Industrial Symbiosis Timeline
Posted by maggie.surface on October 3rd, 20071800s - present
Many industries particularly those located in cities were well known for utilizing “wastes” of other industries as raw materials in their own
1947
The term ‘industrial symbiosis’ was first used in the economic geography literature by Renner to describe ‘organic relationships’ between dissimilar industries, including the ‘use of waste products from one as input to another’
1960s - 2000s
Major facilities (Statoil refinery, Asnaes powerplant, Novo Pharmaceutical plant) locate in Kalundborg, Denmark beginning in 1959. Industrial symbiosis activities begin in Kalundborg in 1970s (Gyproc sited to use flue gas from Statoil, Asnaes joins Statoil in piping water from Lake Tisso, Novo begins shipping sludge to farmers). Symbiosis activities continue through the present, with new links formed between existing entities, new facilities located to utilize byproducts, and links that were no longer economically feasible were discontinued. The inter-firm linkages in Kalundborg were ‘uncovered’ through a high school science project in 1989, and the term ‘industrial symbiosis’ was coined to describe the system. Many international publications subsequently disseminated information about the Kalundborg Centre for Industrial Symbiosis was formed in 1996 to help facilitate inter-firm interaction and provide education about the system.
1950s - 2000s
Large process industries including oil, nickel and alumina refining, cement and chemical manufacturing, and energy cogeneration plants located in the Kwinana Industrial Area in Western Australia in the 1950s. The first industry association was formed in 1991 to collectively monitor regional emissions. Its formation led to increased cooperation on a number of issues of common concern. In 2002, the Kwinana Industries Synergies Project was established to identify and foster greater resource-based synergies among facilities; the region currently boasts 32 byproduct exchanges and 15 utility synergies.
1989
Frosh and Gallopoulos published the article “Strategies for Manufacturing” that is regarded as the beginning of the field of Industrial Ecology.
1990s
The US President’s Council for Sustainable Development promoted the concept and development of “Eco-Industrial Parks” modeled after Kalundborg’s successful inter-firm synergies. In spite of these efforts few EIPs ever came into existence, however, there are many examples of byproduct exchanges and utility and service sharing throughout the US.
2001
International Society for Industrial Ecology was formed. It promotes “the use of industrial ecology in research, education, policy, community development, and industrial practices” around the world.
2002
China’s State Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) promotes the concept of the circular economy and develops a program to highlight and assist model eco-industrial parks across the country. The Tianjin Economic-Technological Development Area (TEDA) is one example of an existing industrial region that has well developed industrial symbiosis linkages among facilities. TEDA was formed in 1984, and provides a utility sharing infrastructure including electricity, gas, steam, water and wastewater treatment, for all regional facilities including reuses of rubber, ash, metals, and organic materials.
2004
First International Industrial Symbiosis Research Symposium held at Yale bringing together researchers and practitioners from around the world. IS research symposia have subsequently been held in Stockholm, Sweden; Birmingham, England; and Toronto, Canada.
2005
UK’s National Industrial Symbiosis Programme (NISP) was launched as the first national scale IS initiative in the world to promote inter-firm synergies in regions across the UK.
Further Reading
- Barnes, H. (1992). Fertile project exploits recycled wastes. The Financial Times. London.
- Chertow, M. R. (2007). ““Uncovering” Industrial Symbiosis.” Journal of Industrial Ecology 11(1): 11-30.
- Chertow, M. R., W. S. Ashton, et al. (2004). The Industrial Symbiosis Research Symposium at Yale: Advancing the Study of Industry and Environment. New Haven, CT, Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies.
- Côté, R. and E. Cohen-Rosenthal (1998). “Designing eco-industrial parks: a synthesis of some experiences.” Journal of Cleaner Production 6: 181-188.
- Desrochers, P. (2002). “Cities and Industrial Symbiosis: Some Historical Perspectives and Policy Implications.” Journal of Industrial Ecology 5(4): 29-34.
- Ehrenfeld, J. and M. R. Chertow (2002). Industrial symbiosis: the legacy of Kalundborg. A Handbook of Industrial Ecology. R. U. Ayres and L. W. Ayres. Cheltenham, UK, Edward Elgar.
- Ehrenfeld, J. and N. Gertler (1997). “Industrial Ecology in Practice: The Evolution of Interdependence at Kalundborg.” Journal of Industrial Ecology 1(1): 67-79.
- Frosch, R. A. and N. E. Gallopoulos (1989). “Strategies for Manufacturing.” Scientific American 266: 144-152.
- Gibbs, D., P. Deutz, et al. (2005). “Industrial Ecology and Eco-industrial Development: A New Paradigm for Local and Regional Development?” Regional Studies.
- Jacobsen, N. and S. Anderberg (2005). Understanding the Evolution of Industrial Symbiotic Networks: The Case of Kalundborg. Economics of industrial ecology: materials, structural change, and spatial scales. J. C. J. M. van den Bergh and M. Janssen. Cambridge, MA, MIT Press.
- Knight, P. (1990). A rebirth of the pioneering spirit. The Financial Times. London.
- Lombardi, D. R. and P. Laybourn (2007). Industrial Symbiosis in Action: Report on the Third International Industrial Symbiosis Research Symposium. Birmingham, England, Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies.
- Renner, G. T. (1947). “Geography of Industrial Localization.” Economic Geography 23(3): 167-189.
- van Beers, D., G. Corder, et al. (2007). “Industrial Symbiosis in the Australian Minerals Industry.” Journal of Industrial Ecology 11(1): 55-72.