Meet the CircLean Network

While the reuse of raw materials through industrial symbiosis can have economic and environmental benefits, only 12% of secondary materials are currently being brought back into the economy. The lack of awareness, and common standards to measure and report on symbiotic exchanges,combined with insufficiently motivating framework conditions hinders the uptake of industrial symbiosis in Europe.The CircLean Network, an initiative promoted by DG GROW, is working on overcoming these challenges.

The CircLean Network aims at mobilising industries and relevant stakeholders to seize business opportunities through increased industrial symbiosis. The network was launched during the EU Industry days on 23 February 2021. To date, it counts more than 30 confirmed members and about 200 interested organisations from industry, businesses, business associations, public authorities, research entities, and other stakeholders.

Since the official network launch, the CircLean Network members have been working on three Task Forces to foster the uptake of industrial symbiosis in Europe. Task Force 1 aims to create a common reporting methodology to measure and report on resource exchange and benefits from industrial symbiosis exchanges. Task force 2 is currently developing an online self-assessment tool and an online  matching tool to enable the CircLean members to easily identify and exploit opportunities for carrying out industrial symbiosis transactions across Europe. Finally, Task Force 3 reflects on the establishment of an EU recognised label to acknowledge the efforts of the network members in complying with the reporting methodology.

Looking ahead, the Network will hold two meetings in autumn and winter 2021 to refine the methodologies and tools developed. The underlying objective is to enhance their responsiveness to the needs of the target stakeholders from both the private and public sector. More information on this will follow shortly.

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