Industrial ecology and industry symbiosis for environmental sustainability - Definitions, Frameworks and Applications

Chapter 1: An Introduction to the Closed-loop Concept in Industrial Ecology. Abstract - This introductory chapter explains the fundamental problem of a linear transformation representation used in operations management (OM) to the development of environmental sustainability. Linear transformation thinking needs to be replaced by closed-loop system thinking. IE and IS can help to achieve this development. This chapter explores the basic concepts in relation to IE, including biological ecosystem, industrial ecosystem, sub-ecosystems and their interactions with the ecosystem of the Earth. IE considers the development of high level closed-loop industrial ecosystems as its ultimate goal through mimicking key principles of biological ecosystems. An industrial ecosystem needs to work towards high level closed-loop material exchanges and high efficiency of energy cascading. The system boundary is subject to study purposes and extended system thinking should be applied. Keywords: Linear transformation, Closed-loop system, Biological ecosystem, Industrial ecosystem, Industrial Ecology, Industrial Symbiosis Chapter 2: Industrial Ecology and Industrial Symbiosis - Definitions and Development Histories. Abstract - Various definitions of Industrial Ecology (IE) and Industrial Symbiosis (IS) have been provided in the literature over the past thirty years. These definitions have offered some insights but also confusion due to inconsistency. IE, as an interdisciplinary study field, develops and applies different approaches in its four interrelated areas: industrial ecosystem, IS, industrial metabolism (IM), and environmental legislation and regulations. The ultimate goal of IE is to develop nearly closed-loop industrial ecosystems to enhance environmental sustainability. IS focuses on the development of knowledge webs of novel material, energy and waste exchanges to facilitate the establishment of synergies to support the achievement of this IE goal. The difference between IE and IS lies in the focus, instead of the scale of economy. Keywords: Industrial Ecology, Industrial Symbiosis, Definitions, Development histories, Relationships between Industrial Ecology and Industrial Symbiosis Chapter 3 - Industrial Ecology Applications in the Four Areas. Abstract - Industrial ecology (IE) can be applied in four interrelated study areas: industrial ecosystem, industrial symbiosis (IS), industrial metabolism (IM), and legislation and regulations for IE applications. Different methods can be used to determine the boundary of an industrial ecosystem: material-based, product-based, and geographic-based. IS applications have shifted from a self-organising to planned or facilitated practice. IM establishes its position within IE in quantifying the efficiency and rates of material, waste and energy exchanges over the total corresponding flow to evaluate the closed-loop status of an industrial ecosystem. Legislation and regulations on waste need to reflect the IE’s view of waste as resources. The integration of these four areas is critical for the success of IE applications to fulfil its potential to improve environmental sustainability. Keywords: Applications of Industrial Ecology, Industrial ecosystem boundaries, Self-organised, planned, and facilitated Industrial Symbiosis, Efficiency of resource flows in Industrial Metabolism, Legislation and regulations for Industrial Ecology applications Chapter 4 - Applications of Industrial Symbiosis Abstract - Industrial Symbiosis (IS), a study area within Industrial Ecology (IE), focuses on the knowledge web establishment of novel exchanges for synergies among companies to develop industrial ecosystems. Three types of IS applications have been explored in the literature: regional community-based IS, national IS programmes, and eco-industrial parks (EIPs). These IS applications have offered valuable lessons. Critical success factors drawn from these practices are: an IS coordinating centre, economic and environmental gains in the vision, a large database of knowledge webs for potential symbiotic exchanges, early involvement of participating companies, and government investment at the start. IS applications need not be restricted by geographic proximity. Industrial clusters also need to be transformed into eco-industrial clusters. The transformation requires planned and facilitated IS and long-term vision. Key words: Industrial Symbiosis Applications, Kalundborg Industrial Symbiosis (IS), the UK national IS programme (NISP), Eco-Industrial Parks (EIPs), Geographic Proximity, Eco-Industrial Clusters (EICs)   Chapter 5 - Life Cycle Thinking and Analysis, Design for Environment, and Industrial Ecology Frameworks. Abstract - This chapter explores the product life cycle, life cycle analytical tools, and design for the environment (DfE) methodology. The product life cycle from an operations management (OM) perspective includes material acquisition, manufacturing, distribution, use, and after-use. DfE explores eco-design options at each stage of this product life cycle to proactively reduce the impact of industrial activities on the environment. This chapter also presents two Industrial Ecology (IE) frameworks, one at a factor level and the other one at a supply chain level. These two frameworks illustrate the importance of integration and collaboration among different parts and parties within and across industrial ecosystems to increase levels of closed-loop material, energy and waste flows, which reduce their interaction with natural systems, hence the reduced impact. Key words: Life cycle thinking/analysis, design for environment (DfE), industrial ecology (IE) frameworks Chapter 6 - Challenges for Applying Industrial Ecology And Industrial Ecology Future Development. Abstract - This chapter explores four challenges for Industrial Ecology (IE) applications: paradigm shift from linear to closed-loop thinking, restriction lift in legislation and regulations on waste, establishment of knowledge webs, and development of symbiotic and recycling networks. Future development of IE is reflected in each of its study areas. In the area of ‘industrial ecosystem’, features and limitations of different types of industrial ecosystems require further exploration and extended system thinking. For IS, development of knowledge webs, symbiotic networks, and infrastructure of end-life-waste collection process are further research agendas. For IM, quantification methods of resource flows in industrial ecosystems require further development. For environmental legislation and regulations, alignment with policy-makers needs to be explored in order to support IE applications on a much larger scale. Keywords: Challenges for applying Industrial Ecology (IE) and Industrial Symbiosis (IS), Future development of Industrial Ecology (IE)