Industrial Symbiosis
What is Industrial Symbiosis?
Industrial symbiosis is a concept within the field of industrial ecology that involves collaboration among industries to use each other’s by-products, waste, or surplus resources as inputs for their own production processes. This creates a mutually beneficial relationship that enhances resource efficiency, reduces waste, and minimizes environmental impact.
The industrial symbiosis creates investment opportunities, since it allows the exchange of various types of resources (waste) between a seller (waste generator) and a buyer. These entities can be within one economic zone or across multiple zones. Industrial symbiosis is based on commercial transactions between the parties, often primarily aimed at cost savings, it drives significant investments, and takes advantage of the fact that industrial waste is generated regularly, with specific characteristics and in large quantities, within a small geographic area.
Key Features of Industrial Symbiosis
1. Resource Sharing: Industries exchange materials, or waste products that would otherwise be discarded, turning them into valuable resources.
2. Collaboration: It relies on a network of industries working together to identify and implement synergies.
3. Circular Economy: Supports the transition to a circular economy by promoting resource reuse and recycling rather than disposal.
4. Sustainability: Helps industries achieve environmental, economic, and social sustainability goals.
Benefits of Industrial Symbiosis (Waste Exchange)
– ↓ Reducing dependency on fluctuating raw material prices
– ↓ Decreasing energy consumption
– ↓ Lowering expenses for safe waste disposal
– ↓ Reducing raw material costs
– ↓ Cutting down waste treatment costs
– ↓ Minimizing waste storage costs and space
– ↓ Limiting the use of natural resources
– ↑ Gaining sustainability and clean industry certifications
– ↑ Creating export opportunities
– ↑ Boosting sales through waste selling
– ↑ Unlocking new investment opportunities
– ↑ Generating environmentally friendly jobs
Examples on Industrial Symbiosis
Industrial Symbiosis in Jordan
Industrial Symbiosis Within The Recycling in Jordan Activity
Industrial Symbiosis in Jordan refers as well to the practice of facilitating resource-sharing among industries to optimize material use, reduce waste, and promote sustainability. It has been gaining traction as part of Jordan’s broader sustainability and circular economy goals, particularly in industrial zones and through partnerships between public and private sectors. The Recycling in Jordan Activity, funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment, the Greater Amman Municipality, Jordan Chamber of Industry, Amman Chamber of Industry, and private sector initiated the highlighting of potential symbiosis in the industrial sector.
The Activity conducted a screening assessment that led to the identification of potential linkages among various industrial sectors, featuring concrete examples of waste materials from one sector that could serve as valuable raw materials for another. To operationalize networking support initiatives, the Activity team developed and executed some symbiosis workshops/programs. These programs planned to be tailored for potential industries located in both Amman’s industrial estates, specifically the Abdullah II Bin Al Hussein Estate in Sahab and the Al Muwaqar Industrial Estate. In addition to Al Qastal, Al Jezzeh and Al Mushata Industrial zones. The primary aim of these workshops is to educate industrial stakeholders on both the theoretical and practical aspects of implementing and embracing the concept of waste exchange and recycling within their facilities. This approach is not only provided them with valuable knowledge and information on solid waste management but also enhanced their capabilities in recognizing opportunities for waste exchange among industrial companies.
Industrial Symbiosis Online Exchange Platform Development
Based on the insights of the Recycling in Jordan Activity conducted assessment and the initial results of symbiosis workshops and programs, Amman Chamber of Industry (ACI) is leading efforts now to develop an online platforms for industrial symbiosis, enabling factories to exchange waste and resources effectively.
The platform aim to provide a marketplace for waste/resource exchange, helping businesses reduce costs and environmental impact. For more information about the platform, please refer to this link: https://aci.org.jo/Default.aspx
More Resources Industrial Symbiosis
Industrial symbiosis promotes the sharing of underutilized resources between industrial players, reducing the energy demand and consumption of virgin materials, reducing pollution, and diverting waste from landfills. This mechanism creates new business opportunities and synergies from waste and underutilized resources, which contributes to closing the loop for industrial resources. Therefore, implementing industrial symbiosis can be an effective strategy for addressing the challenges facing the industrial sector and promoting sustainable industrial development. By doing so, industrial symbiosis opportunities could be identified for resource sharing and collaboration, enabling industries to work together to reduce waste, conserve resources, and improve overall environmental performance.
