Understanding industrial symbiosis and modern perspectives

To support the transition of the industrial sector towards a more sustainable and climate neutral future, many countries and policy-making bodies have developed prospective green industrial plans. Noticeably at the center of many of those plans is an improvement of resource allocation and energy efficiency by aiding the establishment of a well-structured industrial ecology. Industrial symbiosis can be defined as a harmonious partnership between companies, through the exchange of services, by-products, waste, and resources, such as materials, energy, and “work force skills”. Recently, it has expanded to involve the exchange of information or data for business development. The companies partaking in the definition need to be based in predefined industrial areas but not necessarily in the same location. The aim of the development of such an industrial synergy is to ensue sustainable means of production whilst ensuring an economic, technical and environmental benefit for all parties involved. An industrial synergy does not necessary need to be between similar industries, but rather dissimilar industries in a means of trying to create a mutual benefit for the industrial sector, the environment and surrounding society. But no industrial symbiosis is established without the backing of policies, may that be national or international. In addition to the support of well established industrial technologies and company policies. There are many literatures that have reported on methods used to evaluate Industrial symbiosis and it is effects on all parties involved. This paper presents a review on the definition and breakdown of industrial symbiosis, as well as a review on the assessment tools that have been reported to evaluate Industrial symbiosis. It draws from the experience and guidelines of industrial symbiosis projects in many countries, including China, Brazil, and Italy as well as numerous others that have a long standing industrial symbiosis history, which has been backed up by an ever growing strong industrial policy. The paper presents a comprehensive review into the many factors affecting the promotion of different types of Industrial symbiosis that can help ease the establishment of an Industrial Symbiosis Network.