Sustainability

Our vision

In addition to its economic role, which is considered a strength of the EDC-DIF group, the company is a role model in its own internal operations, and is sensitive to social and environmental issues. In its daily activities, it helps the city and the companies operating in its territory to achieve not only economic prosperity but also environmental sustainability.

Our sustainability programme

Our goals:

Promoting sustainable mobility

Our aim is to shift mobility from the private car to public transport and active mobility for work and work-related purposes.

Responsible waste management

Our aim is to reduce the amount of work-related waste, increase the proportion of recycled materials, and develop individual responsibility in the area of conscious waste management.

Increasing energy efficiency

Our aim is to rationalise and reduce the energy consumption resulting from the use of our working environment through physical interventions and energy-efficient attitudes.

Our sustainability
related good practices

There is a horizontal working group dedicated to sustainability issues.

We pay special attention to raising the environmental awareness of our colleagues.

Company bicycles and scooters can be booked to support commuting to work. Organisation of cycling tours.

We have an active cycling community.

Waste is collected separately and we provide up-to-date information to help you dispose of it properly.

We give preference to reusable materials and tools.

We support the reduction of paper use with digital solutions.

We work with other local organisations to strengthen sustainability initiatives.

Implement local actions that also promote the sustainability of Debrecen.

Cyclist-friendly workplace

EDC Debrecen first applied for the Bicycle-Friendly Workplace Award in 2019, and we were honored to receive the recognition that year. In 2020, our organization—responsible for the city and economic development of Debrecen—won in the small and medium-sized enterprises category, and as part of the award, we received a new bicycle. We successfully earned the title again in 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024, proudly holding the Bicycle-Friendly Workplace certification for six consecutive years. In 2023, as a category winner once more, our company’s bicycle fleet was expanded with a new bike.

What makes us a cycling-friendly workplace?

Promotional events: Bike breakfast with service, bike ride, Bike to Work challenge

Leading by example: drivers are also regular cyclists

Employee survey on sustainable mobility

Cooperation with the Hungarian Cycling Club and NGOs

Company bicycles: 2 new bicycles + new e-scooter, bookable for work and private use

Cycling infrastructure: guarded storage, bike storage for 32 bikes, changing room, shower room

Our corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities

As a bridge, EDC-DIF Debrecen organises actions involving local economic actors that focus on environmental responsibility and social benefits, in line with the city's sustainability ambitions.

Brunch Breakfast in Debrecen

In the spring of 2025, we supported the Hungarian Cyclists’ Club for the fourth consecutive year in organizing the ‘Bike to Work Breakfast’ in Debrecen and actively encouraged local companies to join the initiative. Participating businesses provided breakfast at their own premises and at their own expense, either for their employees or the general public. We played a catalytic role in this process: thanks to our involvement, the Cyclists’ Club’s campaign was present at more than 20 locations across Debrecen in 2025, promoting active and sustainable mobility.

World Cleanup Day in Debrecen

The first "Debrecen should pick up..." waste collection campaign was organized in September 2023 with the participation of 12 local companies and numerous volunteers in the Erdőspuszta area of Debrecen. In just one day, 125 participants helped remove a total of 6,880 kg of illegal solid waste from the area. Building on the success and popularity of the initiative, the event was organized for the second time in 2024, during which 150 employees from 14 companies collected a total of 100 cubic meters of illegal waste in a single day

The event was coordinated by EDC-DIF as part of the global World Cleanup Day campaign.

"Water is our common treasure"

In 2023, a public awareness campaign called "Water is our common treasure" was launched to raise awareness of the importance of keeping rainwater local and to reduce the number of illegal connections to the sewage system. In the framework of the campaign, 300 300-litre rainwater harvesting barrels were distributed as part of the environmental CSR activities, thanks to the DMJV Municipality, and 185 rainwater harvesting barrels were distributed with the support of local companies.

The action was carried out with the support of the Policy Support Facility, a programme of experts set up by the European Covenant of Mayors.

DebrecenMOB

The main aim of the DebrecenMob initiative was to promote active and sustainable transport. In partnership with the City of Debrecen, the project was initiated and led by the Barcelona Region and funded by EIT Urban Mobility. Every month from mid-September 2020 until the end of the year, DebrecenMob participants were able to take part in a new playful transport challenge through an app.

The challenge was a game where participants were rewarded if they used active and sustainable transport. Participating players could redeem their points from the challenges for discounts and, if they reached their target, they could enter the draw to win valuable prizes offered by local businesses. More than fifty companies joined the initiative in this way.

Climathon

Climathon is a global initiative organised by the EIT Climate-KIC to encourage citizens to take action against climate change.
Open to everyone and free of charge, the 24-hour Climathon idea fairs were held in Debrecen twice in 2018 and 2019: the first time on reducing air pollution, traffic and particulate matter, and the second time on air pollution from waste. One of the main strengths of Climathon is that it does not encourage participants to solve template problems, but seeks to answer questions that are really pressing issues for a city.

Cooperating partners: the Municipality of DMJV, EDC Debrecen Nonprofit Ltd.; Herman Ottó Institute Nonprofit Ltd, EIT Climate-KIC

Would you like to contact our team of experts?

EDC Debrecen Nonprofit Ltd. is looking forward to your inquiry.