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The project

In its Circular Economy Action Plan and Waste Framework Directive, the European Union has assigned a prominent role for industrial symbiosis (IS). This concept describes ‘the use by one company or sector of underutilised resources broadly defined (including waste, by-products, residues, energy, water, logistics, capacity, expertise, equipment and materials) from another, with the result of keeping resources in productive use for longer’[1].

While the reuse of materials through industrial symbiosis can have economic, environmental, and social benefits, there are still challenges to its uptake in Europe.

  • Lack of awareness

    The concept of circular economy is now widely known in Europe. Yet, there is still a lack of awareness of the role industrial symbiosis can play in its development.

  • Insufficiently motivating framework conditions

    There are still too few market incentives for companies to invest in industrial symbiosis. The prices of primary raw materials, landfilling or incineration levies do not reflect the ecological impact of these practices. The waste prevention stage is also underrepresented in the EU waste hierarchy.

  • Lack of evidence and recognition

    The lack of common standards to measure and report on industrial symbiosis transactions hinders the uptake of industrial symbiosis in Europe. The limited standardised evidence on its benefits can also make businesses reluctant to invest in symbiosis.

CircLean will evidence the impacts of industrial symbiosis in the EU. It will do so by increasing the availability and quality of information available, especially when it comes to the impacts and benefits of IS in the EU. To do so, the project will set up a network of industries, public authorities, and industry associations to reflect on:

  • Reporting methodology

    Creating and piloting a common reporting methodology to measure and report on impacts of industrial symbiosis transactions.

  • Online tools

    Developping an online module for assessment, matchmaking and evidence gathering to support industrial symbiosis transactions.

  • CircLean Label

    Establishing the common reporting methodology as a voluntary protocol and launching a CircLean label to accredit complying members.

[1] European Committee for Standardisation and European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardisation, ‘Industrial Symbiosis: Core elements and implementation approaches’, workshop agreement, 2018, p. 5 (ftp://ftp.cencenelec.eu/EN/ResearchInnovation/CWA/CWA17354.pdf).