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Industrial Symbiosis in China: A Case Study of the Guitang Group

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  • Qinghua ZHU
  • Ernest A. LOWE
  • Yuan‐an WEI
  • Donald BARNES

Abstract

The Guitang Group (GG), which operates one of China's largest sugar refineries, has been developing and implementing an internal and external industrial symbiosis strategy for more than four decades. The GG first invested in developing its own collection of downstream companies to utilize nearly all byproducts of sugar production. This strategy has generated new revenues and reduced environmental emissions and disposal costs, while simultaneously improving the quality of sugar. Internally, the GG's complex consists of interlinked production of sugar, alcohol, cement, compound fertilizer, and paper and includes recycling and reuse. Externally, the GG has established a strong customer base as a result of its product quality, has worked to maintain and expand its supply base through technological and economic incentives to farmers (and even to competitors), and has had to react to a strong government presence that fundamentally affects its operations. Operations to date support some of the fundamental concepts of industrial symbiosis. Significant challenges exist, though, if the company is to continue to prosper in the volatile globalized sugar market.

Suggested Citation

  • Qinghua ZHU & Ernest A. LOWE & Yuan‐an WEI & Donald BARNES, 2007. "Industrial Symbiosis in China: A Case Study of the Guitang Group," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 11(1), pages 31-42, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:inecol:v:11:y:2007:i:1:p:31-42
    DOI: 10.1162/jiec.2007.929
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    10. Bain, Ariana & Shenoy, Megha & Ashton, Weslynne & Chertow, Marian, 2010. "Industrial symbiosis and waste recovery in an Indian industrial area," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 54(12), pages 1278-1287.
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    12. Juan Diego Henriques & João Azevedo & Rui Dias & Marco Estrela & Cristina Ascenço & Doroteya Vladimirova & Karen Miller, 2022. "Implementing Industrial Symbiosis Incentives: an Applied Assessment Framework for Risk Mitigation," Circular Economy and Sustainability, Springer, vol. 2(2), pages 669-692, June.
    13. Lovisa Harfeldt-Berg & Sarah Broberg & Karin Ericsson, 2022. "The Importance of Individual Actor Characteristics and Contextual Aspects for Promoting Industrial Symbiosis Networks," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-21, April.
    14. Juan Henriques & Paulo Ferrão & Rui Castro & João Azevedo, 2021. "Industrial Symbiosis: A Sectoral Analysis on Enablers and Barriers," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-22, February.
    15. Jarmo Uusikartano & Hannele Väyrynen & Leena Aarikka-Stenroos, 2020. "Public Agency in Changing Industrial Circular Economy Ecosystems: Roles, Modes and Structures," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(23), pages 1-27, November.
    16. Xin Nie & Jianxian Wu & Han Wang & Weijuan Li & Chengdao Huang & Lihua Li, 2022. "Contributing to carbon peak: Estimating the causal impact of eco‐industrial parks on low‐carbon development in China," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 26(4), pages 1578-1593, August.
    17. Zhang, Hui & Dong, Liang & Li, Huiquan & Fujita, Tsuyoshi & Ohnishi, Satoshi & Tang, Qing, 2013. "Analysis of low-carbon industrial symbiosis technology for carbon mitigation in a Chinese iron/steel industrial park: A case study with carbon flow analysis," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 61(C), pages 1400-1411.
    18. Carlos Scheel & Bernardo Bello, 2022. "Transforming Linear Production Chains into Circular Value Extended Systems," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-17, March.
    19. 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.
    20. João Azevedo & Juan Henriques & Marco Estrela & Rui Dias & Doroteya Vladimirova & Karen Miller & Muriel Iten, 2021. "Guidelines for Industrial Symbiosis—a Systematic Approach for Content Definition and Practical Recommendations for Implementation," Circular Economy and Sustainability, Springer, vol. 1(2), pages 507-523, September.
    21. 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.
    22. Marian R. Chertow & Koichi S. Kanaoka & Jooyoung Park, 2021. "Tracking the diffusion of industrial symbiosis scholarship using bibliometrics: Comparing across Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 25(4), pages 913-931, August.
    23. Guga, Suri & Ma, Yining & Riao, Dao & Zhi, Feng & Xu, Jie & Zhang, Jiquan, 2023. "Drought monitoring of sugarcane and dynamic variation characteristics under global warming: A case study of Guangxi, China," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 275(C).
    24. Chris Davis & Graham Aid, 2022. "Machine learning‐assisted industrial symbiosis: Testing the ability of word vectors to estimate similarity for material substitutions," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 26(1), pages 27-43, February.
    25. Barros, Murillo Vetroni & Salvador, Rodrigo & de Francisco, Antonio Carlos & Piekarski, Cassiano Moro, 2020. "Mapping of research lines on circular economy practices in agriculture: From waste to energy," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 131(C).

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