Environmental Technology in Austria December 14, 2007

Austria's environmental industry in a nutshell  

650 manufacturers, EUR 4 billion (approx. USD 5.8) total sales, annual growth 7.5%. Leading in environmental management, wastewater treatment, waste separation and recycling, air pollution control, renewable energies, energy efficiency, organic farming.

The Austrian government has been fostering environmental programs for many years, which has helped Austrian products and services assume their leading role within the worldwide environmental industry. In addition to classic end-of-pipe technologies - such as wastewater treatment and purification of exhaust gas - renewable energies, efficient production technologies and ecological concepts for the entire production chain have also become increasingly important. The rapid forward trend experienced by the Austria’s environmental-technology industry is extremely solid: in the past few years, this sector has undergone continuous growth, twice as high as that of other industries. 

Water has traditionally been extremely important in the Alpine Republic. The country’s large amount of water resources has not only supported the development of world-leading hydro-power technology. Combined with a strict legal framework and public incentives for continuous upgrading of infrastructure (e.g. for water treatment plants), Austria today can be proud of its outstanding water quality: 88% of all flowing water is graded drinking water quality. 87% of the population is connected to the public water supply. 

Austrian companies like Best Water Technology AG (drinking water treatment) and VA TECH WABAG (large scale water and sewage treatment plants) are successful around the world. The large share (99%) of the domestic population supplied with spring and groundwater underlines the major importance placed on keeping the country’s groundwater clean and safe. This has resulted in quite a bit of experience with wastewater treatment and groundwater replenishment systems. But also in industrial water treatment – e.g. for the pulp and paper, biochemical and food industries, Austrian technologies have gained an excellent reputation.  

Waste is seen as a resource in Austria, and recycling is fundamental. The waste burnt in incineration plants is mainly used for district heating; waste separation (paper, plastics, metals, glass, and organic waste) for subsequent recycling is compulsory for every Austrian household. More than 800 Austrian companies are active in the collection, hauling, treatment, sorting, landfilling and thermal recycling of waste in Austria. 

Austrian companies like MUT (waste and wastewater treatment systems), Binder + Co (glass, paper, plastics processing), Komptech (mechanical and biological waste treatment, 95% export ratio) lead their niche markets not only in Europe, but also worldwide. 

Air Pollution Control has made it possible in Austria to reduce emissions of sulphur dioxide (SO_²) by 50 percent and those of nitrogen oxides (NO_x) by ten percent during the last ten years. The goal is to reduce CO₂ emissions by 13 percent by 2012. Nine active waste incineration plants require strict pollution control and innovative filter and measurement systems. Austrian companies like Austrian Energy and Environment/AE&E and Scheuch – Technology for Clean Air make sure this goal can be attained. 

Measurement systems in these three categories (water & wastewater, waste & recycling, air pollution control) are, of course, another important field, in which Austrian companies are successful.  


Are you interested in cooperating with Austrian companies in the environmental industry?
Contact the Austrian Trade Commission Chicago at chicago@advantageaustria.org or (312) 644-5556.

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