Information systems for ecological industry clusters - Case study industrial region Mödling (Lower Austria)

Status

completed

Summary

The production of goods, their trade, use and disposal as well as for services is substantially based on the use of energy and resources. The reduction in the consumption of resources, especially of non-renewable resources are key objectives of a sustainable economy and a central aspect of the funding programme "Factory of the Future". Optimal closure of the material cycles and the use of energy-synergies between companies are frequently seen as cornerstones to minimize the environmental burden and increase resource efficiency.

The project aimed at the development of a comprehensive, transparent and user-friendly approach to work out possibilities for environmentally sound reutilisation of residues together with the Chamber of Commerce Lower Austria and the companies in the model region Mödling. To support the creation of an eco-industrial region and to gather information about waste streams, secondary raw materials and demands for input materials, the German project partners have developed software tools appropriate for data saving, consolidation and distribution among companies. Within the project, the software tool was adapted to Austrian requirements and offered for the companies. Additionally, a questionnaire was sent out to the companies to collect information about their waste management and potentials for inter-company recycling activities. Hereby, input data about raw materials, energy consumption, logistics, infrastructure and economic and social situation were collected and administrated with excel sheets.

More than 50 companies contributed to the project in the last one and a half year. In theme oriented workshops, roundtable discussions and personal talks a lot of options were discussed to redirect residues back as resources into the production system and proved for possible realisation. With scientific methods the ecological and economical implications of the single utilisation pathways were analysed and screened for win-win situations. The eco-accounting was performed using data about material and energy flows in the model region. Furthermore, ecological and economical changes were assessed and potential economical and ecological win-win synergies between companies identified.

Generally the companies welcome material reuse, especially in case of economic advantages and with legal compliance. The direct interlinkage of companies showed less interest, as a higher degree of own motivation and efforts would be needed, but a higher amount of risk is apparent from the interdependance of the companies.

A coordination of the information system behind the network showed up as crucial. The possibilities of further continuation in the region have been discussed with the Chamber of Commerce and the Local Government, promising perspectives could be found. The legal aspects were discussed with representatives of the Ministry for Environment. The Academy of Lower Austria together with Umwelt Management Austria will distribute the Know-How in form of knowledge-transfer activities.

Project management

Univ.Doz.Dr. Andreas Windsperger,
Institut für Industrielle Ökologie

Mitarbeiter

Brigitte Windsperger, DI Richard Tuschl, Mag.(FH) Elisabeth Bolena, Carina Kalteis

Project or cooperation partner

• Univ.Prof.Dr. Heinz Strebel, Univ.Prof.Dr. Stefan Vorbach, Dr. Elke Perl, Alice Suppan, Nora Niemetz
  Institut für Innovations- und Umweltmanagement - Universität Graz
  Universitätsstraße 15, 8010 Graz
• Univ.Prof.Dr. Reinhold Christian, DI Ralph Feichtinger, Susanne Bäuerl
  Umwelt Management Austria
  Neue Herrengasse 17A, 3109 St. Pölten
• Dr. Thomas Sterr, Dr. Werner Krause
  Alfred Weber-Institut (AWI) der Universität Heidelberg
  Grabengasse 14, 69117 Heidelberg
• Dr. Thomas Ott
  IUWA GmbH
  Tiergartenstraße 17, D-69121 Heidelberg

unter Mitwirkung von:

• Dr. Stefan Brezovich, Mag. Christoph Pinter, Dr. Herwig Christalon, Mag. Christa Wendler
  Wirtschaftskammer Niederösterreich
• DI Elisabeth Punesch, DI Christiane Ademilua
  NÖ Landesregierung, Abteilung RU3
• Dr. Gerhard Bonelli, DI Oliver Brantner
  Niederösterreichische Landesakademie, Abteilung Umwelt und Energie

Univ.Doz.Dr. Andreas Windsperger
Institut für Industrielle Ökologie
Rennbahnstraße 29C, 3100 St. Pölten
Tel.: +43 (2742) 9005-15 162
E-Mail: andreas.windsperger@noe-lak.at