Advancing Sustainability Through Industrial Symbiosis: A Technoeconomic Approach Using Material Flow Cost Accounting and Cost–Benefit Analysis

Héctor Leiva (), Ignacio Julian, Lucía Ventura, Elin Wallin, Marcus Vendt, Rickard Fornell, Francisca Galindo Paniagua, Sonia Ascaso and Manuel Gomez-Perez
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Héctor Leiva: CIRCE—Technology Center for Energy Resources and Consumption, Parque Empresarial Dinamiza, 50018 Zaragoza, Spain
Ignacio Julian: CIRCE—Technology Center for Energy Resources and Consumption, Parque Empresarial Dinamiza, 50018 Zaragoza, Spain
Lucía Ventura: CIRCE—Technology Center for Energy Resources and Consumption, Parque Empresarial Dinamiza, 50018 Zaragoza, Spain
Elin Wallin: RISE Research Institutes of Sweden, SE-412 58 Göteborg, Sweden
Marcus Vendt: RISE Research Institutes of Sweden, SE-412 58 Göteborg, Sweden
Rickard Fornell: RISE Research Institutes of Sweden, SE-412 58 Göteborg, Sweden
Francisca Galindo Paniagua: Grupo Fertiberia, 28036 Madrid, Spain
Sonia Ascaso: Research Institute for Energy and Resource Efficiency of Aragón (ENERGAIA), University of Zaragoza, Campus Río Ebro, 50018 Zaragoza, Spain
Manuel Gomez-Perez: CEMEX, 28027 Madrid, Spain

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 6, 1-31

Abstract: Industrial symbiosis (IS) involves transferring waste materials and/or energy flows between stakeholders to enhance resource efficiency and reduce environmental impacts. The success of these transactions depends on supply–demand matching, technical feasibility of waste integration into industrial processes, economic savings, and compliance with legal and environmental regulations. This paper presents a methodology for the technoeconomic assessment of IS projects, integrating material flow cost accounting (MFCA) and cost–benefit analysis (CBA) incorporating CAPEX and OPEX considerations. MFCA, traditionally used to identify hidden costs from inefficiencies, is adapted here to assess resource utilisation across industry networks. The methodology is applied to two real-world demo cases: a novel fertiliser production process in Escombreras (Spain), where IS focuses on process optimisation and by-product valorisation, and an IS process design in Frövi (Sweden), where CO 2 and residual energy flows are exchanged between industrial sectors. The results demonstrate the potential of MFCA-CBA integration to enhance decision making in IS implementation. In Spain, process optimisation led to a 50% reduction in operating costs, whereas, in Sweden, CO 2 reutilisation resulted in a 30% increase in resource efficiency. These findings highlight the economic and environmental benefits of IS and provide insights into cost allocation and pricing strategies.

Keywords: industrial symbiosis; circular economy; waste utilisation; technoeconomic assessment; material flow cost accounting; cost–benefit analysis; resource efficiency (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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