Industrial Symbiosis

What is industrial symbiosis

Industrial Symbiosis (IS) describes a (regional) collaborative action in the industrial sector. Its underlying key concept is that by‐products or waste flows of one industry become the raw materials or inputs for another. This allows materials and resources to be used in a more sustainable way and contributes to the creation of a circular economy. In practical terms, it reduces energy use and emissions.

A practical example for industrial symbioses is using waste heat from one company as an input source for another company, substituting the need for new heat generation. In a broader way industrial symbiosis can include sharing of infrastructure, such as pipelines, energy, water, by-products and other materials and resources.

The figure below shows the functionalities of the industrial ecology, which is the overarching frame for industrial symbiosis.

Urban industrial symbiosis

When the concept of industrial symbiosis is extended to consider also urban material or resource streams this is called urban industrial symbiosis. Examples are:

Municipal solid waste as resource for companies
Transfer of waste heat via district heating

While waste heat for district heating is a common practice, examples for the use of municipal solid waste is rather rare and there are no large scale examples in Europe.

What is in it for companies?

Industrial symbiosis offers various advantages for companies.

Reduced need for raw materials and cost savings
Fewer waste disposal fees
Creation of new revenue streams from by-products and residues
Strengthening environmental profiles and green marketing.

Further examples and inspiration for industrial symbiosis projects

Sector	Description of the application of the IS concept
Fabricated metal products manufacturing (Antonopoulos et al., 2020) _{(collaborating companies do not need to belong to the same sector)}	Reuse of waste streams, including material waste from metal product fabrication, e.g. cake, scrap, coating powder and solvents, as well as energy, e.g. steam, hot water or air Closing the loop of valuable materials e.g. special metal alloys. Linking materials demand or equipment need with waste streams or standby periods, back-up or redundant equipment in other companies. Identifying logistical opportunities, e.g. empty return routes for a neighbouring company which can be put to profitable use.
Food and beverage manufacturing (Dri et al., 2018) _{(collaborating companies do not need to belong to the same sector)}	Exploiting collaborations with neighbouring companies for the use of residuals or by products for the generation of electricity, heat, cooling and steam e.g. stone/kernel from fruits. Investigating the exploitation of CO2 recovery generated during beer production form the tops of the fermentation tanks/vessels, the maturation vessels and the bright beer tanks.
Electrical and Electronic equipment manufacturing (Antonopoulos et al., 2016) _{(collaborating companies do not need to belong to the same sector)}	Providing other companies with by-products that they can use as input materials, or, respectively by using by-products from other companies. The partner company does not need necessarily belong to the same sector. Suitable materials include re-used/refurbished components from other electrical and electronic equipment, but also materials like metal sections, wood etc. from other sources that can be used, for instance, for the casing of electric and electronic appliances.

Sector

Description of the application of the IS concept

Fabricated metal products manufacturing (Antonopoulos et al., 2020)

_{(collaborating companies do not need to belong to the same sector)}

Reuse of waste streams, including material waste from metal product fabrication, e.g. cake, scrap, coating powder and solvents, as well as energy, e.g. steam, hot water or air

Closing the loop of valuable materials e.g. special metal alloys.

Linking materials demand or equipment need with waste streams or standby periods, back-up or redundant equipment in other companies.

Identifying logistical opportunities, e.g. empty return routes for a neighbouring company which can be put to profitable use.

Food and beverage manufacturing (Dri et al., 2018)

_{(collaborating companies do not need to belong to the same sector)}

Exploiting collaborations with neighbouring companies for the use of residuals or by products for the generation of electricity, heat, cooling and steam e.g. stone/kernel from fruits.

Investigating the exploitation of CO2 recovery generated during beer production form the tops of the fermentation tanks/vessels, the maturation vessels and the bright beer tanks.

Electrical and Electronic equipment manufacturing (Antonopoulos et al., 2016)

_{(collaborating companies do not need to belong to the same sector)}

Providing other companies with by-products that they can use as input materials, or, respectively by using by-products from other companies. The partner company does not need necessarily belong to the same sector. Suitable materials include re-used/refurbished components from other electrical and electronic equipment, but also materials like metal sections, wood etc. from other sources that can be used, for instance, for the casing of electric and electronic appliances.

Introduction: Industrial symbiosis toolkit

This section provides a guide on implementing industrial symbiosis along five steps. The steps include short descriptions and possibilities for public authorities and clusters to support industrial symbiosis projects. Additionally, each chapter provides an overview of tools and resources to perform the individual steps successfully.

The toolkit presents an overview of the pathways for achieving Industrial Symbiosis (IS):

Pre-planification
Planification
Implementation
Expansion
Consolidation
Further information on promoting industrial symbiosis