Capital‐based life cycle sustainability assessment: Evaluation of potential industrial symbiosis synergies

Karpagam Subramanian, Shauhrat S. Chopra and Weslynne S. Ashton

Journal of Industrial Ecology, 2021, vol. 25, issue 5, 1161-1176

Abstract: Industrial symbiosis (IS) promotes collaboration among traditionally unrelated industries, finding ways to use waste from one as a raw material for another. To enhance IS sustainability, it is essential that involved firms are aware of potential costs and benefits of new exchanges to make informed decisions. Previous assessments have primarily focused on environmental and financial implications of potenial IS synergies, but social implications are rarely addressed. Even when considered, only a limited set of social indicators, such as job creation, development of social ties, and trust among partners, are used. Such an unbalanced focus on sustainability aspects may contribute to problem shifting and suboptimal selection of new synergies. A comprehensive life cycle sustainability assessment (LCSA) of IS, covering all three dimensions is clearly lacking. Conventionally, a triple bottom line (TBL) approach is used to evaluate sustainability; however, we explore the concept of capitals and develop a capital‐based LCSA framework as a means to evaluate sustainability of IS by examining the stocks and flows of eight different types of capital, or resources creating value, in a system. Measuring stocks and flows is conceptually much closer to the actual definition of sustainability (meeting the needs of the present by maintaining the available stocks without compromising the future needs), when compared to the TBL approach of simply aggregating environmental, social, and economic impact assessment results. This novel LCSA approach is tested at a facility with active IS, The Plant in Chicago, considering three alternative fuel usage scenarios for baking bread at an on‐site bakery.

Date: 2021
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