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ECOPROFIT®
- a Public Private Partnership Model for Sustainable Development
Herbert Zlöbl, Christoph Holzner,
Petra Oswald, Yue-dong Shen
(CPC
Austria, Graz, Austria)
Abstract:
ECOPROFIT®
this
model of
sustainable economic development focuses on the application of
preventive environmental strategies with respect to processes, products
and services. One factor for the success is the special manner of
co-operation between local authorities and companies as well as the
networking of the companies taking part in the program.
Keywords:
ECOPROFIT®
, Cleaner
Production, Sustainable Development, Public Private Partnership
1.
What is ECOPROFIT®?
1.1
History
ECOPROFIT®,
the „Ecological Project For Integrated
Environmental Technology“,
is a program for sustainable economic development which was established
by the City of Graz in 1991. For ECOPROFIT®, among other
awards, the city was awarded the “European Sustainable City Award
1996” and was a finalist in the “Bremen Partnership Award Contest”
2001.
1.2
Idea
The fundamental idea of
ECOPROFIT® is a win-win-model. It tends to strengthen
companies economically by using environmental-friendly technologies and
simultaneously improves the ecological situation in a region.
1.3
The Public Private Partnership model
This model of sustainable
economic development focuses on the application of preventive
environmental strategies with respect to processes, products and
services.
One
factor for the success is the special manner of co-operation between
local authorities and companies as well as the networking of the
companies taking part in the program.
That
way, effects of synergy develop and assure the ECOPROFIT®
success for authorities and companies, and points out that ECOPROFIT®
is a model for Public Private Partnership (PPP). Compared to the
eco-management systems EMAS and ISO 14001 ECOPROFIT® can
be rated more efficient due to its sustainable success and its lower
costs for the companies.
Fig.1.
The co-operation model
As a result of the big demand and for better dissemination of the
project, the ECOPROFIT® Academy was founded. The Academy
is for participants at home and abroad. In an extensive training program
consultants and representatives of local authorities are taught the
contents, the structure and the method of ECOPROFIT®.
Additional
services of the Cleaner Production Center Austria support the initiators
of the project at the realisation in their respective regions. That way,
quality and success of the projects at home and abroad are guaranteed.
To enable the big economical and ecological success also in other
cities and regions, the city of Graz applied for the international
patent for ECOPROFIT®. Since 2000 the trademark ECOPROFIT®
is an international registered and copyrighted label.
The
city of Graz charged the Cleaner Production Center Austria with the
international dissemination of the project, the allocation of licences
as well as quality assurance within the trademark.
Fig.2.
The trademark ECOPROFIT®
3.
What is ECOPROFITâ
able to do?
Fig.3.
The factor 10 program
4.
ECOPROFITâ
- advantages for companies
•
Factor
10 between project-input and output
•
Increase
in production efficiency and reduction of costs due to less consumption
of raw material and energy
•
Reduction
of costs due to smaller amounts of
waste and emissions
•
Transparent
cost-accounting
•
Good
overview on relevant laws and regulations for the company
•
Promotion
of motivation and team spirit within companies
•
Common
training programs
•
Support
of the project by local authorities
•
Presentation
of companies and regions via international networks
•
Certification
to “ECOPROFITâ
company” and integration in common PR activities
•
Preparation
or Addition to EMAS or ISO 14001
•
Support
by meeting the OECD guidelines
5.
ECOPROFITâ
- advantages for authorities
•
Factor
10 between economy support and success of the project
•
Controlling-instrument
for the implementation of sustainable structures
•
Successful
companies improve infrastructure and add to job security in a region
•
Establishment
of sustainable structures due to efficient support in economy
•
Environmental
relief and less expenses for bio-remediation
•
International
advantages regarding location and competition
•
Improvement
of the image of a region and promotion of tourism
•
Higher
quality of life for the inhabitants of cities and regions
•
Support
at the realisation of Local Agenda 21 objectives to reach the Kyoto
target
•
Support
to secure the OECD guidelines
6.
How does ECOPROFIT® work?
The success of ECOPROFIT® bases on three essential
elements:
•
Training
management-consultants and representatives of authorities the ECOPROFIT®
methodology
•
Professional
implementation of the project in the frame of a network (companies,
consultants, authorities, universities) including the know-how transfer
to the companies
•
Quality
assurance to secure the economical and ecological success
Fig.4.
Train the trainer program for authorities and consultants
6.1
Training at the ECOPROFIT® Academy
The ECOPROFIT® Academy is a competence center
which teaches management-consultants and representatives of authorities
the ECOPROFIT® method.
Lecturers
and trainers of the seminars are participants of running ECOPROFIT®
programs home and abroad (companies, consultants, authorities,
universities) as well as international experts in specific subjects.
This
training gives the participants of the ECOPROFIT® Academy
the qualification and necessary entitlement to process ECOPROFIT®
projects as licensed ECOPROFIT® -project manager and/or
ECOPROFIT® -consultants along the guidelines and to
advise companies.
The
basic “train the trainer program” consists of
•
a
one-week-seminar at the ECOPROFIT® Academy (see below)
•
the
development of a practical realisation concept
•
a
final presentation and certification
•
and
a continuously ongoing training program (e-working, tele-learning)
6.2
Content –
train the trainer program
•
Network-management
•
PR
and marketing for public networks
•
e-working,
tele-learning
•
EDP-supported
material flow management
•
Analysis
of production and processes
•
Waste/emissions
management and strategies for avoidance
•
Economic
aspects of the reduction of raw material, waste and emissions
•
Environmental-related
identification and assessment of costs, ecological controlling
•
Development
of an internal sustainability program
•
Development
strategies for creative/innovative ideas and measures
•
Project
management
•
Environmental
legislation
•
Company
visits
7.
Implementation of an ECOPROFITâ
- project
7.1
Project management
The duration for the
realisation of an ECOPROFIT® project is one year. Within
this year certified ECOPROFIT® project managers are
responsible for the whole project organisation whereas the ECOPROFIT®
consultants hold the workshops and help to establish the realisation
concepts.
7.2
Training for companies
In about 10 workshops,
employees of the participating companies are taught in various aspects
of integrated environmental protection. The focus is put on energy,
water, material flow management, production and process analysis, waste
management, ecological controlling, and legal security.
7.3
Implementation in companies
Simultaneously, the companies are audited for potential savings
with modern methods as EDP-supported material flow management and
process analysis. Experts will raise and evaluate the necessary data and
work out measures for improvement together with the companies and then
implement them in the companies.
At
the end of the project year, an independent commission checks the
reached improvements which result from the implemented measures. The
certification as “ECOPROFIT® company” proves the
company’s success.
Fig.5.
The ECOPROFIT® process
7.4
Quality controlling
The CPC Austria is
responsible for quality assurance of the label ECOPROFIT®.
Therefore we offer services to support representatives of authorities
and consultants at the course of the project, which consequently
strengthens the sustainable success. The unique combination of workshops
and individual advice secures that the know-how remains within the
company and the company may benefit even after the end of the project.
7.5
Follow up program
The project should be continued in follow-up programs (further
increase of knowledge, individual advice, networking among companies).
8.
Financing of ECOPROFITâ
projects
8.1
Cost sharing through network
Due to the recommended number
of 10 participating companies at an ECOPROFIT® project
and the therefore shared costs for consultants,
the amount is only 10 per cent of the expenses for a comparable
EMAS or ISO 14001 project. Flexibility of the contents and the profit of
synergy effects also contribute to the minor costs.
8.2
Funding
The total costs for a
one-year ECOPROFIT® project with participation of 10
companies result from the following costs:
•
costs
for 10 workshops (15 – 20 days of consulting service)
•
costs
for 3 days of consultation for each company (30 days)
•
costs
of authorities for promotion activities and documentation
•
costs
for training of one representative at the ECOPROFIT®
Academy in the first year.
Under the aspect of active
economic promotion the funds should be raised by public grants and by
contributions of the participating companies.
A
usual proportion in financing is public grants to company contributions
at a ratio of 2:1.
Fig.6.
Financing of ECOPROFIT®
Initiators of ECOPROFIT® projects should also
consider possibilities of sponsorship and co-financing by EU projects.
8.3
Application of funds
The
experience shows, that total costs are allocated on the following
positions:
•
Consultants,
70 %
for
the acquisition of companies, workshops, individual company consultation,
realisation of measures, documentation.
•
authorities,
20%
for
project management (PM), project organisation, PR, documentation,
commission, certification, licence fees, promotion
Fig.7.
Application of funds
•
ECOPROFIT®
Academy , 10%
for
training at the ECOPROFIT® Academy, quality assurance
(QA), project coaching, evaluation
The results of many ECOPROFIT®
projects show, that the proportion grant to total savings for a
city/region is at a ratio of about 1:10. The proportion of investment to
savings for the participating companies is even 1:20.
To secure the sustainable success, we recommend the cities and
regions to take benefit from competition among ECOPROFIT®
consultants in order to establish a network.
9.
The international ECOPROFITâ
network
In order to extend the very successful co-operation between
companies and municipalities, the local networks should be integrated in
an international ECOPROFIT® network.
The continuously further developed ECOPROFIT® know
how is spread and discussed in seminars, but also in internet.
That
way, the development of new environmental technologies should be
encouraged, in order to grant a fast implementation in companies and
municipalities in Europe and the rest of the world. Interdisciplinary
co-operation and partnerships between different ECOPROFIT®
participants, as well as the profit from synergy effects, is for all
members of the network a big chance for more economical and ecological
success.
9.1
Structure of the international ECOPROFIT® network
Runner: ·
Cleaner
Production Center Austria
·
ECOPROFIT®
cities/regions with
·
consultants and companies
·
universities
·
research institutes
·
LA-21-organisations
Tasks/Services:
•
dissemination
of ECOPROFIT® know how
•
further
development of ECOPROFIT®
•
information
and communication platform for ECOPROFIT® topics
•
international
exchange of experience
•
additional
information to ECOPROFIT® (magazine, internet)
•
establishment
of local and regional networks for waste utilisation for a
resource-saving circular flow economy
•
optimisation
of added value chains
•
creation
of EU projects (partner networks with Eastern Europe
10.
Service of CPC
Austria
With its services, the CPC Austria guarantees
quality of the label ECOPROFIT®.
The necessary training of consultants and public representatives before
project start as well as the project accompanying activities contribute
to the final success.
An
individual offer of services on site or via internet should help to
secure the sustainable success of your city or region.
Our
services:
•
ECOPROFIT®
Academy, “train the trainer program” (theoretical basics, workshops,
company visits)
•
ECOPROFIT®
Academy follow-up
•
Support
at the creation of a realisation concept
•
Tele-learning
academy
•
Lectures
and workshops via internet
•
Special
workshops (via Internet)
•
Support
at project management
•
Project
controlling (check of project course, support)
•
Participation
at the checking commission
•
Total
evaluation of an ECOPROFIT® project
•
Membership
at the international ECOPROFIT® network
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