Forum of Eco-Industrial Parks of Ukraine -

What is an eco-industrial park and how to get the appropriate status?

According to the materials of the Forum of Eco-Industrial Parks of Ukraine held on April 10, we received the most up-to-date information on the transition to a green economy and zero waste production.

At first glance, the procedure for obtaining the status of an eco-industrial park may raise many questions and even some resistance. However, let’s look at it together: what opportunities does this status open up for entrepreneurs, investors, and the state?

Let’s start with the legal framework and some historical context to better understand the essence of this process.

Today, there are 64 requirements that must be met to obtain the “eco” status. But are they all mandatory at the initial stage? Or is it possible to start this journey gradually, adding the necessary elements over time to form a full-fledged eco-industrial park?

To do this, it is worth familiarizing yourself with three main framework documents that contain key information and will help you better understand the essence of the transition to environmentally responsible production.

1. Law of Ukraine “On Industrial Parks” (with amendments)

This document defines the general principles of creation, operation, and state support of industrial parks. In 2023, amendments were introduced allowing the establishment of eco-industrial parks — with a focus on circular economy, resource conservation, and minimizing environmental impact.

🔹 Key provisions:

Possibility of state funding for energy efficiency measures and waste utilization
Requirements for the park’s environmental plan
Priority support for investors using “green” technologies

2. Methodological Guidelines for the Development of Eco-Industrial Parks (UNIDO, Ministry of Energy)

This document is a practical manual based on international experience. The recommendations were developed with the support of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO):

International Framework for Eco-Industrial Parks (Untitled)
Results and conclusions from pilot eco-industrial park (EIP) projects implemented by UNIDO between 2012 and 2018 as part of the Global RECP Programme, funded by the Swiss government:
https://geipp-ukraine.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/EIP-Dosiahnennia-ta-kliuchovi-vysnovky-hlobalnoi-prohramy-REChV-2012-2018.pdf

Guide to Implementing Eco-Industrial Park Principles (Untitled)

🔹 Includes:

64 criteria for qualifying as an eco-industrial park
Classification of parks by maturity level (basic, advanced, integrated)
Step-by-step algorithm for transforming a conventional park into an eco-industrial park

3. Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 384, dated April 19, 2023

This regulatory act details the procedure for obtaining the status of an eco-industrial park, including the application process, required documentation, and assessment protocol.

🔹 The document specifies:

Who is eligible to apply for eco-industrial park status

What documents are mandatory

How compliance with criteria is evaluated

This is already the beginning of the project: if there is motivation, there should also be a legal basis. So what does the legislation say?

Component I: Policy Implementation

Support for national institutions in developing policies for Eco-Industrial Parks (EIPs).

Component II: Cooperation with Industrial Parks

Assistance to industrial parks in aligning with international UNIDO framework requirements and transitioning to the eco-industrial park model. This includes conducting technical assessments, training for management company staff, and awareness-raising activities.

Legislative Framework:

Draft Law on Industrial Parks: Introduces the official definition and criteria for EIPs. The draft law has passed its first reading in the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.
Development of a National Standard for EIPs in accordance with international framework guidelines has been initiated.

EIP Concept is Integrated into Strategic Documents:

National Economic Strategy until 2030
Industrial Park Development Strategy for 2023–2030
Ukraine Facility Action Plan
National Energy and Climate Plan until 2030
Strategy for Recovery, Sustainable Development and Digital Transformation of SMEs until 2027

With technical support from the project:

An Interdepartmental Working Group on EIP policy development has been established, functioning as the National Committee on Industrial Parks
Association of Eco-Industrial Parks of Ukraine (AEIPU) was created

Positive examples of transitioning from industrial to eco-industrial parks:

A representative of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) shared successful experiences in transforming traditional industrial parks into eco-industrial ones in Ukraine.

Within the framework of the GEIPP Ukraine project (Global Eco-Industrial Parks Programme in Ukraine), five parks were selected for technical support and sustainable development implementation:

Bilotserkivsky Cargo Aviation Complex (BVAK) – Bila Tserkva, Kyiv Region
Patriot Industrial Park – Sumy
Agromash Industrial Park – Zaporizhzhia
Kalush Industrial Hub – Kalush, Ivano-Frankivsk Region
Molfar Industrial Park – Terebva, Zakarpattia Region

All industrial parks participating in the project started at a basic level of compliance with international standards — only about 18%.
However, thanks to technical support, training activities, and expert evaluations carried out under the GEIPP Ukraine project with the participation of UNIDO, these parks have shown significant progress.

Today, their compliance level with the international framework for eco-industrial parks has increased to 50–60%.

This demonstrates the real effectiveness of implementing sustainability principles and serves as a strong example of successfully transforming the country’s industrial infrastructure into environmentally responsible management models.

📚 Take a Free Online Course on Industrial Park Assessment!

Use the link below or scan the QR code to access a free training course that covers the following key topics:

Management of industrial parks
Resource use assessment
Transitioning to the eco-industrial park model

This course is developed based on international standards and UNIDO guidelines and is suitable for representatives of park management companies, local authorities, investors, and other stakeholders.

🔗 https://hub.unido.org/training-modules-eco-Industrial-parks

Let’s move on to the next section: Do we have any problems, and what are the ways to overcome them?

Let’s review everything step by step.

What is an Eco-Industrial Park (EIP)?

An Eco-Industrial Park is an organized industrial environment where enterprises cooperate with each other and with local communities to enhance economic, environmental, and social performance.

Key characteristics of an EIP include:

Efficient use of resources — energy, water, raw materials
Waste minimization and reuse of materials among enterprises
Reduction of negative environmental impacts
Collaboration between businesses, government, and the public

It is not just an industrial cluster, but an innovative platform for sustainable development, based on the principles of the “green economy” and circular production models. It’s an industrial park that operates in line with sustainable development principles, efficient resource use, and adherence to environmental and social standards.

What is the current problem?

As of now, the state has not yet fully developed a regulatory framework or clear rules for the functioning of Eco-Industrial Parks. There is also a noticeable lack of understanding from government bodies regarding the needs of such parks, as well as of the investors and businesses operating within them.

Implementing and encouraging the development of Eco-Industrial Parks is crucial. One of the key tasks is to create favorable conditions through the provision of benefits, government incentives, and investment support. This includes tax, customs, and administrative incentives, along with access to environmental support programs.

However, before implementing such mechanisms, we must clearly define the outcomes we want to achieve.

These might include:

Reducing harmful emissions
Increasing energy efficiency
Creating more “green” jobs
Or achieving other specific environmental and economic goals

Only based on these objectives should public policy be shaped, in close cooperation with experts in ecology, economics, and industry. This approach will ensure the effectiveness and sustainability of the implemented solutions.

Of course, regulatory policies, tax incentives, and other government tools are not the only things necessary for the effective operation of an Eco-Industrial Park. There are other key success factors that are equally important.

In general, the main success factors for an EIP include:

A clear idea and development concept for the EIP — a strategic vision and implementation plan
Workforce development — qualified personnel who understand the principles of environmental management
Transparency and openness — building trust with investors, the community, and authorities
Readiness of the local community to collaborate and participate in park development

This was emphasized by Olena Podolska, Head of International Development and ESG at Alterra Group LLC.

Let’s talk about financing!

Naturally, a logical question arises — how can we implement all of this in the Ukrainian context?

1. Oleksii Savin, Director of the Sustainable Banking Department at JSC “UKRGASBANK”, explained how the products of eco-industrial parks can be marketed and where to find funding.

The core idea of his presentation focused on promoting environmentally friendly products in foreign markets. According to him, UKRGASBANK not only provides consultations but also offers loans for energy efficiency, production modernization, and the development of sustainable solutions.

2. It’s also important to remember our international donors when discussing financing for eco-industrial parks.

Our partner and Swiss representative under the UNIDO initiative — Ms. Anna Wilde — shared valuable insights and important planning aspects for such projects.

Key points from her presentation:

Transferring Swiss experience and best practices in ecological manufacturing
Ukraine requires long-term planning in the development of eco-industrial parks and the necessary infrastructure
“Switzerland is ready to support Ukraine not only with knowledge but also with other resources — though in due time,” Ms. Anna noted

3. Another effective resource for securing financing is the European Business Association, represented at the event by Viktoriya Bureina.

On the Association’s website, you can find up-to-date announcements of upcoming events. The organization regularly holds meetings with businesses and investors, creating a space for networking, experience sharing, and partnership building.

It’s important to emphasize that such events offer a great opportunity for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to find potential funding for their projects.

4. Ihor Nikitin, President of the Association of Eco-Industrial Parks of Ukraine, presented a community-focused program aimed at promoting eco-industrial parks as a driver of economic and sustainable development. The Association plans to officially present this project on April 22, and you are welcome to join the initiative and receive advisory support.

More about the Association’s activities is available on the official website: eipu.org.

In addition to SMEs, we also receive strong support from large investors — and this should not be overlooked.

Global Business for Ukraine (gb4u.org) — a long-time partner of the Ukrainian economy — actively encourages investment in Ukraine. This is not only about offering support during difficult times but also about real opportunities for generating profit.

The organization promotes the idea that investing in Ukraine means not only helping but also creating value. This contributes to developing the domestic market, supporting local initiatives, and positioning Ukraine as a promising investment platform in Europe.

The platform also actively engages with international corporations, provides analytics, hosts forums, and creates opportunities for collaboration between Ukrainian projects and global players.

A significant governmental step that could become a true catalyst for investment is the adoption of a law on war risk insurance.

This law would provide security guarantees for both foreign and domestic investors, unlocking new possibilities for large-scale project implementation even amid wartime challenges. Its introduction would foster a stable investment climate, reduce financial risks, and increase international partners’ participation in Ukraine’s recovery and development.

Andrii Varfolomiev, Chairman of the Resource Efficient and Cleaner Production Center, announced standards currently being developed by his team and proposed the idea of transitioning from an industrial park to an eco-industrial one. The main goal of this transition is to enable access to international markets.

But a logical question arises: what’s the point of transitioning from traditional industrial to eco-industrial parks? Is it just about the community’s environmental ambitions?

In fact, it’s much more — it’s about development, reaching a new level, and the opportunity to export products that meet environmental standards more easily and quickly. In other words, it’s about creating added value across the entire production chain.

The international framework for Eco-Industrial Parks (EIPs), developed by UNIDO, the World Bank, and GIZ, has passed its second revision.

These guidelines define sustainability, governance, and environmental efficiency criteria for industrial parks aiming to obtain EIP status.

Criteria are an important aspect of the transition of industrial parks to the ECO format, and we will talk about them.
International framework for eco-industrial parks,
The Law of Ukraine “On Industrial Parks”,
The Law of Ukraine “On Standardization”,
the Decree of the President of Ukraine “On the Sustainable Development Goals of Ukraine until 2030”
These documents became the basis for the development of the national standard for eco-industrial parks.

The development of the DSTU was open: everyone had the opportunity to join the work on the document. Discussions on the second edition continued throughout the year and ended on July 7. Both versions – the first and second – were presented and discussed twice in the professional community.

After being finalized, the document is being prepared for submission for official approval. In the process of development, international frameworks were actively taken into account, and a number of clarifications were made in accordance with the Ukrainian context.

“As a result of the standardization procedure, clear criteria and evaluation methods for eco-industrial parks in Ukraine have been created,” said Svitlana Berzina.

Strong teams and time make transformation possible.
With a strong team and one to two years, the transition to an eco-industrial park (EIP) can begin.
To save resources, it is wise to study best practices from construction companies.

Olena Podolska, Head of International Development and ESG at Alterra Group, shared insights from the “Formacia.Lviv” industrial park project.
She emphasized that building an industrial park is the most complex level of real estate development.
Her company, experienced in logistics centers, faced this new challenge when approached by the Lviv Regional Administration.

“We studied how industrial parks are built in the U.S., Mexico, and other countries.
We structured that knowledge and added our own experience.
It became clear — building an industrial park is truly difficult,” said Podolska.

The next step, she said, is transforming an industrial park into an eco-industrial one.
This aligns with ESG principles and the Quadruple Helix model — linking business, government, society, and education.

Alterra Group works with Lviv Polytechnic and other institutions to train skilled workers.
They also attract manufacturers focused on sustainability and global markets.

“We create an offline space for them.
There they can cluster and benefit from synergy,” Podolska added.

Conclusion

At a recent forum in Kyiv under the GEIPP-II project, experts discussed policies, investments, and business readiness for EIPs.
Ukrainian companies are increasingly interested in green transformation, though full readiness is still developing.

According to Ukraine’s Industrial Park Strategy to 2031, the government supports shifting to the EIP model.
This includes resource-efficient, clean, and innovative production, as well as industrial symbiosis.

Transitioning to EIPs is a strategic move for Ukraine.
It opens opportunities for sustainable growth and global integration.

Ukraine has around 100 registered industrial parks.
Only 20 have at least one operating factory.
Bila Tserkva stands out as the first city to create a local development program for industrial parks.
This shows how local initiatives can boost growth and attract investment.

Such examples, supported by national tools — financial, regulatory, and educational — can transform old zones into new-generation EIPs.

At the forum’s end, four key components of successful EIPs were highlighted:

Education and skilled workforce — training staff to meet sustainability standards.
Production — especially SMEs ready to operate responsibly.
Government — providing supportive policies and economic incentives.
Community — open-minded local groups supporting green development.

These parts must work together to create a strong ecosystem where EIPs thrive.

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