103
are based on direct measurement of material/energy changes, more theoretical
understanding of environmental performance came from applying thermodynamic
indicators such as emergy or exergy (Geng et al. 2010 , 2014 ; Valero et al. 2013 ;
Wang et al. 2005 ; Yang et al. 2006 ). Responding to the issue of climate change,
several studies focus on quantifying greenhouse gas or carbon reductions through
industrial symbiosis (Dong et al. 2014 ; Hashimoto et al. 2010 ; Jung et al. 2012 ; Liu
et al. 2012 ; Salmi and Wierink 2011 ). Application of life cycle assessment (LCA)
tools to the area of industrial symbiosis was seen mainly after 2010 (Eckelman and
Chertow 2013 ; Mattila et al. 2012 ; Sokka et al. 2011 b; Yu et al. 2014c ). Quantifi cation
efforts have developed along with the discussion of methodological aspects (Martin
et al. 2013 ; Mattila et al. 2012 ; Sokka et al. 2008 ; Wolf and Karlsson 2008 ) and led
to the further development of comprehensive indicator systems, particularly in
China (Geng et al. 2009 , 2012 ; Tian et al. 2014 ).
4.4 Section B: Industrial Symbiosis in Practice
Examining industrial symbiosis in practice for this section involved three primary
activities: (1) a review of the project literature with database searches primarily in
Google and LexisNexis and materials recommended by colleagues including the
2012 International Survey on Eco-innovation Parks published by the Swiss Federal
Offi ce for the Environment, the expanding activities of International Synergies, and
the newsletters of the Eco-Industrial Development/Industrial Symbiosis (EID/IS)
section of the International Society for Industrial Ecology, (2) the compilation of a
list of industrial symbiosis-related events (Table 5.4 ), and (3) email correspondence
with key practitioners and academics studying specifi c projects to refl ect on questions posed:
1. What motivates industrial symbiosis in practice, including what is successful
and what is less so?
2. What trends are you seeing and what mechanisms are being adopted for evolution and change?
3. What linkages/evidence do you see that might show the infl uence of academia on
industrial symbiosis practice and industrial symbiosis practice on academia?
Our fi ndings are outlined below.
Industrial symbiosis practitioners emphasize that to increase the success rate of
industrial symbiosis, the needs and concerns of private businesses must be better
understood and accounted for. Uncovering and identifying viable symbiosis opportunities are often not enough for success, as private fi rms may not take up the opportunity for many reasons such as uncertain risk, infl exibility owing to the ownership
structure, and lack of trust. As an example, several textile dyeing companies in a
Chinese industrial park refused low-cost steam from a government-owned coal
plant, as they were reluctant to be tied to a giant. There are also issues with private
businesses being hesitant to disclose internal information (Mangan 2015, January
19, Personal communication; Tian 2015, January 21, Personal communication).
5 Scholarship and Practice in Industrial Symbiosis: 1989–2014
are based on direct measurement of material/energy changes, more theoretical
understanding of environmental performance came from applying thermodynamic
indicators such as emergy or exergy (Geng et al. 2010 , 2014 ; Valero et al. 2013 ;
Wang et al. 2005 ; Yang et al. 2006 ). Responding to the issue of climate change,
several studies focus on quantifying greenhouse gas or carbon reductions through
industrial symbiosis (Dong et al. 2014 ; Hashimoto et al. 2010 ; Jung et al. 2012 ; Liu
et al. 2012 ; Salmi and Wierink 2011 ). Application of life cycle assessment (LCA)
tools to the area of industrial symbiosis was seen mainly after 2010 (Eckelman and
Chertow 2013 ; Mattila et al. 2012 ; Sokka et al. 2011 b; Yu et al. 2014c ). Quantifi cation
efforts have developed along with the discussion of methodological aspects (Martin
et al. 2013 ; Mattila et al. 2012 ; Sokka et al. 2008 ; Wolf and Karlsson 2008 ) and led
to the further development of comprehensive indicator systems, particularly in
China (Geng et al. 2009 , 2012 ; Tian et al. 2014 ).
4.4 Section B: Industrial Symbiosis in Practice
Examining industrial symbiosis in practice for this section involved three primary
activities: (1) a review of the project literature with database searches primarily in
Google and LexisNexis and materials recommended by colleagues including the
2012 International Survey on Eco-innovation Parks published by the Swiss Federal
Offi ce for the Environment, the expanding activities of International Synergies, and
the newsletters of the Eco-Industrial Development/Industrial Symbiosis (EID/IS)
section of the International Society for Industrial Ecology, (2) the compilation of a
list of industrial symbiosis-related events (Table 5.4 ), and (3) email correspondence
with key practitioners and academics studying specifi c projects to refl ect on questions posed:
1. What motivates industrial symbiosis in practice, including what is successful
and what is less so?
2. What trends are you seeing and what mechanisms are being adopted for evolution and change?
3. What linkages/evidence do you see that might show the infl uence of academia on
industrial symbiosis practice and industrial symbiosis practice on academia?
Our fi ndings are outlined below.
Industrial symbiosis practitioners emphasize that to increase the success rate of
industrial symbiosis, the needs and concerns of private businesses must be better
understood and accounted for. Uncovering and identifying viable symbiosis opportunities are often not enough for success, as private fi rms may not take up the opportunity for many reasons such as uncertain risk, infl exibility owing to the ownership
structure, and lack of trust. As an example, several textile dyeing companies in a
Chinese industrial park refused low-cost steam from a government-owned coal
plant, as they were reluctant to be tied to a giant. There are also issues with private
businesses being hesitant to disclose internal information (Mangan 2015, January
19, Personal communication; Tian 2015, January 21, Personal communication).
5 Scholarship and Practice in Industrial Symbiosis: 1989–2014