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Our Main Services
Our Main Services
Tailor-made Study Tours
Tailor-made Study Tours
Since 1997 we have organized over 30 customized study tours in Sweden and internationally. These programs offer professionals and delegations practical experience in key sectors such as renewable energy, waste management and green building.
Since 1997 we have organized over 30 customized study tours in Sweden and internationally. These programs offer professionals and delegations practical experience in key sectors such as renewable energy, waste management and green building.
Cooperation in Networks
Cooperation in Networks
We support SMEs in achieving operational excellence through management systems that seamlessly integrate efficiency and sustainability (ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 59000 etc)
We support SMEs in achieving operational excellence through management systems that seamlessly integrate efficiency and sustainability (ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 59000 etc)
Capacity Building & Global Networking
Capacity Building & Global Networking
Through the Ecomuna virtual hub , we facilitate international knowledge exchange, providing training programs for transition leaders around the world.
Through the Ecomuna virtual hub , we facilitate international knowledge exchange, providing training programs for transition leaders around the world.
Examples of Our Projects
Examples of Our Projects
Our projects turn strategic knowledge into local impact. By bridging Swedish expertise with global initiatives, we transform ambitious visions into concrete, measurable actions for a regenerative future.
Our projects turn strategic knowledge into local impact. By bridging Swedish expertise with global initiatives, we transform ambitious visions into concrete, measurable actions for a regenerative future.
Sweden
Sweden
Beyond Silos: The Power of Swedish Cooperation
Beyond Silos: The Power of Swedish Cooperation
From a Swedish perspective, true sustainability is rooted in the "dynamo role" of a community, which focuses on developing deep cooperation between all actors in a geographic area to share resources and work toward a common goal. This approach is best exemplified by the industrial symbiosis found in the Umeå Green Zone, where different companies,including a car dealership, a fast-food restaurant, and a gas station, operate through a joint energy system and shared waste management. By moving away from working in "silos" and choosing to work together, these businesses prove that cooperating around energy and resources leads to massive efficiency gains. This collaborative mindset means that we save energy as a collective, transforming individual needs into a shared, sustainable system that benefits the entire area. Our work further integrates these collaborative networks by partnering with organizations like the Bio Fuel Region, which helps companies transition to fossil-fuel-free vehicles through regional cooperation and shared expertise. Ultimately, the goal is to focus more on cooperation, showing how a unified systemic view can turn the shared use of resources into a powerful engine for a regenerative future.
From a Swedish perspective, true sustainability is rooted in the "dynamo role" of a community, which focuses on developing deep cooperation between all actors in a geographic area to share resources and work toward a common goal. This approach is best exemplified by the industrial symbiosis found in the Umeå Green Zone, where different companies,including a car dealership, a fast-food restaurant, and a gas station, operate through a joint energy system and shared waste management. By moving away from working in "silos" and choosing to work together, these businesses prove that cooperating around energy and resources leads to massive efficiency gains. This collaborative mindset means that we save energy as a collective, transforming individual needs into a shared, sustainable system that benefits the entire area. Our work further integrates these collaborative networks by partnering with organizations like the Bio Fuel Region, which helps companies transition to fossil-fuel-free vehicles through regional cooperation and shared expertise. Ultimately, the goal is to focus more on cooperation, showing how a unified systemic view can turn the shared use of resources into a powerful engine for a regenerative future.
Japan
Japan
Study Tours for Japanese Participants
Study Tours for Japanese Participants
From 2002 to 2014, Lena Lindahl and Barbro Kalla (Sustainable Sweden Association) organized study tours for Japanese participants focused on sustainable development. These tours, held once or twice a year, showcased a wide range of practical sustainability solutions across society, often linked to current issues in Japan, such as renewable energy following the Fukushima disaster. Responding to both thematic needs and direct requests from Japan, programs covered topics like sustainable forestry, environmental legislation, and education for sustainable development (ESD). Participants included professionals, public sector representatives, and sustainability experts, with recruitment supported by Lena Lindahl’s strong network in Japan. Today, Lena Lindahl continues to offer tailor-made visit programs in Japanese, based on specific requests, and welcomes new inquiries.
From 2002 to 2014, Lena Lindahl and Barbro Kalla (Sustainable Sweden Association) organized study tours for Japanese participants focused on sustainable development. These tours, held once or twice a year, showcased a wide range of practical sustainability solutions across society, often linked to current issues in Japan, such as renewable energy following the Fukushima disaster. Responding to both thematic needs and direct requests from Japan, programs covered topics like sustainable forestry, environmental legislation, and education for sustainable development (ESD). Participants included professionals, public sector representatives, and sustainability experts, with recruitment supported by Lena Lindahl’s strong network in Japan. Today, Lena Lindahl continues to offer tailor-made visit programs in Japanese, based on specific requests, and welcomes new inquiries.
Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Pilot Projects and Food Security
Pilot Projects and Food Security
In Ethiopia, the project adapts the 5.0 model to the African context, focusing on capacity building, waste management, and urban greening through pilot projects for food security. It coordinates 14 Ethiopian eco-municipalities via the sister organization SSDE. The Merewa Monastery project spans 18 hectares and improves water and food security for the local community, while in Abraha Atsbeha, dams and terracing have allowed the village to overcome drought, enabling farmers to harvest three times a year.
In Ethiopia, the project adapts the 5.0 model to the African context, focusing on capacity building, waste management, and urban greening through pilot projects for food security. It coordinates 14 Ethiopian eco-municipalities via the sister organization SSDE. The Merewa Monastery project spans 18 hectares and improves water and food security for the local community, while in Abraha Atsbeha, dams and terracing have allowed the village to overcome drought, enabling farmers to harvest three times a year.
North America
North America
A Grassroots Movement:
A Grassroots Movement:
In North America, inspired by the Sustainable Sweden Tours and the follow-up publishing of The Natural Step for Communities: How Cities and Towns can Change to Sustainable Practices, by Sarah James & Torbjörn Lahti, we have seen a grassroots movement form. Ultimately more than 30 communities in the US (mainly in the Midwest and Northeast) adopted official resolutions to become eco-municipalities and continue their sustainability journeys.
In North America, inspired by the Sustainable Sweden Tours and the follow-up publishing of The Natural Step for Communities: How Cities and Towns can Change to Sustainable Practices, by Sarah James & Torbjörn Lahti, we have seen a grassroots movement form. Ultimately more than 30 communities in the US (mainly in the Midwest and Northeast) adopted official resolutions to become eco-municipalities and continue their sustainability journeys.
Other Frontiers
Other Frontiers
Chile, Kenya, and Italy
Chile, Kenya, and Italy
In Chile, Kenya, and Italy, the project explores new frontiers for the eco-municipality model. In Chile, Arauco Sustentable developed an "Eco-Province" model for sustainable tourism is based on public-private management. In Kenya, Machakos twinned with the Swedish Robertsfors and has become a model for other Kenyan communities in water resource management. In Italy, Morbegno introduced the eco-municipality model in 2007 to develop a long-term strategic vision.
In Chile, Kenya, and Italy, the project explores new frontiers for the eco-municipality model. In Chile, Arauco Sustentable developed an "Eco-Province" model for sustainable tourism is based on public-private management. In Kenya, Machakos twinned with the Swedish Robertsfors and has become a model for other Kenyan communities in water resource management. In Italy, Morbegno introduced the eco-municipality model in 2007 to develop a long-term strategic vision.
The Voice of the Tour Participants
The Voice of the Tour Participants
"The tour shows us decade-long experiences of innovative, yet economically feasible examples by many committed people throughout Sweden."
"The tour shows us decade-long experiences of innovative, yet economically feasible examples by many committed people throughout Sweden."
Takayuki Funazaki
Takayuki Funazaki
''As a result of what I learned and experienced on this tour, I have decided to leave my management position and transition toward sustainability work."
''As a result of what I learned and experienced on this tour, I have decided to leave my management position and transition toward sustainability work."
Cynthia Contie
Cynthia Contie
“I returned home determined to redouble my efforts to apply what I learned to help make Minneapolis a more sustainable city.”
“I returned home determined to redouble my efforts to apply what I learned to help make Minneapolis a more sustainable city.”
Michael Orange
Michael Orange
“If there is one word to sum up my experience of this tour, it would be... remarkable”
“If there is one word to sum up my experience of this tour, it would be... remarkable”
Sarah James
Sarah James
Our Impact
Our Impact
Our Projects have inspired real change around the world
Our Projects have inspired real change around the world
The implementation of more than 30 eco-municipalities in the USA
15 Study tours for Japanese participants focused on sustainable development
The publication of the seminal book: ''The Natural Step for Communities'
A steady flow of international interns from France, Belgium, and Italy, ensuring our knowledge continues to reach new generations
A strong cooperation with Ethiopia thanks to SSDE and a 14 eco-municipalities network
Our next step: Ecomuna
Our next step: Ecomuna
Today, our vision evolves into the digital world with Ecomuna. Launched in its current global form around 2020 to bridge distances during the pandemic, this virtual hub is the culmination of our journey. It is a global learning center designed to share decades of Swedish experience and support transition leaders everywhere, creating a peer-to-peer network for a truly sustainable Earth
Today, our vision evolves into the digital world with Ecomuna. Launched in its current global form around 2020 to bridge distances during the pandemic, this virtual hub is the culmination of our journey. It is a global learning center designed to share decades of Swedish experience and support transition leaders everywhere, creating a peer-to-peer network for a truly sustainable Earth
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