Guidelines for Industrial Symbiosis—a Systematic Approach for Content Definition and Practical Recommendations for Implementation

João Azevedo (), Juan Henriques (), Marco Estrela (), Rui Dias (), Doroteya Vladimirova (), Karen Miller () and Muriel Iten ()
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João Azevedo: Instituto de Soldadura e Qualidade
Juan Henriques: Instituto de Soldadura e Qualidade
Marco Estrela: Instituto de Soldadura e Qualidade
Rui Dias: Instituto de Soldadura e Qualidade
Doroteya Vladimirova: University of Cambridge
Karen Miller: University of Cambridge
Muriel Iten: Instituto de Soldadura e Qualidade

Circular Economy and Sustainability, 2021, vol. 1, issue 2, 507-523

Abstract: Abstract The increase of industrial symbiosis (IS) activities around the world has strongly contributed to promote awareness among companies on the benefits of this business model and, consequently, their interest to apply/incorporate dedicated IS actions in their activities. In most cases, companies assume self-learning and ongoing approaches for the adaption of synergies, ignoring some fundamental aspects as the full spectrum of considerations regarding these processes. Unexpected barriers frequently appear during the implementation process and become hardly overcome due to incomplete systematic approaches and the lack of information. In this context, it is important to promote effective and sequential guidance procedures regarding IS implementation processes to support companies in their transition to full IS processes implementation. This paper aims to advance the synergy implementation emerging process, through the identification, promotion, and definition of the core steps to be considered in an IS implementation process. This study is based on a comprehensive perspective for the definition of contents to be considered in a step-by-step guideline that includes the different theoretical, technical, and strategic approaches for large-scale IS promotion. The main outputs of this paper are a final set of independent and sequential information clusters, their associated contents identification process, and a comprehensive description of the systematic approach used to support companies in the implementation of their pre-identified stages. The guideline methodology proposed in this study is an important support tool for companies, practitioners, and agents intending to initiate IS synergies implementation and also a strong contribution to the development of complementary guidance activities regarding IS implementation process.

Keywords: Industrial symbiosis; Guideline; Companies; Synergy implementation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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DOI: 10.1007/s43615-021-00006-3

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