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Analyzing the Environmental Benefits of Industrial Symbiosis

Author

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  • Laura Sokka
  • Suvi Lehtoranta
  • Ari Nissinen
  • Matti Melanen

Abstract

Studies of industrial symbiosis (IS) focus on the physical flows of materials and energy in local industrial systems. In an ideal IS, waste material and energy are shared or exchanged among the actors of the system, thereby reducing the consumption of virgin material and energy inputs, and likewise the generation of waste and emissions. In this study, the environmental impacts of an industrial ecosystem centered around a pulp and paper mill and operating as an IS are analyzed using life cycle assessment (LCA). The system is compared with two hypothetical reference systems in which the actors would operate in isolation. Moreover, the system is analyzed further in order to identify possibilities for additional links between the actors. The results show that of the total life cycle impacts of the system, upstream processes made the greatest overall contribution to the results. Comparison with stand‐alone production shows that in the case studied, the industrial symbiosis results in modest improvements, 5% to 20% in most impact categories, in the overall environmental impacts of the system. Most of the benefits occur upstream through heat and electricity production for the local town. All in all it is recommended that when the environmental impacts of industrial symbiosis are assessed, the impacts occurring upstream should also be studied, not only the impacts within the ecosystem.

Suggested Citation

  • Laura Sokka & Suvi Lehtoranta & Ari Nissinen & Matti Melanen, 2011. "Analyzing the Environmental Benefits of Industrial Symbiosis," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 15(1), pages 137-155, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:inecol:v:15:y:2011:i:1:p:137-155
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1530-9290.2010.00276.x
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    Cited by:

    1. Fraccascia, Luca & Albino, Vito & Garavelli, Claudio A., 2017. "Technical efficiency measures of industrial symbiosis networks using enterprise input-output analysis," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 183(PA), pages 273-286.
    2. Min Wang & Xiaohan Yuan & Shuqi Yang & Kahaer Abudu & Kongtao Qin, 2022. "Research on Spatial Planning of Petrochemical Industrial Parks from the Perspective of Symbiosis: Example of Yueyang Green Chemical Industry Park," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-17, April.
    3. Qiufei Wang & Menghan Cao & Ye Yang, 2023. "Study on the Vulnerability of Municipal Solid Waste Resource Symbiosis Network—A Case Study Based on the Construction of Zero Waste City in Panjin," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(12), pages 1-16, June.
    4. 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.
    5. Anna Rohde-Lütje & Volker Wohlgemuth, 2020. "Recurring Patterns and Blueprints of Industrial Symbioses as Structural Units for an IT Tool," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(19), pages 1-21, October.
    6. Dong, Liang & Fujita, Tsuyoshi & Zhang, Hui & Dai, Ming & Fujii, Minoru & Ohnishi, Satoshi & Geng, Yong & Liu, Zhu, 2013. "Promoting low-carbon city through industrial symbiosis: A case in China by applying HPIMO model," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 61(C), pages 864-873.
    7. Martin, Michael & Svensson, Niclas & Fonseca, Jorge & Eklund, Mats, 2014. "Quantifying the environmental performance of integrated bioethanol and biogas production," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 61(C), pages 109-116.
    8. Rizos, Vasileios & Tuokko, Katja & Behrens, Arno, 2017. "The Circular Economy: A review of definitions, processes and impacts," CEPS Papers 12440, Centre for European Policy Studies.
    9. Jooyoung Park & Jun‐Mo Park & Hung‐Suck Park, 2019. "Scaling‐Up of Industrial Symbiosis in the Korean National Eco‐Industrial Park Program: Examining Its Evolution over the 10 Years between 2005–2014," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 23(1), pages 197-207, February.
    10. Michael Martin, 2020. "Evaluating the environmental performance of producing soil and surfaces through industrial symbiosis," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 24(3), pages 626-638, June.
    11. Dong, Liang & Gu, Fumei & Fujita, Tsuyoshi & Hayashi, Yoshitsugu & Gao, Jie, 2014. "Uncovering opportunity of low-carbon city promotion with industrial system innovation: Case study on industrial symbiosis projects in China," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 65(C), pages 388-397.
    12. Changhao Liu & Raymond Côté, 2017. "A Framework for Integrating Ecosystem Services into China’s Circular Economy: The Case of Eco-Industrial Parks," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(9), pages 1-20, August.
    13. Dong, Liang & Liang, Hanwei & Zhang, Liguo & Liu, Zhaowen & Gao, Zhiqiu & Hu, Mingming, 2017. "Highlighting regional eco-industrial development: Life cycle benefits of an urban industrial symbiosis and implications in China," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 361(C), pages 164-176.
    14. Winans, K. & Kendall, A. & Deng, H., 2017. "The history and current applications of the circular economy concept," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 68(P1), pages 825-833.
    15. Angela Neves & Radu Godina & Susana G. Azevedo & João C. O. Matias, 2019. "Current Status, Emerging Challenges, and Future Prospects of Industrial Symbiosis in Portugal," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(19), pages 1-23, October.
    16. Olsson, Linda & Wetterlund, Elisabeth & Söderström, Mats, 2015. "Assessing the climate impact of district heating systems with combined heat and power production and industrial excess heat," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 96(C), pages 31-39.

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