Green Network is a ten years old Environmental network for cooperation between authorities and enterprises – with its key efforts focused on preparation of environmental statements, in recent years, however, with increasing focus on social statements.
The original target was to get most environment for the efforts, and it was believed that this could be promoted through a voluntary effort from the most environment-oriented enterprises. Since then, the network has grown substantially – and today 250 enterprises participate. 

Since 2002, Green Network has worked according to these strategic fields:

• Strengthening implementation of sustainable environmental work 
• Developing tools to manage ”social accounts”
• Developing tools to support the dialogue between enterprises and authorities 
• Developing business-to-business dialogue 
• Facilitating involvement of new parties
• Being at the forefront – so as to match global challenges
• Disseminating the idea of regional cooperation on sustainability
• Contributing by making knowledge and competencies available to other networks.

The key task of Green Network is to prepare sustainability statements. A detailed manual has been drawn up; the municipalities assist with expert staff in the preparation of the first statement of an enterprise; a diploma is issued for well-performed statements etc.

In addition, Green Network organises a number of events, and a wide range of projects are conducted in associated fields – such as strategic efforts, eco-friendly purchasing, environment as sales parameter, transport, new rules and problem areas etc.

The target group of Green Network is enterprises in the County of Vejle and in Middelfart. Key persons in the network are staff working with environmental and social issues, both in enterprises and with the authorities. The participating municipalities spend an annual two to four man-years and eight to ten job-training courses. To this should be added resource consumption in the enterprises. Several projects have been supported with public funds.

Anchorage perspectives

In ten years, Green Network has expanded from 50 to 250 members and has developed from making environmental statements to working with sustainability.

The ownership within the municipality is very high, and the political anchorage is next to unshakable, when it comes to the preparation of the environmental statement.

The ownership for enterprises varies. Some find it difficult to maintain the dedication, while others succeed in turning the task into routine. The best way of expressing it was done by one of the local enterprises: ”If you want to be part of the good company – you must join Green Network.”

Among the strong aspects relating to anchorage of the efforts among the enterprises, in addition to the concept of statements, is the fact that the president is always a business representative, and that the committee is always made up of 50 % business people. 

The entire concept of environmental statements has become institutionalised with regular routines, deadlines and a festive presentation of diplomas.

The network has also demonstrated its strength by being one of the key players in the establishment of Key2Green  - a nationwide network for networks.

In terms of hardcore effects, indicators may be number of participating enterprises, completed statements etc. By contrast, it is very difficult to measure total environmental impacts, since efforts are made in very different fields and the starting point is difficult to define. However, Green Network has currently prepared ”overall green accounts” presenting a number of key figures for the effort.

Conclusion and recommendations

Overall, Green Network is a very successful project enjoying much back-up both among local businesses and with local politicians. The reason for the success is found, among others, in the influence businesses have on the project and in the considerable public resources invested.

The results have been attained with much commitment and considerable efforts. During all ten years there have been a number of pioneers, a management committee and a secretariat that have managed to renew efforts continuously. 

Today’s challenges are, among others:

To convert from environment to sustainability in the entire concept

To maintain creativity and commitment broadly – and not only for new assignments – among those working with environmental issues.

To ensure continuous prioritisation among enterprises. Including to ensure resources for reasonable time consumption.

Anchorage model ­

The model describes the relationship between hard and soft indicators in the short and long-term perspectives. The number of x’es states how much weight has been put on the different areas.