Polish environmental and building technologies (EBT) industry experienced a rise in exports and greater integration with Western European countries since joining the EU. The accession compelled the industry to implement a series of environmental programs and policies to comply with EU environmental standards. In due course, the Polish EBT industry became one of the most vibrant ones in the Central and Eastern European (CEE) region.

To meet the EU environmental provisions, the Polish Government has taken steps to promote environmental impact assessment, water and wastewater treatment, and solid waste management. It has proactively ensured economic growth with sustainable development and has drafted many legislations and laws to curb air, water, and land pollution. It also promotes eco-friendly products and cleaner development mechanisms.

With regard to the building technologies sector, the Government supports new construction in infrastructural projects and adoption of the latest building technologies in such projects. There is huge potential for building technologies such as lighting equipment, HVAC equipment, and BMCS in housing cooperatives - both for new construction and development and renovations of existing buildings.

"Meanwhile, the political establishment has identified the need for energy efficiency in buildings and is encouraging energy-efficient consumption patterns," says Archana Amarnath, Research Analyst, EBT, for Frost & Sullivan's Economic Research and Analytics group. "The Poland Efficient Lighting Project (PELP) program was successful in spreading awareness about energy-efficient lighting equipment such as compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) among Polish households."

Although exports have been on the rise, the industry also imports substantially, in particular equipment and pollution control technology from the United Kingdom, France, and Germany. This has not only increased foreign presence in the industry but also opened doors to private sector participation. Moreover, economic liberalization, effective investment incentives, low labor costs and high level of technical expertise have made Poland an ideal investment hub for the EBT industry.

"The industry is flooded with small- and medium-sized enterprises and competition is highest in the water and wastewater equipment segment," notes Amarnath." Foreign companies with strategic partnerships with local companies are most suited to operate in the EBT industry, since government and large projects are generally awarded to such companies."

The medium-sized projects are assigned to domestic businesses that have received licenses for particular technologies or gained considerable market share because of privatization, while small projects are assigned to local Polish companies.