustainability standard.
The report also presents the Group's innovation efforts, as digitalisation and the use of BIM-based solutions is increasingly widespread in the construction industry. Last year, KÉSZ Group adopted its BIM Strategy, which is currently being implemented. Close to 700 colleagues participated in BIM training courses organised in cooperation with the Budapest University of Technology and Economics, and seven of the BIM Scholarship Programme applicants were hired by the Group's member companies and strategic partners.
Focus on vocational training
KÉSZ Group aims to play an active role in providing skilled new talent and to attract young people to the sector. Social goals include a strong focus on increased support for education and training by providing professional training. In recent years, we have made significant progress by building a comprehensive, renewed vocational education and training system: in 2022, more than 350 students participated in the sectoral vocational training organised and supported by KÉSZ Group in five professions, with a student satisfaction rate of over 85%.
Major investments launched
The KÉSZ Group's sustainability strategy includes a 50% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions, a 25% increase in energy efficiency and the increase of the share of renewable energy to 100% by 2030. The Group has made significant investments in this area: renewable energy from the Group's wind farm covers half of our electricity consumption of 2023, it has made significant savings last year through investments in heating and lighting modernisation and other building energy efficiency projects. In Szeged, it is developing its own office building called TILIA by Hexagon Offices, aiming for BREEAM Excellent certification as well as WELL Platinum certification.
KÉSZ Group’s Sustainability Report is available here.
More information on KÉSZ Group's sustainability strategy is available here.