Analysis of certain waste streams and the potential of Industrial Symbiosis to promote waste as a resource for EU Industry

This project focuses on the potential of industrial symbiosis in promoting waste as a resource for EU industry. The first goal is to assess the potential of several waste streams for the development of industrial symbiosis in Europe. Secondly, the project aims to identify and investigate best practices in existing industrial symbiosis networks in Europe, paying particular attention to the involvement, drivers and barriers for SME participation. Thirdly, the drivers to and the barriers of realizing the industrial symbiosis potential in the EU are investigated. Fourthly, the study also assesses the potential economic benefits of industrial symbiosis for the European economy in the form of cost savings, more jobs, lower GHG emissions, better more efficient handling of waste, lower use of virgin raw materials and increased competitiveness (for the selected industrial symbiosis waste streams). Insights obtained in this study provides a good basis for policy making and helps setting an appropriate policy stage for the EU in a competitive global economy.