ECOPROFIT - Background and history
ECOPROFIT is an ECOlogical PROject For Integrated environmental Technology. The objective is to strengthen the economical and the ecological situation of industry within a city or a region by introducing cleaner production methodologies into the production regimes of companies.
The prefix "eco" has a triple meaning, namely:
o Ecological benefit;
o Economic benefit and
o in allusion to the etymological meaning of the Greek word oikos (oikos "the house, the household"), the aim to find a specific economic solution for your company (your house).
In this context it also goes without saying that it is you who knows your own company best and that this expert know-how is essential. External knowledge can and shall help to find solutions. From this point of view Ecoprofit is above all meant as an aid towards self-help.
ECOPROFIT has been started up in 1991 in Graz, when the first time five companies (printing industry, car repair shop, trade) joined the project. At that time ECOPROFIT mainly consisted of consulting assistance in waste minimisation and cleaner production. Since then the project has continuously been further developed by CENTRIC AUSTRIA member STENUM, the University of Technology and the Department of environmental protection of Graz.
It has been extended into a "help for self-help" education program in order to increase the qualification of employees and to keep the environmental know how within the companies also after the external consultants have finished their work. The unique design of ECOPROFIT - a workshop series on the most relevant environmental issues combined with individual consulting by experts - leads to impressing overall results reached by the companies.
Another main emphasis of the project is put on the implementation of waste and emissions minimisation options in the companies. The environmental performances of all the companies of course also lead to very good overall reduction results for the whole city.
To get companies involved in this cleaner production program the most striking arguments are:
o Cost savings through preventive strategies
o "Green" image of companies
o Legal compliance
o Good contact to authorities
o Site security
o Motivation of employees
o Environmental know how within the company
o Innovation