IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/fan/efeefe/vhtml10.3280-efe2017-001009.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Non-technical barriers to (and drivers for) the circular economy through industrial symbiosis: A practical input

Author

Listed:
  • Rachel Lombardi

Abstract

Industrial symbiosis is the use by one company or sector of resources (materials, energy, water, logistics, capacity) from another, thus reducing waste generation while delivering economic, environmental and social benefits. At all levels in Europe - local, regional, national, and the EU itself - industrial symbiosis is increasingly seen as a strategic tool to help deliver the circular economy. At least 20 Member States since 2009 have held awareness raising and implementation activities. Facilitated programs in 15 EU countries are engaging over 20,000 organisations in industrial symbiosis, and others have self-directing activity. Nevertheless, less than 0.1% of the 26 million active enterprises in Europe are known to be active in industrial symbiosis. Facilitator and company surveys and interviews on industrial symbiosis opportunities have identified non-technical barriers to industrial symbiosis: the lack of information is clearly identified as a barrier by companies, and addressing this is a large part of a facilitator role. Both companies and facilitators identify regulation, organisational and governance issues as potential barriers, usually addressed through facilitator support. Companies typically do not need help establishing the commercial viability of industrial symbiosis opportunities.

Suggested Citation

  • 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.
    • Handle: RePEc:fan:efeefe:v:html10.3280/efe2017-001009
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.francoangeli.it/riviste/Scheda_Rivista.aspx?IDArticolo=61085&Tipo=ArticoloPDF
    Download Restriction: Single articles can be downloaded buying download credits, for info: https://www.francoangeli.it/DownloadCredit
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. D. Rachel Lombardi & Peter Laybourn, 2012. "Redefining Industrial Symbiosis," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 16(1), pages 28-37, February.
    2. 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.
    3. 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.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Andrea Cecchin & Roberta Salomone & Pauline Deutz & Andrea Raggi & Laura Cutaia, 2021. "What Is in a Name? The Rising Star of the Circular Economy as a Resource-Related Concept for Sustainable Development," Circular Economy and Sustainability, Springer, vol. 1(1), pages 83-97, June.
    2. Luca Fraccascia & Alessandra Sabato & Devrim Murat Yazan, 2021. "An industrial symbiosis simulation game: Evidence from the circular sustainable business development class," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 25(6), pages 1688-1706, December.
    3. 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.
    4. Emilia Faria & Armando Caldeira-Pires & Cristiane Barreto, 2021. "Social, Economic, and Institutional Configurations of the Industrial Symbiosis Process: A Comparative Analysis of the Literature and a Proposed Theoretical and Analytical Framework," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(13), pages 1-25, June.
    5. Daniela C. A. Pigosso & Andreas Schmiegelow & Maj Munch Andersen, 2018. "Measuring the Readiness of SMEs for Eco-Innovation and Industrial Symbiosis: Development of a Screening Tool," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(8), pages 1-25, August.
    6. 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.
    7. Tian Yang & Changhao Liu & Raymond P. Côté & Jinwen Ye & Weifeng Liu, 2022. "Evaluating the Barriers to Industrial Symbiosis Using a Group AHP-TOPSIS Model," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-30, June.
    8. Hélène Cervo & Stéphane Ogé & Amtul Samie Maqbool & Francisco Mendez Alva & Lindsay Lessard & Alexandre Bredimas & Jean-Henry Ferrasse & Greet Van Eetvelde, 2019. "A Case Study of Industrial Symbiosis in the Humber Region Using the EPOS Methodology," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(24), pages 1-32, December.
    9. 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.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. 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.
    2. Daniel Jato-Espino & Carmen Ruiz-Puente, 2020. "Fostering Circular Economy Through the Analysis of Existing Open Access Industrial Symbiosis Databases," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-24, January.
    3. 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.
    4. 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.
    5. Xiaoxing Zhang & Changyuan Gao & Shuchen Zhang, 2021. "Research on the Knowledge-Sharing Incentive of the Cross-Boundary Alliance Symbiotic System," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(18), pages 1-20, September.
    6. Daniela C. A. Pigosso & Andreas Schmiegelow & Maj Munch Andersen, 2018. "Measuring the Readiness of SMEs for Eco-Innovation and Industrial Symbiosis: Development of a Screening Tool," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(8), pages 1-25, August.
    7. Miguel A. Artacho-Ramírez & Bélgica Pacheco-Blanco & Víctor A. Cloquell-Ballester & Mónica Vicent & Irina Celades, 2020. "Quick Wins Workshop and Companies Profiling to Analyze Industrial Symbiosis Potential. Valenciaport’s Cluster as Case Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(18), pages 1-21, September.
    8. 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.
    9. Fraccascia, Luca, 2020. "Quantifying the direct network effect for online platforms supporting industrial symbiosis: an agent-based simulation study," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 170(C).
    10. Emilia Faria & Armando Caldeira-Pires & Cristiane Barreto, 2021. "Social, Economic, and Institutional Configurations of the Industrial Symbiosis Process: A Comparative Analysis of the Literature and a Proposed Theoretical and Analytical Framework," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(13), pages 1-25, June.
    11. Michael Martin & Sofia Poulikidou & Elvira Molin, 2019. "Exploring the Environmental Performance of Urban Symbiosis for Vertical Hydroponic Farming," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(23), pages 1-18, November.
    12. Aid, Graham & Eklund, Mats & Anderberg, Stefan & Baas, Leenard, 2017. "Expanding roles for the Swedish waste management sector in inter-organizational resource management," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 124(C), pages 85-97.
    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. Hélène Cervo & Stéphane Ogé & Amtul Samie Maqbool & Francisco Mendez Alva & Lindsay Lessard & Alexandre Bredimas & Jean-Henry Ferrasse & Greet Van Eetvelde, 2019. "A Case Study of Industrial Symbiosis in the Humber Region Using the EPOS Methodology," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(24), pages 1-32, December.
    15. Sergio Barile & Clara Bassano & Raffaele D’Amore & Paolo Piciocchi & Marialuisa Saviano & Pietro Vito, 2021. "Insights of Digital Transformation Processes in Industrial Symbiosis from the Viable Systems Approach ( vSa )," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(17), pages 1-14, August.
    16. Haiyan Shan & Junliang Yang & Guo Wei, 2019. "Industrial Symbiosis Systems: Promoting Carbon Emission Reduction Activities," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(7), pages 1-23, March.
    17. 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, vol. 2(4), pages 1317-1344, December.
    18. 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.
    19. Tian Yang & Changhao Liu & Raymond P. Côté & Jinwen Ye & Weifeng Liu, 2022. "Evaluating the Barriers to Industrial Symbiosis Using a Group AHP-TOPSIS Model," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-30, June.
    20. 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).

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • L23 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Organization of Production
    • L14 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance - - - Transactional Relationships; Contracts and Reputation

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:fan:efeefe:v:html10.3280/efe2017-001009. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Stefania Rosato (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.francoangeli.it/riviste/sommario.aspx?IDRivista=10 .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.