The ECOProfit project was launched twenty years ago in Graz, while Novi Sad was the first in Serbia and the region to recognize the concept of sustainable business, in which companies make profit with minimal ecological footprint.

- In cooperation with the Austrian Development Agency and the Denkstatt consortium, we joined the ECOProfit project in order to motivate companies from both public and private sectors to function on the principles of sustainable business. Main objectives are cleaner production and maximum energy efficiency. Novi Sad also plans to go a step further, by treating waste as energy source for vital systems, i.e. to adapt the city landfill to the concept of sustainable business – Mayor Igor Pavličić pointed out.

In the initial phase of project implementation the following companies were awarded: Erste Bank JSC, Delhaize Serbia LLC, VIP Mobile, Danubius JSC, Public Utility Company "City Parks", Public Utility Company "District Heating", Elektrovojvodina LLC, sole proprietorship business "Astra" and hotel "Veliki". At the same time, twenty young professionals had an opportunity to practice in the companies and acquire theoretical and practical knowledge. They were thus given a chance not only to improve themselves, but also to contribute to a vision of sustainable business by forming a market of educated consultants.

In the past six months, company representatives participated in six workshops during which numerous aspects of eco-friendly business were analyzed. As a result, the companies reduced the consumption of electric power, heat, gas and water and the best indicator are the annual savings of about €210,000, an average of €21,000 per company.

Wolfgang Wagner, Austrian Embassy Deputy Head of Mission, and Willibald Kaltenbrunner, Denkstatt Executive Director and Novi Sad ECOProfit project manager, also addressed the attendees and congratulated the City of Novi Sad on the successfully implemented project. Moreover, renowned athlete, volleyball player Andrija Gerić, who lives and works in Novi Sad, talked about the importance of environmental protection.

Novi Sad, January 25, 2012