In the context of the international project ‚Asia urbs' the CPC Austria welcomed a delegation of 10 Chinese decision makers of the City of Panzhihua from the Chinese Province of Sichuan in Graz. This visit symbolised the European kick-off of the project and aimed at showing the efforts and results of a successfully implemented ECOPROFIT® programme.

During their one week stay in Graz and Hanover the idea of ECOPROFIT® was discussed and experiences of ECOPROFIT® companies were explained. The delegation was invited to see for themselves at visits to ECOPROFIT® companies. A reception at the City Hall of Graz completed the programme.

The delegation had a special interest in the operational measures to reduce (waste) water, garbage, electricity and emissions as well as the associated cost savings. Visits were paid to ECOPROFIT® companies like the industrial companies Siemens AG, which produces vehicle boogies for rail vehicles and Andritz AG a manufacturer of machines and plant construction.

Likewise on the programme of the Chinese delegation was a company visit to AEVG, the refuse disposal enterprise of Graz, as well as a visit to the casualty hospital of Graz. All these ECOPROFIT® enterprises were able to reduce their costs and environmental impacts to a minimum by changing their processes and/or new investments - a win win situation for the enterprises and the environment.

With the help of the model of Graz, China expects to get a grip on their problems. The successful visit of the Chinese delegation in Graz and Hanover as well as the planned training of 15 Chinese environmental specialists in Graz are the first steps for a successful expansion of ECOPROFIT® in China.