Table of Contents
1. Background
2. Project Objectives
3. Project Plan
4. What is EcoIndustry?
5. What is an EcoIndustry Park?
6. What is an EcoIndustry Network?
1. Background
Phase I of the EcoIndustry Baseline Study commenced with a series of Community Forums & Workshops held at GREEN Inc in 2002. The process identified nine elements for consideration in the Baseline Study.
With the support of the Victorian State Government and the City of Latrobe, GREEN Inc has commissioned and received a series of reports addressing the critical elements identified in the earlier forums and workshops.
Gippsland.com is providing considerable support to this project with the provision of this site and the ability for regional stakeholders to register their interest to actively participate in the development of the EcoIndustry Network strategy and an aligned action agenda.
The first series of articles have been published outlining the main areas that will be covered in this baseline study. The remaining reports will be published at this website by the end of March 2004.
On-line discussions have been established for each article so that you may contribute to the final report by having your say about the issues raised in each article.
Your contribution is invited and welcomed!
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2. Project Objectives
The Gippsland EcoIndustry Network Baseline Study will document:
- an overview of previous related research, with specific regard to recommendations for inward investment attraction to the region;
- a current status of EcoIndustry in the region (including a database of identifiable EcoIndustry enterprises, and/or enterprises with significant EcoIndustry activities;
- a number or relevant (and/or transferable) enterprise case studies from outside the region;
- an inventory of potential/possible enterprises and industries to be targeted by the region for inward investment, or in the case of existing enterprises, that could be further developed to maximize employment opportunities, wealth creation, and sound ecological practise.
- options and recommendations for funding new (Ecoindustry) investment;
- options and recommendations for the governance of a Gippsland EcoIndustry Network
- options and recommendations to accelerate the planning & approval processes to facilitate a strategic and proactive investment attraction process for appropriate enterprises and industries.
- options & recommendations for the development of professional and scientific support infrastructure to assist EcoIndustry enterprises, and the networked developed of projects of regional benefit and significance;
- options & recommendations for the development of an information management resource to facilitate research into waste and by-products, and the commercial use of such materials;
- a review of available transport strategies, and specific options for the transport of low value inputs.
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4. What is EcoIndustry?
Eco-industrial Development (EID) results from the combination of a strong economy and sound environmental health as a result of strategies that integrate economic, environmental and community development goals.
EID aims to optimize resource use and reduce economic and environmental costs by promoting and developing networks among businesses and communities, and includes strategies that:
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Prevent pollution;
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Encourage by-product exchange (e.g. the use of pine bark from timber milling for the manufacture of potting mixes);
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Promote energy efficient building design;
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Utilize life cycle analysis to enable best use of resources;
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Joint training programs; and
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Encourages and empowers public participation in economic, environmental and community development.
Source: Note that the definitions presented by GREEN Inc are largely based on a review of the following document:
"Eco-Industrial Development: A Strategy for Building Sustainable Communities", Mary Schlarb, Cornell University, 2001. The report was prepared under and award from the Economic Development Administration, US Department of Commerce.
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5. What is an EcoIndustry Park?
An EcoIndustry Park (EIP) is similar to a conventional industrial park. It is a property containing a number of tenant enterprises that may share infrastructure, services, and a common landlord (owner or manager).
The difference between an EIP and a conventional industrial park is the strategy and/or philosophy under which the park is managed. The EIP:
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Encourages and enables the connection of businesses in a network with by-product exchanges between enterprises;
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Permits entry to the park of companies that do not generate pollution or are environmental technology firms;
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Permits entry to the park to companies with environmental management systems in place and/or with history of sound environmental management; and
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focusses on infrastructure (buildings, etc) that are energy saving, and/or designed for re-use, or constructed from recycled or deconstructed materials, and landscaped for maximum water conservation, etc.
Source: Note that the definitions presented by GREEN Inc are largely based on a review of the following document:
"Eco-Industrial Development: A Strategy for Building Sustainable Communities", Mary Schlarb, Cornell University, 2001. The report was prepared under and award from the Economic Development Administration, US Department of Commerce.
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6. What is an EcoIndustry Network?
The EcoIndustry Network (EIN) approach seeks to bridge the perceived gap between the interests of businesses and communities by building partnerships. The idea behind this collaboration is that many of the interests of industry and citizens overlap, and so mutually beneficial strategies for sustainable development exist.
The Eco-industrial Networks concept extends the EIP concept beyond that of a localized byproduct exchange to a broader agenda for improvement of environmental, social, and business performance.
EINs may include community service programs, employee skills and environmental training programs – through the integration and participation of regional education and training activities with desirable industrial development.
The EIN is more dependent on a broader and integrated strategy and/or philosophy than an EIP. The EIP owner/manager role is replaced by a governance structure that is representative of the community – and community priorities with regard to the environment, health, education, etc. The community can be directly involved in key issues such as enterprise attraction, enterprise funding and the creation of a preferred location for ‘desirable’ industry.
The EIN may bring economies of scale, such as a sharing of the burden of expenses for infrastructure and services including business services, waste management, purchasing, training and recruitment, transportation, and other common costs of doing business.
However, the EIN may not have the advantages of common ownership, operation, the leveraging of shared services, and product exchanges that may occur in an EIP.
The appeal of the concept is that developers and communities that create EIN’s seek to build a foundation for industrial development that is more competitive, more efficient, and cleaner than traditional industrial parks or regions. New business niches will be opened for recruitment or incubation of new companies that strengthen the local economy.
As businesses and their workforce locate (or remain) in a neighborhood, markets for retail services are strengthened.
Increased economic efficiency within and among network companies will most likely increase the value of real estate for private and public developers.
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Source: The definitions presented by GREEN Inc are largely based on a review of the following document:
Eco-Industrial Development: A Strategy for Building Sustainable Communities, Mary Schlarb, Cornell University, 2001. The report was prepared under an award from the Economic Development Administration, U.S Department of Commerce.
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