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Managing Performance Expectations of Industrial Symbiosis

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  • Weslynne S. Ashton

Abstract

Firms collaborate on environmental management issues for number of reasons, including cost reduction, risk sharing and managing competition. Industrial symbiosis represents a voluntary collaborative approach among firms in geographic proximity. Companies participating in industrial symbiosis have been found to improve their individual economic and environmental performance, while the regions where they are located are thought to benefit through enhanced environmental quality. However, too few studies have actually investigated whether this is always the case. This paper considers a single case on the island of Puerto Rico, where several firms in a predominantly pharmaceutical manufacturing cluster participated in symbiosis initiatives for several decades. It examines whether early stage symbiotic activities, specifically a shared utility, met technical performance and community expectations for improved environmental quality. Results suggest that collaboration does not necessarily lead to expected environmental performance goals. The paper details the circumstances that led to under‐performance of the initiative and the lessons for symbiosis projects in general. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment.

Suggested Citation

  • Weslynne S. Ashton, 2011. "Managing Performance Expectations of Industrial Symbiosis," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 20(5), pages 297-309, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:bstrat:v:20:y:2011:i:5:p:297-309
    DOI: 10.1002/bse.696
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    1. Noel Brings Jacobsen, 2006. "Industrial Symbiosis in Kalundborg, Denmark: A Quantitative Assessment of Economic and Environmental Aspects," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 10(1‐2), pages 239-255, January.
    2. Marian Chertow & Weslynne Ashton & Juan Espinosa, 2008. "Industrial Symbiosis in Puerto Rico: Environmentally Related Agglomeration Economies," Regional Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 42(10), pages 1299-1312.
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    1. Marina I. Baumer-Cardoso & Weslynne S. Ashton & Lucila M. S. Campos, 2023. "Measuring the Adoption of Circular Economy in Manufacturing Companies: the Proposal of the Overall Circularity Effectiveness (OCE) Index," Circular Economy and Sustainability,, Springer.
    2. Alfred Posch & Abhishek Agarwal & Peter Strachan, 2011. "Editorial: Managing Industrial Symbiosis (IS) Networks," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 20(7), pages 421-427, November.
    3. Lis, Anna Maria & Mackiewicz, Marta, 2023. "The implementation of green transformation through clusters," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 209(C).
    4. Fraccascia, Luca & Giannoccaro, Ilaria & Albino, Vito, 2021. "Ecosystem indicators for measuring industrial symbiosis," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 183(C).
    5. Luca Fraccascia & Ilaria Giannoccaro & Vito Albino, 2017. "Efficacy of Landfill Tax and Subsidy Policies for the Emergence of Industrial Symbiosis Networks: An Agent-Based Simulation Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(4), pages 1-18, March.
    6. John Rincón-Moreno & Marta Ormazabal & Maria J. Álvarez & Carmen Jaca, 2020. "Shortcomings of Transforming a Local Circular Economy System through Industrial Symbiosis: A Case Study in Spanish SMEs," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(20), pages 1-18, October.
    7. Angela Neves & Radu Godina & Susana G. Azevedo & Carina Pimentel & João C.O. Matias, 2019. "The Potential of Industrial Symbiosis: Case Analysis and Main Drivers and Barriers to Its Implementation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(24), pages 1-68, December.
    8. Fraccascia, Luca & Yazan, Devrim Murat & Albino, Vito & Zijm, Henk, 2020. "The role of redundancy in industrial symbiotic business development: A theoretical framework explored by agent-based simulation," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 221(C).
    9. Luca Fraccascia & Vahid Yazdanpanah & Guido Capelleveen & Devrim Murat Yazan, 2021. "Energy-based industrial symbiosis: a literature review for circular energy transition," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 23(4), pages 4791-4825, April.
    10. Aurélien Bruel & Radu Godina, 2023. "A Smart Contract Architecture Framework for Successful Industrial Symbiosis Applications Using Blockchain Technology," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-18, March.
    11. C. Oughton & B. Kurup & M. Anda & G. Ho, 2022. "Industrial Symbiosis to Circular Economy: What Does the Literature Reveal for a Successful Complex Industrial Area?," Circular Economy and Sustainability,, Springer.
    12. Pauline Deutz & Giuseppe Ioppolo, 2015. "From Theory to Practice: Enhancing the Potential Policy Impact of Industrial Ecology," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 7(2), pages 1-15, February.

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