Certain parts of the company have been engaging in selective waste management for years now. We tried to expand it to all divisions in 2020, raising awareness among our colleagues. Going green with stationery, cleaning materials and paper goods is also currently in progress. We have started a competition among our colleagues. Essentially, we cover a key sustainability issue every month, with challenges people can take part in, and the best applicant wins the award for the month, which is also somehow related to the topic at hand.

We worked hard to determine our company’s carbon footprint in 2020. Unfortunately, as a result of our activities – whether construction or commerce – this figure is rather high. We are proud however, that we had already considered using alternative energy sources several years ago. We currently operate a large solar farm in Kiskunhalas, and we installed the maximum number of solar cells on the roof of each of our stores. In addition, the installation of new solar cells is an important factor when designing and building all our new developments. In 2020, almost 50% of our scope2 emissions (direct and intermediate energy use) was compensated by our alternative energy production.

We started a fruit programme at Merkbau in 2020. One day every week, the person in charge purchases a certain amount of fruit on each of our premises, which our colleagues consume with gusto.

 

 

In addition to our internal programmes, we gladly offer help to other organisations and associations. It is important to champion “local causes”, so we primarily support programmes in Kiskunhalas and its environs, or those with some connection to one of our sites.

As part of the renovation of Csetényi Park, the area in front of the Kiskunhalas Hospital will also be renovated. The aged tree-lined avenue was recommended for chopping down, due to the health condition of the trees. Merkbau will take part in this in early April. Naturally, chopping down trees also brings with it the obligation to replace them. An agreement has already been reached on this, and the replacement works will begin in Spring 2021. Our plans for Merkbau include not only bearing the costs of planting trees, but we also intend to participate in the planting works, with the help of our colleagues.

 

 

At the end of every year, we show our appreciation for our partners and our work together throughout the year with some sort of gift (a bottle of wine, engraved glasses, etc.). In 2020 – much like in 2019 – we decided that this gift would not be a material object, and we would instead spend the amount earmarked for these gifts on supporting a worthy cause related to our annual CSR topic. Thus, in 2020, to support the protection of the environment, we contributed to the reduction of our carbon footprint by purchasing 800 native fruit trees. The trees will be planted in Autumn 2020 and Spring 2021. We also made a short film on the subject, which can be seen here:
Continuing the tradition, we once again spent the money earmarked for our partners’ gifts on charitable causes.

In addition to the sustainability projects, we supported the Kiskunhalas Swimming and Therapeutic Swimming Club and the Association for the Kiskunhalas Town Wind Orchestra in 2020, among others. We have had years of cooperation with the Town Wind Orchestra: they play music on our annual opening and closing events, at the Merkbau May Picnic, and they also made the difficult pandemic period much more bearable, with a special performance:
A surprise film for the workers of the Merkbau Group

In 2019, a family in Solt had their home destroyed and made uninhabitable by a truck crashing into it, and we also promised to help them by donating building materials. Construction started in 2020, and even though we were also going through some difficult times, we managed to keep our promise.

We usually plan a programme with our colleagues during Advent, where everyone gets the chance to do some good. Due to the pandemic, in 2020 we were unfortunately unable to organise a programme that people could attend in person. However, we instead started raising funds among our colleagues for Márk Schmé, who we would like to support in his fight with lymphoma. Our company offered firewood for the family. We gave the donations in December personally.

 

We provided financial support to the Németh family in Kiskunhalas, whose roof burned down in early December. We also personally gave gifts to their children.

In 2020, Merkbau competed for the award of Családbarát Vállalat 2020 (Company for Families 2020) in the category of large companies, and we were granted the award by the judges. We believe and affirm that we are a family-friendly company, and in fact we also practice this in our everyday life, as the almost 600 employees of Merkbau Group hang together like a huge family.

Our CSR appearances:

• Merkbau is committed to sustainability and social issues
• Providing help is one of our most important priorities
• Merkbau always keeps its promises
• Merkbau Angels flew to the Paediatrics Department of the Kiskunhalas Hospital
• Company for Families Award 2020
• Continuing the tradition, we once again spent the money earmarked for our partners’ gifts on charitable causes

More causes we supported this year:

• Merkbau-Szilády Football Cup

• II. Rákóczi Ferenc Football Cup

• National Show Jumping Competition

• National Ambulance Service

• Halasmédia Sports Column

• Halas Tennis Club

• Donating building materials to families in need and child-care institutions

• National Rosé Wine Competition

• Raffle items for the Parent and Teachers’ Balls for various schools and nursery schools

• Kiskunhalas Hospital

• Kuruc Vitézek Association