ECOSIND - ECOSYSTEME INDUSTRIEL, une stratégie de développement durable des activités industrielles
The ECOSIND project covers transnational cooperation among four Mediterranean regions in the fight against environmental damage caused by increasing industrial activity over the last 30 years. The small and medium-sized enterprises, which account for the majority of industrial activity in the regions participating in the project were unable to introduce Environmental Management Systems, and the application of sustainability criteria in industrial development has been insufficient. Actions by the administration have generally been considered by industry to hold back development and competitiveness. Overall objective / Objectif général The objective of this RFO has been to establish a basis for a new strategy for sustainable industrial development in southern European regions. This strategy for productive symbiosis (industrial ecology) should be able to overcome the economic, social and environmental limits which determine the global impact and evolution of industrial production. In the medium term, ECOSIND hopes to contribute to the gradual implementation of cooperative environmental management in the industrial fabric of the four partner regions. Expected results / Résultats attendus In order to meet these objectives, the operation will include several interregional projects to demonstrate cooperative environmental management and sustainable planning of industrial development. Moreover, the initiative will create an international master’s course to train professionals in the field of industrial ecology and an association to guarantee that the operation continues in the future. Also, a master plan will be drawn up to create environmental awareness of the industrial fabric existing in the four regions as well as a guide to the management of industrial development and a specific regional information system for industrial fabric giving cartographic and numerical data. These results will also be available on the operation’s web site.