A Risk Management Framework to Enhance Environmental Sustainability in Industrial Symbiosis Ecosystems

Lucía Ventura (), Ignacio Martín-Jimenez and Marcelino Gallego-Garcia
Additional contact information
Lucía Ventura: CIRCE—Technology Center for Energy Resources and Consumption, Parque Empresarial Dinamiza, Ave. Ranillas 3D, 1st Floor, 50018 Zaragoza, Spain
Ignacio Martín-Jimenez: CIRCE—Technology Center for Energy Resources and Consumption, Parque Empresarial Dinamiza, Ave. Ranillas 3D, 1st Floor, 50018 Zaragoza, Spain
Marcelino Gallego-Garcia: CIRCE—Technology Center for Energy Resources and Consumption, Parque Empresarial Dinamiza, Ave. Ranillas 3D, 1st Floor, 50018 Zaragoza, Spain

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 6, 1-26

Abstract: Industrial symbiosis (IS) fosters collaboration between industries to exchange materials, energy, water, and by-products. It contributes to environmental and economic sustainability by reducing resource consumption, decreasing greenhouse gas emissions, and generating economic benefits. However, managing risks in these exchanges presents challenges, particularly as materials like waste and by-products fall outside traditional supply chain practices. This paper introduces the Industrial Collaborative Risk Management (ICRM) Methodology, an extended Failure Mode and Effect Analysis (FMEA) approach specifically designed for collaborative industrial ecosystems. The ICRM methodology provides a systematic approach to identifying, assessing, prioritizing risks, and implementing corrective actions, enabling the reliable implementation of IS. By effectively managing risks, this methodology minimizes disruptions in material and energy exchanges, strengthens the resilience of industrial ecosystems, and enhances their environmental ambitions. The methodology supports cross-sectoral communication, facilitates knowledge exchange, and promotes trust among stakeholders. A real IS case study demonstrates the ICRM methodology’s ability to document interrelations, standardize risk evaluation, and propose mitigation strategies. This work provides IS facilitators with a practical tool for effective risk management in complex industrial environments and lays the foundation for future applications in diverse ecosystems.

Keywords: risk management; failure mode and effect analysis (FMEA); industrial symbiosis; sustainability (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/6/2604/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/6/2604/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:6:p:2604-:d:1613206

Access Statistics for this article

Sustainability is currently edited by Ms. Alexandra Wu

More articles in Sustainability from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().