English

Miljønetværk Syd (Environmental Network South)

A voluntary environmental co-operation project between private companies and public authorities.

Miljønetværk Syd is a regional co-operation project between private companies and public authorities on environmental matters.

Miljønetværk Syd covers the former Ribe County. The public authorities involved in the co-operation are the Municipalities of Billund, Esbjerg, Fanø, Varde and Vejen. In addition to its public sector members, the network counts a continually increasing number of manufacturing companies, educational institutions, consultants, etc. among its members. The current membership list can be found on the home page of Miljønetværk Syd at www.milsyd.dk. Currently the number of members is approximately 115.

The highest authority of Miljønetværk Syd is the general assembly, in which all members have the right to attend and speak. An ordinary general assembly is held every spring.

Four representatives for the executive committee are elected from among enterprises who commit to prepare an environmental statement which at a minimum fulfils the requirements of Miljønetværk Syd. The Chairman is selected among these four representatives. In addition the executive committee consists of five mayors or committee chairmen from the public authorities.

The idea behind the work of Miljønetværk Syd is for the individual member company to be in a position to undertake its own environmental management tasks and to attain tangible goals in the environmental area – both in relation to the external environment as well as the workplace environment.

The environmental management work is actively backed up by the individual company’s environmental authority, which within an agreed-upon framework will provide guidance to the company. Miljønetværk Syd’s have the experience that precisely this type of practical support helps to ensure an overview for the company – and that overview is necessary in order to pursue the environmental work in a good and constructive manner.

A cornerstone in the network is to strengthen the interplay between the company and the environmental authority. The Miljønetværk Syd concept builds upon principles for co-operation such as dialogue and mutual understanding instead of control.

The core project is the environmental statement.

An important tool in this process is the network’s environmental statement manual. The method is described in a manual of 16 pages. In addition, a loose-leaf binder is available as a supplementary tool to the manual.

The environmental statement must at a minimum contain:

· Environmental policies

· Key figures

· Prioritisations

· Objectives

· Action plan

For many companies, an approved environmental statement in accordance with concept of Miljønetværk Syd is sufficient environmental documentation. As visible proof of an "extraordinary environmental contribution", companies who prepare an environmental statement in accordance with the network's concept are awarded an environmental diploma.

The environmental diploma from Miljønetværk Syd is awarded for a two-year period. Renewal of the diploma is obtained via the preparation of a new environmental statement, in which the fulfilment of the goals for the past period is reported. Moreover, new environmental goals are set for the next period.

An approved environmental statement in accordance with the concept of Miljønetværk Syd also fulfils the requirements for green accounting.