Social Sustainability as an Opportunity for Geinberg Waste Management on June 6, 2013

Currently, the logical focus of waste management activities is placed on effects on the environment: Waste avoidance – waste separation / recycling -, waste processing and disposal according to the highest standards take off more or less environmental strain. Our economic system is only then sustainable, if we succeed in achieving quality of life as high as possible using only one tenth of the current consumption of resources and energy. This cannot be done on account of technical changes only.

"Rethinking" and "acting differently" on all social levels is required.

This year, the network meeting of the VABOe (Waste Consulting Association) deals with an international project approach of cooperation between economy, public institutions and social enterprises: The model of "social production", developed in Lower Austria, is based on knowledge of the strengths, advantages and "sustainability" of occupational projects in the extended labour market. This project has arisen from positive practical experiences with qualification enterprises in production of ecologically sustainable and innovative products.

Until June 2014, 9 organizations from Eastern Austria and West Hungary cooperate in the EU project of Territorial Cooperation (ETC):

SoPro HU-AT / socially produced for the environment. 1,000 contacts with enterprises and successfully implemented examples of procurement (products, services) are the practical bases of the future training of procurement experts. An international platform shall trigger and support regional cooperation, oriented along quality and appreciation. Waste consultation and the technical and social competence of waste consultants are part of the chance for the future of this model.

For this reason, the emphasis of this year's VABOe meeting was placed on the topic of "social production". In addition to the Austrian Ministry of Life and ARA (Used Material Recycling Austria), a delegation from the platform of socially produced presented this project and possible cooperation with waste management associations all over Austria.

Alfred Grand from VERMIGRAND Organic Products GmbH, Manuela Unterleitner from Tulln Municipal Waste Management, the Burgenland Waste Association and many more stakeholders presented their reports from experience of sustainable cooperation with social enterprises.

Photos: © Platform of socially produced