Industrial Ecology and Spaces of Innovation

Industrial Symbiosis in the UK

Murat Mirata & Richard Pearce

Abstract

This article reviews the efforts of developing industrial symbiosis (IS) networks in Humber and Mersey Estuaries and in West Midlands in the UK, where the authors have, to varying degrees, been part of the efforts for identifying and establishing inter-organizational synergistic linkages with environmental and economic gains since Summer 2000. Following a generic review of factors from technical, political, economic, informational, and organisational spheres having major influence that can be on the development and functioning of IS networks and the role of coordination bodies aiming to catalyse the system developments, major political and institutional elements relevant to IS developments and applicable to all three regions are outlined. Experiences from individual IS programmes are then shared and analysed in light of technical, informational and organisational factors and the attributes of coordination bodies. Such analyses indicate the dominating importance of the organizational factors such as the history of industrial development, intensity of social interactions among relevant parties, and their mental proximity. Experiences also reveal that the perception of regional parties about the coordinating bodies is influential on the effectiveness of development efforts. A set of recommendations drawn from the analysis is intended to inform further similar efforts under National Industrial Symbiosis Programme (NISP). The paper concludes by highlighting the need of aligning the functioning of emerging networks with the requirements of longer term sustainability, which imposes higher challenges on coordination bodies.

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