Romania has significant potential for renewable energy, with regions like Dobrogea attracting investments in wind energy projects due to high-intensity winds.
As the global imperative for sustainable business practices continues to intensify, companies worldwide are facing the challenge of adapting to this evolving landscape.
While circularity has surged into the mainstream, earning the status of a "megatrend," data paints a contrasting picture.
JTI Romania follows the group's strategy to improve its environmental footprint, says Gilda Lazăr, Director of Corporate Affairs & Communications at JTI Romania, Moldova & Bulgaria.
Diageo has set a complex 10-year ESG action plan called “Society 2030: Spirit of Progress” which outlines its commitments and actions for a more sustainable future, says Gergely Abraham, Corporate Relations Director Eastern Europe at Diageo.
Sustainability in office design should be considered as an integral and systemic approach, rather than a series of isolated actions, says Horatiu Didea, Managing Partner of Workspace Studio.
UPS cares about sustainability and aims to become carbon neutral by 2050 globally, says Daniela Constantinescu, UPS Country Manager for Hungary, Greece, Romania, and Slovenia.
Orange Romania is aligned with Orange Group's goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2040 and is implementing measures to monitor and optimize energy consumption while simultaneously increasing the use of electricity from renewable sources, says Teodora Toma – CSR Programs Coordinator, Orange Romania. She talked to Green Forum about the ESG objectives of Orange Romania and its commitment to a cleaner environment. She says that operating more sustainably has resulted in a reduction of approximately 4 GWh in the company's energy consumption in 2022. The company has collected approximately 395.000 old phones and many others in its Recycling boxes, a part of which being Refurbished. Orange Romania aims to have up to 20% refurbished phones in its offer by 2025.
Heineken is building on a solid foundation in all the 3 main areas in its sustainability strategy, in every market where it operates, says Ana Crivăț, Director of Corporate Affairs, Heineken Romania. She talked to Green Forum about the company's sustainability goals for 2030 and about Heineken's responsible drinking campaigns.
The total amount of sustainable loans granted by Raiffeisen Bank last year exceeded €500 million and the entire portfolio of green products for corporate customers reached €435 million, says Laura Mihăilă, Director of Marketing, Communication & CX at Raiffeisen Bank Romania. She talked to Green Forum about Raiffeisen Bank Romania's ESG strategy and the measures the bank is implementing to reduce the negative environmental impact.
Lidl Romania proposes to use more and more renewable energy sources, says Maria Mihai, Head of Corporate Communication and CSR. She talked to Green Forum about what ESG means for Lidl Romania, the company's current sustainability targets, and the measures that the company has taken regarding care for the environment, and reduced water and energy consumption.
The future of thermal heating relies on heat pumps and boilers running on hydrogen mixed with gas, says Cătălin Drăguleanu, Senior Director at Ariston Romania. He talked to Green Forum about the consumer expectations in Romania compared to those in other parts of Europe and the priorities of Ariston in terms of sustainability investments.
BRD has strengthened its involvement in financing the transition to sustainability with the total volume of new sustainable financing reaching over RON 1.2 billion (€240 million) in the first half of 2023, says Flavia Popa, Secretary General, BRD Groupe Société Générale. She talked to the Green Forum about the target regarding the reduction of water and energy consumption in the BRD offices and also about the social projects that the bank supports.
At Romania's Ministry of Environment, Water and Forests, priorities and challenges change from day to day, depending on events and issues, says Mircea Fechet, Minister of the Environment, Waters and Forests. He talked to Green Forum about the environmental infringements that Romania currently has about the plastic pollution in rivers and about the plans for accessing PNRR funds.
A sustainable building, whatever its destination, can be 15-20% more expensive than an ordinary one, says Marian Ciupitu, General Manager of Terano Construct. He talked to Green Forum about the company's ESG strategy and about the advantages of a sustainable building. He also says that Romania is continually improving its position regarding environmentally friendly constructions, but compared to Western European countries, Romania is still far from being a role model in this aspect. Marian Ciupitu specifies that the company strives to develop sustainable buildings that reduce the impact on the environment, improve the lives of communities, and promote high standards of ethics and transparency in all operational aspects.
BAT aims to be carbon neutral across its own operations by 2030, says Ileana Dumitru, Legal, and External Affairs Director for the South Eastern Europe Area at BAT. She talked to Green Forum about the role of ESG in BAT`s global strategy and about the company`s most ambitious sustainability targets.
People are no longer throwing away their phones when they break and prefer to repair them, says Irina Mincinopschi, General Manager of Depanero. She talked to Green Forum about the company's strategy in the area of sustainability, the types of CSR projects that the company supports, and the advantages of using solar energy. Many electronic products nearing the end of their life, like computers, TVs, printers, refrigerators, etc., can be reused, refurbished, or recycled. Irina Mincinopschi also says that, in 2022, the company reached a volume of 5 million repairs carried out.
By 2030, Auchan aims to reduce CO2 emissions by 46% compared to 2019, says Corina Dospinoiu, Sustainability Director Auchan Retail Romania. She talked to Green Forum about the 2030 Climate Plan and about the company's main sustainability targets.
ING Bank Romania has invested €11 million in the past 11 years in environmental actions in Romania and €1.2 million were donated in 2022 alone for vulnerable groups' support, says Alexandra Maier, Sustainability Manager at ING Bank Romania.
Lack of education in terms of ESG (environmental, social, and governance) and a poor number of good practice solutions are two of the challenges in the field, says Matius Ichim, Architect at Matius Studio and owner of the retail platform www.prioretail.ro. He talked to Green Forum about the advantages of a sustainably built commercial space. He says that 15-20% of the operating networks in Romania have started implementing ESG key principles in their fit-out design and close to 5% in full sustainable standards.
For the green transformation of the Romanian economy, it is of critical importance to have a true alignment of the private and public sectors.
The European Commission will allocate nearly €720 million to seven renewable hydrogen projects across Europe.
The Romanian Ministry of Energy announced that he offshore wind energy law will come into effect on May 30th.
The European Commission and EU consumer authorities have reached out to 20 airlines regarding potentially misleading green claims.
Over 15,000 residences in Romania have been certified as "Green Homes" or have obtained precertification (still in the construction phase) between 2014 and 2024.
