Assessing the Environmental Implications of a Regional Industrial Symbiosis Network for Innovative Products

Industrial symbiosis (IS), where different entities collaborate over energy, utilities, materials or services to create value and lower cost and environmental impact, has been identified as an approach to improve resource efficiency. North of Norrköping, Sweden, an industrial symbiosis network of firms exists, which currently exchange by-products, wastes and energy. These include Econova, the paper and sawmill of Holmen, municipal waste actors and energy providers (i.e. Tekniska Verken). Through these synergies, several innovative products based on forest, paper, sawmill and energy by-products have been created.

The focus of the project will highlight the environmental performance of the industrial symbiosis network and pay particular attention to the value of facilitation services by Econova to produce hard surfaces and soil products for the consumer and bulk market.

The results suggest that there are significant benefits due to the exchanges of material and energy between the firms in the IS network. Large reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and local impacts, namely eutrophication and acidification impacts are possible. Furthermore, large reductions in abiotic resource depletion are also possible. Overall, compared to a reference scenario, with no synergies, the IS network can annually reduce:
• GHG emissions with roughly 170 million kg (170 000 tonnes) CO2-eq
• Eutrophication impacts by roughly 750 tonnes PO4-eq
• Acidification impacts by roughly 190 tonnes SO2-eq
• Abiotic resource depletion with nearly 340 000 GJ-eq

It was shown that all firms in the network benefit from the synergies involved. Replacing peat with fiber mulch led to significant environmental impact reductions for Econova, leading to reduced impacts for the main products, i.e. consumer and bulk soils. Furthermore, by providing fiber sludge to Econova, there are also benefits provided to Holmen Paper by reduced landfilling and being provided a share of the credits for replaced peat; and larger benefits in potential future scenarios where larger shares of fiber sludge are shared. Holmen Sawmill and Paper plants were also illustrated to receive large benefits from using heat supplied by Holmen Paper.

Finally, all firms which install ECA surfaces showed significant improvements in comparison to surfaces produced with concrete and asphalt. Finally, the results point to the importance of the facilitation of by-products and wastes by Econova, and the significant value this creates in the region, with large potential to improve environmental performance of firms and their products.