SPAR Hungary customers donate 200,000 aluminium can cash refunds to charity

January 10, 2023 IN THE CATEGORY: Environment, Responsible retailing

Between March and December 2022, SPAR customers in Hungary donated the cash refund from 200,000 aluminium cans to support holiday camps for socially disadvantaged children. The initiative to donate the refund to a charity was launched in March by the Hungarian Charity Service of the Order of Malta, SPAR Hungary’s longstanding charity partner. The initiative raised a total of HUF 1 million in funds and over 3 tonnes of recyclable aluminium was collected.

Customers were asked to return empty aluminium cans to one of the dedicated recycling machines located at selected SPAR and INTERSPAR stores across the country.

“Through the ‘Minden Doboz Visszajár’ (Each can is refunded) initiative, the returned cans have two uses. The aluminium can be recycled, and the donations help hundreds of disadvantaged children to have a summer holiday”, said Márk Maczelka, Head of Communications at SPAR Hungary.

SPAR Hungary has worked with the Hungarian Charity Service of the Order of Malta for over 25 years. Another milestone was reached in this partnership in March 2022, when the donation option became available for customers returning aluminium cans as part of this special initiative.

In 2021, 20 million cans were returned to over 30 machines in SPAR and INTERSPAR stores, which weighed 320 tonnes and equalled 2% of all the aluminium cans sold on the Hungarian market. Customers return on average 20 million cans to these machines annually, which means more than 220 million aluminium cans have been recycled since the first automated collection system was installed almost 12 years ago.

Source: SPAR Hungary

About SPAR Hungary

The first SPAR Supermarket opened in Hungary in 1992, following the acquisition by ASPIAG (Austria SPAR International AG) of a majority stake in General Kereskedelmi Rt. Since its launch, SPAR Hungary has been actively involved in developing the country’s retail industry.

The licensing of independent retailers to operate the SPAR Brand in Hungary has proven successful. The retailers benefit from access to SPAR Own Brand products and expertise, while consumers enjoy the increased number of store locations. SPAR Hungary is one of the country’s largest employers, with nearly 18,000 team members. SPAR Hungary runs a network of over 610 company-owned and independently-run stores. The retailer’s online platform is available in Budapest and over 50 surrounding municipalities.