The article describes how an RECP program for MSMEs was developed and which methods were used for this purpose.

The following methods were chosen to complement the existing procedures with practical tools:

• • Stage-Gate System – Ensures a sequential, manageable, and resource-efficient workflow.
  • Business Model Canvas – Provides a structured overview of the key elements necessary for a successful business application. Developed by Alexander Osterwalder, this framework visually represents a business model on a single page.
  • Empathy Map – Helps gain a structured understanding of future clients’ needs.

Each method was selected for its specific contribution to enhancing the overall process.

The developed program was implemented in Jordan, and the achieved results as well as the lessons learned are presented in the paper.

The complete paper is available for download here.

STENUM is once again supporting two projects this year to prepare startups in Kenya and India for the circular economy. A specialized assessment framework has been developed, workshops with the startups have been organized, and an intensive coaching program is being offered.

Climate KIC is Europe’s leading agency and innovation community for climate action, bridging the gap between climate goals and their implementation.

Support for Carbon Footprinting, Climate Pact Module, and EMAS Certification as New Highlights

At a celebratory event at the University of Music and Performing Arts Graz, Vice Mayor Judith Schwentner awarded the ÖKOPROFIT seal of approval to 36 companies. Since 1991, this annually updated program has been a cornerstone of the Graz Environmental Office’s initiatives. By offering tailored consulting, cutting-edge knowledge transfer, and regional networking, it helps businesses make their operations more sustainable and climate-friendly. 

A key addition to the program is the incorporation of the Graz Climate Pact as a dedicated module within ÖKOPROFIT, supporting companies on their journey toward climate neutrality. 

“I am always pleased to see so many Graz-based businesses participating in the ÖKOPROFIT program. It’s a strong signal that economic success can go hand in hand with environmental and climate protection, creating lasting value. These companies play a vital role in making our city cleaner, healthier, more climate-resilient, and overall more livable,” said Vice Mayor Schwentner. 

Looking ahead, ÖKOPROFIT companies will continue to receive financial and technical support for developing their carbon footprint assessments. Starting in January 2025, this requirement will be gradually phased in based on company size.

The United Circles project consortium met in Valladolid to kick off an ambitious circular economy initiative, led by CARTIF and funded by the EU’s Horizon Europe program with over €20.5 million. The project focuses on waste reduction, resource recovery, and industrial-urban symbiosis to create zero-waste cities and decarbonized industries.
The industrial-urban symbiosis nodes will be expanded over time in a process of duplication and extension to other countries, such as Hungary, South Africa, Greece and the United Kingdom, in what the call ‘mirror demonstrators’. In addition, the organisations within the project, from Slovenia, Lebanon, Austria and France, will promote the possibility of forming ‘seed demonstrators’ to help develop a network of shareholders in order to obtain sufficient investors to start up the ‘Regional Circularity Hub’.

These demonstrators in Spain, Italy, and Turkey showcase circular solutions: a wastewater treatment plant in Salamanca converting waste into resources, a biorefinery in Italy turning used cooking oil into bioplastics, and 3D-printed buildings in Turkey using recycled construction waste. These models will be expanded to Hungary, South Africa, Greece, and the UK.

The project aims to achieve these general benefits:

• Demonstrate that achieving zero urban waste is prossible in a near-commercial scale environment by recovering resources from waste as secondary raw materials to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
• Reduce freshwater consumption by 50% and reuse 90% of the solid waste from the Salamanca Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP).
• Create healthier urban environments through industrial-urban symbiosis, reducing emissions, utilizing circular and renewable energy sources, and minimizing waste.
• Achieve European and international cooperation to meet the goals of the EU’s “Green Deal”.

Sustainable Production: Impol Seval Reduces CO₂ Emissions

UŽICE/SEVOJNO – On November 22, 2024, Impol Seval presented the results of its project on the “Revitalization of the Aluminum Strip Annealing Furnace V-5/3 to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions.”

This project is part of the “EU for a Green Agenda in Serbia” initiative and is implemented with technical and financial support from the European Union. It is carried out in cooperation with the Serbian Ministry of Environmental Protection, the UNDP, as well as the Swedish and European Investment Banks (EIB). Additionally, it is funded by contributions from Sweden, Switzerland, and Serbia. STENUM supported Impol Seval in developing its decarbonization strategy.

“As a socially responsible company, we deliberately chose to participate in this project – and it has paid off. In addition to the funding, we received a decarbonization study and support in updating our application for an integrated permit, which was signed today – but we don’t want to celebrate too soon,” said Ninko Tešić, CEO of Impol Seval.

In April a 2-day Training on Green BDS & Resource Efficient and Cleaner Production (RECP)
To ensure wider application of Green BDS & RECP in Uzbekistan, the local market of service providers needed to be developed, including sufficient local capacities and skills. Taking into account the request of numerous companies wanting to learn more about Green BDS & RECP methodology, it was decided to organize a 2-day intensive training on Green BDS & RECP for a wider audience.

The purpose of this particular 2-day intensive training on Green BDS & RECP was to provide hands-on experience and advanced training on the application of the methodology in a wider number of companies to companies’ internal teams, and energy and environmental professionals.

As a result of the training program, participants were able to understand how the Green BDS & RECP methodology was applied to manufacturing enterprises and had generated Green BDS & RECP measures and projects for their companies to improve resource efficiency in their production processes. The development of local expertise was one important means for ensuring long-term results with continued Green BDS & RECP adoption.

Participants of the training were trained and familiarized with the different tools (presentations, templates, worksheets, etc.) which allowed them to implement all the Green BDS & RECP audit activities by themselves.

The training program gave the participants the required capacity to develop a practical In-plant Assessment for Green BDS & RECP projects as well as for new projects in the future.

The participants learned:

• What Green BDS & RECP is
• How to assess the efficiency of production processes and identify opportunity areas
• Good Green BDS & RECP practices – energy efficiency, water, and material management
• Green BDS & RECP project development
• Business planning and obtaining financing

Based on a shared challenge to reduce the environmental impact of schools in order to mitigate the effects of climate change, the carbon footprint of schools was calculated in collaboration with teachers and students, and measures to reduce the carbon footprint were identified. An appropriate methodology and didactics were developed and implemented at the participating schools. The results of the project are:

• Methodology for calculating and reducing the carbon footprint of schools and their associated entities Improvement of energy efficiency and reduction of CO2 emissions in the participating schools Promotion of collaboration between schools and businesses, leading to better education of future employees regarding sustainable development Updates to the curriculum regarding sustainable development Continuous reduction of CO2 emissions from schools

The following schools participated in the project:

• Instituto Técnico Comercial Cuatrovientos Sociedad Cooperativa in Pamplona, Spain HTBLA Wolfsberg Sandvik Utbildnings AB, Sweden Technological Technical Institute Bozen, Italy

In the creation of the carbon footprint, the schools were supported by employees of STENUM GmbH and CENTRO INTEGRADO SUPERIOR DE ENERGIAS RENOVABLES, Imarcoin, Spain.

Pilot Initiative “Resource-Efficient Municipality – Ecological Cleaning”

Sustainable criteria for procurement and use of cleaning agents

The use of problematic chemical substances in object cleaning can be significantly reduced through eco-conscious procurement and application of cleaning agents. The originally planned implementation of a pilot project on this topic in a municipality was not possible due to the pandemic. In order to still achieve the project goals, a guideline with useful information, criteria, and measures was developed universally for municipalities.

As part of the pilot initiative, STENUM conducted the following activities:

Creation of a guideline for sustainable procurement in municipalities with the following content:

Assessment of the initial situation in municipalities
Measures for optimization in procurement, contracting, and cleaning
Preparation of materials for information and training in the implementation of the measures
Presentation of the impact of sustainable procurement
Creation of informational materials for communication in municipalities, as well as development of worksheets
Public relations after completion of the materials

Benefits and impact for the region:

Reduction of problematic substances and products in object cleaning
Increase in the proportion of ecological and biological products
Circular economy and resource efficiency
Improvement of air, water, and soil quality

The aim of the project is to accelerate the adoption of Industrial Energy Efficiency (IEE) and enhance the environmental performance of businesses under the broader framework of best practices and innovative approaches to Resource Efficiency and Cleaner Production (RECP) within selected medium and large-scale industrial enterprises in Nigeria. This will not only promote industrial energy efficiency and optimization, material, water, and chemical efficiency, and cleaner production but also contribute to ecological sustainability, improved access to energy, and enhanced economic performance of the companies.

STENUM is responsible for training in Resource Efficient and Cleaner Production (RECP). RECP addresses three dimensions of sustainability:

Production efficiency, emphasizing the optimization of the productive use of natural resources – materials, chemicals, energy, and water;
Environmental management, which focuses on minimizing impacts on the environment and nature by reducing waste and emissions; and
Social improvement, aiming to minimize industrial/chemical risks to the well-being of workers and communities.

In this project, STENUM will develop curricula for academic courses at:

• University of Abuja
  Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun, Delta State
  University of Lagos
  Bayero University Kano

STENUM GmbH is sponsoring the planting of 1 Silver Willow (Salix alba) tree along the Petersbach.