Periodic Reporting for period 1 - SYMBA (Securing local supplY chains via the development of new Methods to assess the circularity and symbiosis of the Bio-bAsed industrial ecosystem enhancing the EU competitiveness and resource independence)
Periodo di rendicontazione: 2024-01-01 al 2025-06-30
The SYMBA project addresses the need for scalable, measurable, and inclusive models to drive the circular and bio-based economy in Europe. Industrial Symbiosis (IS) enables the transformation of waste into resources through collaborative networks that go beyond traditional waste management, promoting sustainability, reducing pollution, and strengthening local value chains.
Despite IS's potential to reduce environmental impact and optimise resource use, its uptake is hindered by methodological gaps, fragmented governance, and limited policy integration. SYMBA responds by developing a multi-dimensional methodology combining environmental, social, and economic indicators with digital and AI tools. The goal is to empower regions and industries to monitor and implement circular value chains tailored to local contexts.
Focusing on key sectors - textiles, packaging, agri-food, waste and wastewater - SYMBA aims to bridge the gap between circular economy theory and practical application. The project’s objectives include:
• Mapping current IS practices in bio-based industries.
• Deploying an innovative IS monitoring system using DI (Digital Innovation) and AI (Artificial Intelligence) tools.
• Minimising socio-environmental impacts of industrial processes.
• Supporting local facilitators to launch bio-based IS initiatives.
• Establishing replication roadmaps and identifying industrial hubs.
• Accelerating regional and urban transitions via circular value chains.
• Engaging with clusters and EcoPs (European Community of Practices).
• Designing circular business models.
• Raising stakeholder awareness for IS solutions.
SYMBA aims to demonstrate technical feasibility and deliver political, commercial, and social tools to advance a circular, sustainable bioeconomy.
Despite IS's potential to reduce environmental impact and optimise resource use, its uptake is hindered by methodological gaps, fragmented governance, and limited policy integration. SYMBA responds by developing a multi-dimensional methodology combining environmental, social, and economic indicators with digital and AI tools. The goal is to empower regions and industries to monitor and implement circular value chains tailored to local contexts.
Focusing on key sectors - textiles, packaging, agri-food, waste and wastewater - SYMBA aims to bridge the gap between circular economy theory and practical application. The project’s objectives include:
• Mapping current IS practices in bio-based industries.
• Deploying an innovative IS monitoring system using DI (Digital Innovation) and AI (Artificial Intelligence) tools.
• Minimising socio-environmental impacts of industrial processes.
• Supporting local facilitators to launch bio-based IS initiatives.
• Establishing replication roadmaps and identifying industrial hubs.
• Accelerating regional and urban transitions via circular value chains.
• Engaging with clusters and EcoPs (European Community of Practices).
• Designing circular business models.
• Raising stakeholder awareness for IS solutions.
SYMBA aims to demonstrate technical feasibility and deliver political, commercial, and social tools to advance a circular, sustainable bioeconomy.
In the first 18 months, SYMBA mapped IS solutions across regions and sectors (packaging, waste, wastewater, agri-food, textiles), collecting technical and contextual data. All the collected data was used to define a co-creation process to identify and prioritise promising IS strategies based on sustainability criteria.
A key result was the publication of the "Report on Prioritised IS Solutions", offering a structured analysis to guide implementation. These solutions are also accessible via an interactive AI-based platform on the SYMBA website (https://www.symbaproject.eu/solutions/(si apre in una nuova finestra)) enabling customised searches by sector, solution type, and impact.
The partners also laid the groundwork for sustainability assessment tools, defining sector-specific indicators and evaluation frameworks. While no formal assessments were expected in this phase, these outputs ensure that the SYMBA methodology will be adaptable and evidence-based.
High-potential demonstration regions were selected - Sesto San Giovanni (IT), Murcia (ES), Flanders (BE), and Bornholm (DK) - based on sectoral relevance and local readiness. Stakeholder engagement activities started in each of the identified region.
SYMBA also initiated cooperation with key initiatives such as Hubs4Circularity CoP, the New European Bauhaus, and other EU projects, reinforcing strategic alignment. Initial versions of sector-specific business models were developed to support future replication.
These achievements provide a strong foundation for validation in real-world settings and strengthen SYMBA’s contribution to the EU’s circular bioeconomy agenda
A key result was the publication of the "Report on Prioritised IS Solutions", offering a structured analysis to guide implementation. These solutions are also accessible via an interactive AI-based platform on the SYMBA website (https://www.symbaproject.eu/solutions/(si apre in una nuova finestra)) enabling customised searches by sector, solution type, and impact.
The partners also laid the groundwork for sustainability assessment tools, defining sector-specific indicators and evaluation frameworks. While no formal assessments were expected in this phase, these outputs ensure that the SYMBA methodology will be adaptable and evidence-based.
High-potential demonstration regions were selected - Sesto San Giovanni (IT), Murcia (ES), Flanders (BE), and Bornholm (DK) - based on sectoral relevance and local readiness. Stakeholder engagement activities started in each of the identified region.
SYMBA also initiated cooperation with key initiatives such as Hubs4Circularity CoP, the New European Bauhaus, and other EU projects, reinforcing strategic alignment. Initial versions of sector-specific business models were developed to support future replication.
These achievements provide a strong foundation for validation in real-world settings and strengthen SYMBA’s contribution to the EU’s circular bioeconomy agenda
SYMBA fills a key gap in Europe’s circular transition: the lack of practical, replicable tools to apply industrial symbiosis in real contexts. Its structured methodology makes IS measurable, actionable, and comparable across sectors and regions.
A major innovation is the evaluation framework for IS solutions, which combines environmental, legal, social, and organisational readiness. This expands beyond techno-economic assessments and provides decision-makers with more holistic criteria. The framework is accessible via an AI-powered online platform that simplifies navigation and comparison of solutions.
SYMBA also introduced early-stage tools for assessing IS impacts, including LCA (life Cycle Assessment), LCC (Life Cycle Costing), and S-LCA (Social Life Cycle Assessment) guidelines adapted to bio-based value chains. These tools will help stakeholders understand trade-offs, justify investment, and make informed decisions.
The development of sector-specific business models (textile, packaging, agri-food, waste and wastewater) demonstrates how IS strategies can be commercially viable and sustainable. These models translate abstract principles into tangible formats for uptake and replication.
Real-world testing will take place in the four demonstration regions. These locations serve as testbeds for validating the SYMBA methodology and building local capacity.
SYMBA has also contributed to EU-level policy discussions, including the public consultation on the revision of the Bioeconomy Strategy. D5.4 Policy Brief 1, a policy gap analysis across local to European levels for the four demo regions has been submitted, identifying enablers and barriers to Industrial Symbiosis. It forms the basis for three upcoming SYMBA deliverables with targeted policy recommendations to foster an enabling environment for IS: D5.3 will address local, regional, and national policies. D5.5 will create an EU-level policy roadmap based on economic, socio-cultural, policy and regulatory, and financial analysis aspects. The elaboration of the SYMBA policy roadmap will include the following information: (1) scope and challenges addressed by SYMBA, (2) integration of baseline (e.g. IS solutions), (3) visions and goals, (4) policy pathways (based on policy recommendations in T5.3) (5) guidelines for the elaboration of a policy action plan, and (6) possible indicators for implementation and monitoring. D5.6 will compile a summary of final recommendations integrating D5.3 and D5.5.
A major innovation is the evaluation framework for IS solutions, which combines environmental, legal, social, and organisational readiness. This expands beyond techno-economic assessments and provides decision-makers with more holistic criteria. The framework is accessible via an AI-powered online platform that simplifies navigation and comparison of solutions.
SYMBA also introduced early-stage tools for assessing IS impacts, including LCA (life Cycle Assessment), LCC (Life Cycle Costing), and S-LCA (Social Life Cycle Assessment) guidelines adapted to bio-based value chains. These tools will help stakeholders understand trade-offs, justify investment, and make informed decisions.
The development of sector-specific business models (textile, packaging, agri-food, waste and wastewater) demonstrates how IS strategies can be commercially viable and sustainable. These models translate abstract principles into tangible formats for uptake and replication.
Real-world testing will take place in the four demonstration regions. These locations serve as testbeds for validating the SYMBA methodology and building local capacity.
SYMBA has also contributed to EU-level policy discussions, including the public consultation on the revision of the Bioeconomy Strategy. D5.4 Policy Brief 1, a policy gap analysis across local to European levels for the four demo regions has been submitted, identifying enablers and barriers to Industrial Symbiosis. It forms the basis for three upcoming SYMBA deliverables with targeted policy recommendations to foster an enabling environment for IS: D5.3 will address local, regional, and national policies. D5.5 will create an EU-level policy roadmap based on economic, socio-cultural, policy and regulatory, and financial analysis aspects. The elaboration of the SYMBA policy roadmap will include the following information: (1) scope and challenges addressed by SYMBA, (2) integration of baseline (e.g. IS solutions), (3) visions and goals, (4) policy pathways (based on policy recommendations in T5.3) (5) guidelines for the elaboration of a policy action plan, and (6) possible indicators for implementation and monitoring. D5.6 will compile a summary of final recommendations integrating D5.3 and D5.5.