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Industrial Symbiosis Implementation Potential—An Applied Assessment Tool for Companies

Author

Listed:
  • João Azevedo

    (Low Carbon & Resource Efficiency, R&Di, Instituto de Soldadura e Qualidade, 4415-491 Grijó, Portugal)

  • Inês Ferreira

    (Low Carbon & Resource Efficiency, R&Di, Instituto de Soldadura e Qualidade, 4415-491 Grijó, Portugal)

  • Rui Dias

    (Low Carbon & Resource Efficiency, R&Di, Instituto de Soldadura e Qualidade, 4415-491 Grijó, Portugal)

  • Cristina Ascenço

    (Programs and Business Incubation, R&Di, Instituto de Soldadura e Qualidade, 2740-120 Oeiras, Portugal)

  • Bruno Magalhães

    (Low Carbon & Resource Efficiency, R&Di, Instituto de Soldadura e Qualidade, 2740-120 Oeiras, Portugal)

  • Juan Henriques

    (Low Carbon & Resource Efficiency, R&Di, Instituto de Soldadura e Qualidade, 4415-491 Grijó, Portugal)

  • Muriel Iten

    (Low Carbon & Resource Efficiency, R&Di, Instituto de Soldadura e Qualidade, 4415-491 Grijó, Portugal)

  • Fernando Cunha

    (Escola Superior de Tecnologia de Setúbal—Instituto Politécnico de Setúbal, 2910-761 Setúbal, Portugal)

Abstract

A successful and broad implementation of industrial symbiosis (IS) initiatives is highly related to stakeholder’s involvement and technical considerations on its process’ development. This paper presents a mixed research study (quantitative and qualitative) focusing on the development of a dedicated tool based on sequential modules’ that support companies in the assessment of their potential to develop and implement IS scenarios. The first module considers the identification and characterization of the economic activity of the company to support an IS contextualization analysis. The second module provides the evaluation of the company’s current state, allowing key intervention areas to be defined. The third module focuses on the assessment of the potential scenarios for synergies implementation based on an economic benefit comparison of different valorization scenarios regarding the available surplus or waste. Complementarily, a SWOT analysis for the identification of the internal strengths and weaknesses, the external opportunities and threats associated with the IS process implementation is presented. The final output compiles qualitative and quantitative results regarding each module. The presented tool is currently under validation at industrial case studies. The preliminary results show the high applicability of the proposed tool in order to support decision making processes on surpluses valorization scenarios selection.

Suggested Citation

  • João Azevedo & Inês Ferreira & Rui Dias & Cristina Ascenço & Bruno Magalhães & Juan Henriques & Muriel Iten & Fernando Cunha, 2021. "Industrial Symbiosis Implementation Potential—An Applied Assessment Tool for Companies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-16, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:3:p:1420-:d:489509
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Rui Dias & João Azevedo & Inês Ferreira & Marco Estrela & Juan Henriques & Cristina Ascenço & Muriel Iten, 2020. "Technical Viability Analysis of Industrial Synergies—An Applied Framework Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(18), pages 1-15, September.
    2. Zhiquan Yeo & Donato Masi & Jonathan Sze Choong Low & Yen Ting Ng & Puay Siew Tan & Stuart Barnes, 2019. "Tools for promoting industrial symbiosis: A systematic review," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 23(5), pages 1087-1108, October.
    3. Rachel Lombardi, 2017. "Non-technical barriers to (and drivers for) the circular economy through industrial symbiosis: A practical input," ECONOMICS AND POLICY OF ENERGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT, FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 2017(1-2), pages 171-189.
    4. 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.
    5. Anna Lütje & Volker Wohlgemuth, 2020. "Requirements Engineering for an Industrial Symbiosis Tool for Industrial Parks Covering System Analysis, Transformation Simulation and Goal Setting," Administrative Sciences, MDPI, vol. 10(1), pages 1-24, February.
    6. Amtul Samie Maqbool & Francisco Mendez Alva & Greet Van Eetvelde, 2018. "An Assessment of European Information Technology Tools to Support Industrial Symbiosis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(1), pages 1-15, December.
    7. 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.
    8. Tiberio Daddi & Benedetta Nucci & Fabio Iraldo & Francesco Testa, 2016. "Enhancing the Adoption of Life Cycle Assessment by Small and Medium Enterprises Grouped in an Industrial Cluster: A Case Study of the Tanning Cluster in Tuscany (Italy)," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 20(5), pages 1199-1211, October.
    9. Gabriel B. Grant & Thomas P. Seager & Guillaume Massard & Loring Nies, 2010. "Information and Communication Technology for Industrial Symbiosis," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 14(5), pages 740-753, October.
    10. Artem Golev & Glen D. Corder & Damien P. Giurco, 2015. "Barriers to Industrial Symbiosis: Insights from the Use of a Maturity Grid," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 19(1), pages 141-153, February.
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    2. Tatyana Tolstykh & Nadezhda Shmeleva & Leyla Gamidullaeva & Victoria Krasnobaeva, 2023. "The Role of Collaboration in the Development of Industrial Enterprises Integration," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-26, April.

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