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Reporting methodology

The CircLean project has successfully developed an EU-wide voluntary common reporting system on the performance of industrial symbiosis (IS) transactions to address the challenge of a lack of common standards to measure and report on IS transactions. The reporting methodology supports IS’ uptake and contributes to drive businesses in initiating and further developing their IS activities. Moreover, it harmonises information on IS and establishes a reliable evidence base at the EU-level.

The methodology demonstrates the link between the direct results from IS transactions and their economic and environmental impacts. As such, it provides European businesses with the tools to realise savings, including on disposal costs, raw materials costs, water and energy or greenhouse gas emissions. The main objective is to encourage businesses to keep resources in the production loop for longer by:

  • Promoting awareness of the market potential of IS
  • Demonstrating the economic, environmental, and societal benefits of IS
  • Strengthening the links with the Corporate Social Responsibility of companies

The reporting indicators are meant to measure the level of achievement of private companies regarding Industrial Symbiosis. They are designed to be valid across the European Union and to be implemented in the CircLean network and tool to build the reporting. The methodology relies on the following principles:

  • The distinction between incoming flows and outgoing flows
  • A logic inherited from the EMAS(1) reporting principles, whereby:
    • The raw data input contains flows involved in IS transactions in absolute units and reference total flows with which to compare in absolute units,
    • Derived indicators are computed based on this raw data
    • A minimisation of data input by companies
    • A capacity to consolidate data, to enable reporting by regional and local authorities at the level of a multi-site company.

More information on the reporting indicators can be found in the downloadable pdf.


[1]Regulation (EC) No 1221/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 November 2009 on the voluntary participation by organisations in a Community eco-management and audit scheme (EMAS): https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:02009R1221-20190109