Recognised nationally and internationally, Econenel has become a reference in sustainability actions. By allying the formation of a partnership network between customers, company and recycler, the promotion of sustainability and the economy, it also masterfully represents the Open Power strategy.
To take part, customers must take the recyclable materials collected in their homes (paper, glass, metal, plastic and others) to the programme’s collection points. In exchange they receive a discount to their energy bills or to another consumer unit’s, which means the customer can donate their bonus to a charitable institution for example. All the rubbish collected from customers is passed on to recyclers, who ensure the correct disposal of the materials.
Ecoenel joins environmental management, social actions and technology. Customers can follow their selective collection online: click here to see your collections in the state of Ceará, here to follow collections in Rio de Janeiro and here to consult your collections in Goiás.
Since its implementation in 2007, the programme has benefitted over 620,000 customers, collected 43,000 tonnes of residue and offered more than R$7 million in energy bill discounts. Grupo Enel’s distributors currently have 218 ecopoints across 46 cities.
The volume of residue received increased substantially with the introduction of Roaming Ecoenel (Enel Itinerante), which serves gated and low-income communities, collecting rubbish and offering instructions on how to properly store and better manage their residue. There are currently 42 gated developments and 54 low-income communities taking part in this initiative.
Recognition
Ecoenel has received national and international recognition for its results. The most recent ones were The FIRJAN Award for Environmental Action promoted by the Federation of Industries of Rio de Janeiro and the participation in the Knowledge Week promoted by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) in Washington, US. The programme was also a top-three finalist in the National Prize for Innovation (Prêmio Nacional de Inovação) in 2013 and received the ODM Brasil award, which encourages actions, programmes and projects that effectively contribute to the fulfilling the Millennium Development Goals.
In 2015 the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Brazil elected Ecoenel as one of the 19 best Brazilian initiatives in its report "Inclusive Markets in Brazil: Challenges and Opportunities of the Business Ecosystem” (“Mercados Inclusivos no Brasil: Desafios e Oportunidades do Ecossistema de Negócios"). In the same year it was picked as one of the most important projects in Latin America aligned to the principles of the United Nations Global Compact and recognised by the Environment Ministry as an Environmental Education Reference Practice.
Ecoenel also won the Chico Mendes Socio-Environmental Award; was chosen by Exame magazine and Monitor Group as one of the 25 best Brazilian innovations of the past decade; and was one of the winners of the UN’s World Business and Development Awards (WBDA) as one of the most important projects in terms of its alignment with the principles of the Global Compact, ranking among the 20 most relevant in the world.
Ecoenel App:
The Ecoenel Programme has an app available on Android and IOS platforms.
Through the app, it is possible to consult the nearest Ecoponto, through geolocation, check the price list and types of materials received at each point, and also consult the general numbers of the Programme, in real time.
The app also allows each customer to check their transaction history, time and collection point where each transaction was made, facilitating the monitoring of their participation in the Programme.
