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[[File:ecoprofit_logo.gif|thumb|Logo EcoProfit, source: http://www.cpc.at/oeko/oe_WasIst_e.htm]]
==History==
''"Saving money and helping the environment by combining financial gain and ecological benefit schemes <ref>http://business.metropoleruhr.de/en/consulting-service/information-for-entrepreneurs/oekoprofit.html Wirtschaftsförderung metropoleruhr GmbH - Information for entrepreneurs - Ökoprofit</ref>."
''
The City of Graz, the capital of the federal state of Styria, is the second largest city in Austria and economic heart of the province of Styria<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graz#cite_note-grazpraes-1 Graz, Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia</ref>. The City of Graz is nowadays increasingly renowned for its exemplary efforts for sustainable development and known as a leader in integrating ideas of sustainability into the city developing plans and policies <ref>[http://www.graz.at/cms/beitrag/10045136/4519230 A Short History of the City of Graz]
</ref>. In the early 1990s, the region of the City of Graz experienced serious problems caused by air polution; the environmental situation reached a critical stage<ref>http://eportfolio.lib.ksu.edu.tw/user/T/0/T093000023/repository/09A0031.pdf The Case of Municipal Policy Enhancing SMEs through an Environmental Approach</ref>.


== '''CASE STUDY: PROJECT ÖKOPROFIT''' ==


In response, the Environmental Department of the City of Graz and the Graz University of Technology cooperated to develop and implement a local environmental management initiative in the City of Graz using integrated environmental technologies to strengthen small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) economically and simultaneously improve the local environment<ref>http://www.cpc.at/oeko/oe_WasIst_e.htm CPC-Austria - ECOPROFIT® - The idea</ref>. This resulted in 1991 by project ÖKOPROFIT (ÖKOlogistics PROjekt Für Integriete Umwelt-Technik), the ECOPROFIT (ECOlogical PROject For Integrated environmental Technology) which shifts environmental policy from the "end of pipe" stage to the "in process" stage and helps to protect the environment and reduce costs for business by methodological supporting companies of all kinds and sizes to introduce and improve its environmental management schemes<ref>http://eportfolio.lib.ksu.edu.tw/user/T/0/T093000023/repository/09A0031.pdf The Case of Municipal Policy Enhancing SMEs through an Environmental Approach</ref> <ref>http://business.metropoleruhr.de/en/consulting-service/information-for-entrepreneurs/oekoprofit.html Wirtschaftsförderung metropoleruhr GmbH - Information for entrepreneurs - Ökoprofit</ref>.


''"Saving money and helping the environment by combining financial gain and ecological benefit"''


The city of Graz, the capital of Styria, is the second largest city in Austria and the economic heart of the province of Styria. About 40% of Styria's GDP is produced in Graz and its surroundings. The Styrian capital is nowadays increasingly renowned for its examplary efforts for sustainable development but in the early 1990s the city of Graz experienced serious problems with its air quality and the environmental situation reached a critical point.
The model ECOPROFIT has been adopted as itself by towns and municipalities all over Austria and abroad or modified to local different circumstances while the main approach remained the same<ref>http://www.nszm.cz/cb21/archiv/akce/_nszm/nszm06/sekce06/vsetin/prez_Rakousko.pdf Local Agenda 21 - Sustainable City Graz Austria</ref>. For the first time it was implemented in Germany as part of the Munich Agenda 21<ref>http://business.metropoleruhr.de/en/consulting-service/information-for-entrepreneurs/oekoprofit.html Wirtschaftsförderung metropoleruhr GmbH - Information for entrepreneurs - Ökoprofit</ref><ref>http://www.stenum.at/en/?id=produkte/oeko/oeko-intro STENUM GmbH. - EcoProfit® Ecological Project for Integrated Environmental Protection</ref>. The ECOPROFIT approach is used in Graz, Vienna and next in cities in Austria, 60 more cities in Germany, in Italy, in India, in Colombia, in Korea, in China as a model of cooperation of the community with regional companies<ref>http://ec.europa.eu/environment/sme/pdf/okoprofit_en.pdf</ref>.


In response, the Environmental Agency of the city of Graz and the University of Graz cooperated in developing a local initiative. The result in 1991 was the ÖKOPROFIT (ÖKOlogistics PROjekt Für Integriete Umwelt-Technik), the ECOPROFIT (ECOlogical PROject For Integrated environmental Technology), an environmental program that aims to help local communities achieve sustainable economic development through improving the eco-efficiency of enterprises. ÖKOPROFIT was developed by STENUM from 1992 to 1993 on behalf of the city of Graz. The model developed in Graz has been adopted by towns and municipalities all over Austria and abroad, and, for instance, it was implemented for the first time in Germany as part of the Munich Agenda 21.  
The City of Graz has received a number of international awards for the project ECOPROFIT. The project received the "European Sustainable City Award 1996" and the "Dubai International Award for Best Practices to improve the Living Environment 2002". It was also a finalist in the "Bremen Partnership Award Contest 2001"<ref>http://www.cpc.at/oeko/oe_WasIst_e.htm CPC-Austria - ECOPROFIT® - The idea</ref>. By awarding EU the City of Graz has become the first European Sustainable City<ref>http://www.nszm.cz/cb21/archiv/akce/_nszm/nszm06/sekce06/vsetin/prez_Rakousko.pdf Local Agenda 21 - Sustainable City Graz Austria</ref>.


Ještě pokračujeme...
The project ECOPROFIT has been successful thanks to its unique way to local authorities, businesses and consultants. All interested groups work together through common training programs and networking. This provides an effective flow of information, know-how and considerable synergies. Operational objectives as same as the idea of environmental protection which fits to region are equally major for the future diversification of the local economy and a guarantee for creating new jobs. The economic, ecological and social value of ECOPROFIT perfectly complies with the three dimensions of sustainable development<ref>http://www.cpc.at/oeko/oe_WasIst_e.htm</ref> .  


= Comparison of the Czech and Austrian approach to SD with a focus on stakeholders in the Ústí Region and Styria =
The priority is the permanent further development of the project. Wishes of the participants were for example development of the tourism or small companies with less as 10 employees. Projects are financed through public grants and through contributions from participating companies<ref>http://www.cpc.at/oeko/oe_WasIst_e.htm</ref> .


== Introduction ==
== Structure of the ECOPROFIT Program ==
''"ECOPROFIT® builds on a step-by-step plan consisting of an academy, a basic program and a subsequent club program<ref> http://www.cpc.at/oeko/oe_1-2_e.htm </ref>".''


In the week from 10th to 15th September a group of fifteen Czech students attended a sustainability field trip to the province of Styria in Austria organized by the Charles University Environment Centre as part of its MOSUR project. The field trip focused on sustainable development in Austria, especially in the city of Graz and on the province of Styria. The students met different stakeholders of sustainable development in this region. They had opportunities to compare the Czech and Austrian approach to sustainable development. The focus of this presentation is on a comparison of stakeholders in the Ústí Region (Ústecký kraj) and in the province of Styria. Some approaches from Styria can be applied to the Czech region.
'''At the Academy''' consultants and local authority representatives are trained via “train the trainer” program, which is comprises of: seminars at the academy, of the the formulation of a practical implementation concept and of the presentation and certification.<ref> http://www.cpc.at/oeko/oe_1-2-1_e.htm</ref>


== Facts ==
'''The ECOPROFIT Basic program''' lasts approximately one year. Project managers organize and manage whole project. Consultants hold workshops and help to establish the objectives. The basic program has following steps. The first step '''Preparation and Licence Agreement.''' For the implementation is important the signing of the License Agreement by the region or city. The holder of license is the CPC Austria. The preparation comprise Acquisition of companies, Project organisation,
=== Ústí region === [2]
Creation of a project schedule and  Promotion and PR. The second step is the kick of event. '''Kick-off Event''' This is the presentation of objectives for politicians, for local authorities and for participating companies. The next step is workshop series, when the ECOPROFIT®-Know-how is transferred into the companies.  ''"Employees of the participating companies are trained on various aspects of integrated environmental protection focusing on energy, water, material stream management, production- and process-analysis, waste-management, environmental controlling, business- and environment-related legislation etc.. The several subjects are demonstrated and compiled through practical manuals and worksheets."'' Parallel to the workshop-series is '''Operational Implementation.''' ''“Through the combination of workshops and individual consultation the acquired know-how remains within the company.“'' Last steps are '''Evaluation and Examination by the Commission and Certification of the Companies.'''<ref>http://www.cpc.at/oeko/oe_1-2-2_e.htm</ref>
* '''Population (2011):''' 826 000
* '''Area (sq. km):''' 5335
* '''Economic growth (%, 2011):''' 6,63


=== Styria ===
== Conclusion ==
* '''Population (2011):''' 1,21 mil.,
* '''Area (sq. km):''' 16 400
* '''Economic growth (%, 2011):''' 3,9
== Stakeholders in both regions ==
=== Ústí region ===
The Ústí region has a thin economic base. The regional raw-material base includes the largest national deposits of brown coal. The region has one of the most highly developed industrial production networks in the Czech Republic. The most important sectors are, for example, the chemical industry, brown coal mining and power generation.  Key stakeholders are mining companies (Czech Coal a.s., Severočeské Doly a.s.), energy companies (CEZ Group) and chemical companies (Unipetrol, Spolchemie, Setuza). 


This project proves that Austria was one of the first country that started to apply those principles in environmental protection which later become fundamental for local Agenda 21. Austria is one of the leader in sustainable development and it is a valuable source of information, know-how and good examples to the rest of the world.


=== Styria ===
'''Thank you for your reading, please send your comments to the discussion.'''
 
 
'''PAGE UNDER CONSTRUCTION'''
 
In Ústecký kraj we can use local sources. This area is known mainly for its coal mining. Tourism in Ústecký kraj is one of the lowest in the Czech republic. Therefore, in our project, we expect an increase in tourism. The first step is to not to breach the coal mining limits and to revitalize the damaged areas. The question of breaching of mining limits and of damaging the surrounding villages brings uncertainty with it. People in towns do not renovate their houses and houses become delapidated.
 
The second step will be to improve the lack of marketing for the Ústí region – there are many beautiful castles (Střekov in Ústí nad Labem, Hasištejn near Prunéřov, Děčín, Libočany near Žatec, Jezeří and Červený Hrádek near Most), the Bohemian Schwitzerland National Park, the  Central Bohemian Uplands Landscape Park, the Ore Mountains Nature Park, the interesting lookout towers (Děčínský Sněžník, Klínovec) and many other sights. As a model, we can use the Austrian Zotter chocolate factory, and Gölles – a producer of bio-vinegar and schnapps or a private hotel with a microbrewery.
 
To improve sustainable develepement in our region we propose several solutions:
 
1) PR
Unfortunately many people don´t know about our national parks and protected areas. We propose the model of the Austrian national parks promotion through workshops, fairs and exhibitions in all major cities in the region.
 
2) Local resources
In the Czech Republic there are several well-known producers of vinegar - the best known is vinegar from Bzenec which was founded in 1921 (South Moravia). The second is vinegar from Úsobí (from region Vysočina), which was founded in 1994, and third is vinegar from Jindřichův Hradec - Fruko Schulz (South Bohemia). But these producers don´t offer organic vinegar. Many people want to buy and consume products made in the Czech Republic, but the market is glutted with products from abroad. The question is ´Why?´. Climatic and geographic conditions offer a wide variety of food that we can grow and produce.
Our project is based on local materials. For example, in the district of Žernoseky near Litomerice we can find sprawling vineyards. So in this area it would be appropriate to build family hotels. Hotels (or guesthouses) would offer products from local sources, such as wine, home-made honey products, bio-vinegar. A similar situation is found near the city of Most (there are vineyards on recultivated mining areas – primarily the hills of Špičák and Hněvín). Products from those areas would be available only for the Czech market.
 
 
Another option is to build eco-farms with sales of home-made ecological products. In the Ústí region we can find several eco-farms, but there is no marketing. There is an absence of cooperation between farms, so they could start to cooperate and create a network with eco-products. In the Ore Mountains there are good conditions to found new eco-farms.
Most hotels and guesthouses offer modern facillites with modern comfort. Hotels can be built in an unusual style to attract tourists. For example, in the region of Žatecko there could be a hotel with a microbrewery, and the interior of the hotel could correspond to a village cottage from the 19th century.


== Sources ==
== Sources ==
* [1] '''Basic trends of demographic, economic, social, and economic development in the Ústí Region 2011''', Czech statistical office (CZSO),  Regional Administration CZSO in Usti nad Labem, [http://www.ustinadlabem.czso.cz/csu/2012edicniplan.nsf/krajp/421364-12-xu link [In czech:]
<references/>


* [2] '''Sustainable development in Austria an overview''', Marlene Mader, RCE Graz-Styria, University of Graz, File: http://vcsewiki.czp.cuni.cz/wiki/File:Sustainability_Process_University_of_Graz.pptx
[[Category:Case studies]]

Latest revision as of 09:57, 30 August 2017

Logo EcoProfit, source: http://www.cpc.at/oeko/oe_WasIst_e.htm

History

"Saving money and helping the environment by combining financial gain and ecological benefit schemes [1]." The City of Graz, the capital of the federal state of Styria, is the second largest city in Austria and economic heart of the province of Styria[2]. The City of Graz is nowadays increasingly renowned for its exemplary efforts for sustainable development and known as a leader in integrating ideas of sustainability into the city developing plans and policies [3]. In the early 1990s, the region of the City of Graz experienced serious problems caused by air polution; the environmental situation reached a critical stage[4].


In response, the Environmental Department of the City of Graz and the Graz University of Technology cooperated to develop and implement a local environmental management initiative in the City of Graz using integrated environmental technologies to strengthen small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) economically and simultaneously improve the local environment[5]. This resulted in 1991 by project ÖKOPROFIT (ÖKOlogistics PROjekt Für Integriete Umwelt-Technik), the ECOPROFIT (ECOlogical PROject For Integrated environmental Technology) which shifts environmental policy from the "end of pipe" stage to the "in process" stage and helps to protect the environment and reduce costs for business by methodological supporting companies of all kinds and sizes to introduce and improve its environmental management schemes[6] [7].


The model ECOPROFIT has been adopted as itself by towns and municipalities all over Austria and abroad or modified to local different circumstances while the main approach remained the same[8]. For the first time it was implemented in Germany as part of the Munich Agenda 21[9][10]. The ECOPROFIT approach is used in Graz, Vienna and next in cities in Austria, 60 more cities in Germany, in Italy, in India, in Colombia, in Korea, in China as a model of cooperation of the community with regional companies[11].

The City of Graz has received a number of international awards for the project ECOPROFIT. The project received the "European Sustainable City Award 1996" and the "Dubai International Award for Best Practices to improve the Living Environment 2002". It was also a finalist in the "Bremen Partnership Award Contest 2001"[12]. By awarding EU the City of Graz has become the first European Sustainable City[13].

The project ECOPROFIT has been successful thanks to its unique way to local authorities, businesses and consultants. All interested groups work together through common training programs and networking. This provides an effective flow of information, know-how and considerable synergies. Operational objectives as same as the idea of environmental protection which fits to region are equally major for the future diversification of the local economy and a guarantee for creating new jobs. The economic, ecological and social value of ECOPROFIT perfectly complies with the three dimensions of sustainable development[14] .

The priority is the permanent further development of the project. Wishes of the participants were for example development of the tourism or small companies with less as 10 employees. Projects are financed through public grants and through contributions from participating companies[15] .

Structure of the ECOPROFIT Program

"ECOPROFIT® builds on a step-by-step plan consisting of an academy, a basic program and a subsequent club program[16]".

At the Academy consultants and local authority representatives are trained via “train the trainer” program, which is comprises of: seminars at the academy, of the the formulation of a practical implementation concept and of the presentation and certification.[17]

The ECOPROFIT Basic program lasts approximately one year. Project managers organize and manage whole project. Consultants hold workshops and help to establish the objectives. The basic program has following steps. The first step Preparation and Licence Agreement. For the implementation is important the signing of the License Agreement by the region or city. The holder of license is the CPC Austria. The preparation comprise Acquisition of companies, Project organisation, Creation of a project schedule and Promotion and PR. The second step is the kick of event. Kick-off Event This is the presentation of objectives for politicians, for local authorities and for participating companies. The next step is workshop series, when the ECOPROFIT®-Know-how is transferred into the companies. "Employees of the participating companies are trained on various aspects of integrated environmental protection focusing on energy, water, material stream management, production- and process-analysis, waste-management, environmental controlling, business- and environment-related legislation etc.. The several subjects are demonstrated and compiled through practical manuals and worksheets." Parallel to the workshop-series is Operational Implementation. “Through the combination of workshops and individual consultation the acquired know-how remains within the company.“ Last steps are Evaluation and Examination by the Commission and Certification of the Companies.[18]

Conclusion

This project proves that Austria was one of the first country that started to apply those principles in environmental protection which later become fundamental for local Agenda 21. Austria is one of the leader in sustainable development and it is a valuable source of information, know-how and good examples to the rest of the world.

Thank you for your reading, please send your comments to the discussion.

Sources

  1. ↑ http://business.metropoleruhr.de/en/consulting-service/information-for-entrepreneurs/oekoprofit.html Wirtschaftsförderung metropoleruhr GmbH - Information for entrepreneurs - Ökoprofit
  2. ↑ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graz#cite_note-grazpraes-1 Graz, Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
  3. ↑ A Short History of the City of Graz
  4. ↑ http://eportfolio.lib.ksu.edu.tw/user/T/0/T093000023/repository/09A0031.pdf The Case of Municipal Policy Enhancing SMEs through an Environmental Approach
  5. ↑ http://www.cpc.at/oeko/oe_WasIst_e.htm CPC-Austria - ECOPROFIT® - The idea
  6. ↑ http://eportfolio.lib.ksu.edu.tw/user/T/0/T093000023/repository/09A0031.pdf The Case of Municipal Policy Enhancing SMEs through an Environmental Approach
  7. ↑ http://business.metropoleruhr.de/en/consulting-service/information-for-entrepreneurs/oekoprofit.html Wirtschaftsförderung metropoleruhr GmbH - Information for entrepreneurs - Ökoprofit
  8. ↑ http://www.nszm.cz/cb21/archiv/akce/_nszm/nszm06/sekce06/vsetin/prez_Rakousko.pdf Local Agenda 21 - Sustainable City Graz Austria
  9. ↑ http://business.metropoleruhr.de/en/consulting-service/information-for-entrepreneurs/oekoprofit.html Wirtschaftsförderung metropoleruhr GmbH - Information for entrepreneurs - Ökoprofit
  10. ↑ http://www.stenum.at/en/?id=produkte/oeko/oeko-intro STENUM GmbH. - EcoProfit® Ecological Project for Integrated Environmental Protection
  11. ↑ http://ec.europa.eu/environment/sme/pdf/okoprofit_en.pdf
  12. ↑ http://www.cpc.at/oeko/oe_WasIst_e.htm CPC-Austria - ECOPROFIT® - The idea
  13. ↑ http://www.nszm.cz/cb21/archiv/akce/_nszm/nszm06/sekce06/vsetin/prez_Rakousko.pdf Local Agenda 21 - Sustainable City Graz Austria
  14. ↑ http://www.cpc.at/oeko/oe_WasIst_e.htm
  15. ↑ http://www.cpc.at/oeko/oe_WasIst_e.htm
  16. ↑ http://www.cpc.at/oeko/oe_1-2_e.htm
  17. ↑ http://www.cpc.at/oeko/oe_1-2-1_e.htm
  18. ↑ http://www.cpc.at/oeko/oe_1-2-2_e.htm
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