Industrial symbiosis

Industrial symbiosis is a form of collaboration between companies in which the waste, by-product, water or surplus energy of one organisation becomes a raw material or resource for another. Instead of treating these flows as waste to be disposed of, companies exchange them, so that what is a surplus for one is a useful input for another.

The name comes from ecological symbiosis, in which two or more organisms live together for mutual benefit. It is a practical tool of the circular economy and of resource efficiency, because it closes material and energy loops at a territorial scale.

How it works

Industrial symbiosis is usually organised through different types of exchange:

• Material exchange: the by-products of one process are used as a raw material in another.
• Energy exchange: waste heat or steam from one plant supplies neighbouring facilities.
• Water exchange: water used by one company is reused in another's processes.
• Shared services and infrastructure among companies in the same area.

For a flow to stop being considered waste and to be used legally as a resource, it often needs to meet the end-of-waste criteria or be managed as a by-product under the applicable rules.

The Kalundborg example

The world reference case is the Kalundborg eco-industrial park in Denmark, where the first synergies between companies began to develop in the 1970s. There, power, refining, gypsum production and biotechnology plants, among others, systematically exchange steam, water, gas and various by-products. Kalundborg did not arise from a prior plan; the relationships grew progressively as companies saw the economic and environmental benefits of the exchange.

Eco-industrial parks and benefits

When these synergies are concentrated in a single location, we speak of eco-industrial parks. Their main benefits are reduced consumption of raw materials and energy, less waste sent to landfill, cost savings for the participating companies and the creation of local economic activity. Industrial symbiosis complements other circular strategies, such as product ecodesign or energy recovery from waste when material reuse is not possible.

Measure the impact of your synergies with Manglai

To take advantage of industrial symbiosis it helps to know your material, water and energy flows, and to be able to quantify the environmental impact of each synergy. At Manglai we help you measure and report your environmental performance to identify circularity opportunities and demonstrate their results. Discover how Manglai can help you.