UN Earth Summit+5 Success Stories - Local Agenda 21 -Environment Improvement Program for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises

EARTH SUMMIT+5
Special Session of the General Assembly to Review and Appraise
the Implementation of Agenda 21
New York, 23-27 June 1997
SUCCESS STORIES FROM WESTERN EUROPE AND OTHER STATES

Environment Improvement Program for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises
This and other Local Agenda 21 succes story are provided by the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI).

Location Berlin, Germany

Responsible organization Berlin Ministry of Urban Development and Environmental Protection

Description The Environment Improvement Program, which was established by the Berlin Ministry of Urban Development and Environmental Protection in 1989, encourages small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to change their management practice and to take an overall, integrated stance on ecological matters. The program is part of the European Commission's (EC) policy within the European Fund for Regional Development (EFRE).

Issues addressed The program addressed sustainability issues surrounding green business strategies, including the use of cleaner technologies and the integration of sustainable or balanced business practices.

Objectives The objectives of the program are to improve access to information, increase the use of clean technology, and decrease waste generation.

Results achieved The environmental improvements resulting from the program include the following:
waste (municipal waste, special wastes, and construction waste) generation reduction of over 11,000 tonnes/year;
drinking water consumption reduction of 62,000 cubic meters/year;
waste water generation reduction of 50,000 cubic meters/year;
reduction in primary energy used of 140,000 megawatts/year decreases carbon dioxide emission from power plants and heating systems by 44,000 tonnes per year.;
reduction in NOx emissions, which contribute to urban air pollution, of 23 tonnes/year;
some industries have seen significant reductions in special emissions (e.g., 80% less wood-dust emission from woodworking companies and also 80% less solvents emission from printing companies).

Lessons learned

Financing The Environment Improvement Program is co-financed by the EC and the Land of Berlin ("Komplementärförderung"). Until 1991, 94 projects from a total of 220 applicants were accepted and the total funding was 66 million DM. In addition to the subsidy funding, the SMEs participating invested approximately 34 million DM. The total project budget of approximately 100 million DM was distributed as follow: 59% investment in equipment, 20% investment in buildings, 14% personnel costs, and 7% expenditure on materials.

Contact Ditha Brickwell, Senatsverwaltung für Stadtentwicklung und Umweltschutz, Lindenstr. 20-25, D - 10969 Berlin, Germany Tel: +49-30/2586-0, Fax: +49-30/2586-2340
The original text for this case study was submitted by the Local Sustainability European Good Practice Information Service (http://cities21.com/europractice) in its original format from the European Academy of the Urban Environment, Berlin, Germany.

Copyright © United Nations
Department of Economic and Social Affairs
Comments and suggestions: esa@un.org
1 November 1997

	Environment Improvement Program for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises This and other Local Agenda 21 succes story are provided by the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI).
	Location	Berlin, Germany
	Responsible organization	Berlin Ministry of Urban Development and Environmental Protection
	Description	The Environment Improvement Program, which was established by the Berlin Ministry of Urban Development and Environmental Protection in 1989, encourages small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to change their management practice and to take an overall, integrated stance on ecological matters. The program is part of the European Commission's (EC) policy within the European Fund for Regional Development (EFRE).
	Issues addressed	The program addressed sustainability issues surrounding green business strategies, including the use of cleaner technologies and the integration of sustainable or balanced business practices.
	Objectives	The objectives of the program are to improve access to information, increase the use of clean technology, and decrease waste generation.
	Results achieved	The environmental improvements resulting from the program include the following: waste (municipal waste, special wastes, and construction waste) generation reduction of over 11,000 tonnes/year; drinking water consumption reduction of 62,000 cubic meters/year; waste water generation reduction of 50,000 cubic meters/year; reduction in primary energy used of 140,000 megawatts/year decreases carbon dioxide emission from power plants and heating systems by 44,000 tonnes per year.; reduction in NOx emissions, which contribute to urban air pollution, of 23 tonnes/year; some industries have seen significant reductions in special emissions (e.g., 80% less wood-dust emission from woodworking companies and also 80% less solvents emission from printing companies).
	Lessons learned
	Financing	The Environment Improvement Program is co-financed by the EC and the Land of Berlin ("Komplementärförderung"). Until 1991, 94 projects from a total of 220 applicants were accepted and the total funding was 66 million DM. In addition to the subsidy funding, the SMEs participating invested approximately 34 million DM. The total project budget of approximately 100 million DM was distributed as follow: 59% investment in equipment, 20% investment in buildings, 14% personnel costs, and 7% expenditure on materials.
	Contact	Ditha Brickwell, Senatsverwaltung für Stadtentwicklung und Umweltschutz, Lindenstr. 20-25, D - 10969 Berlin, Germany Tel: +49-30/2586-0, Fax: +49-30/2586-2340 The original text for this case study was submitted by the Local Sustainability European Good Practice Information Service (http://cities21.com/europractice) in its original format from the European Academy of the Urban Environment, Berlin, Germany.