EU resource intensive industries generates more than €1,600 billion turnover and have over 6.8 million employees (1), have a high dependence on resources (20-30 % are imported). In 2019, the value of total trade (import plus exports) of raw materials between the EU-27 and the rest of the world was €135 billion. Since exports (€54 billion) were lower than imports (€81 billion) there was trade deficit of €27 billion (2). There is a clear interest in sustainability improvements and competitiveness, which decouples human wellbeing from resource consumption.
Local and wider co-operation in Industrial symbiosis (IS) can reduce the need for virgin raw material and waste disposal, closing the material loop and reducing emissions and energy use and create new revenue streams. EU has some support networks for IS and European Innovation Partnerships. However, in order to make IS a widespread commercial reality, more needs to be done to manage the flow of waste material from different sectors and industries.
The overall objective of FISSAC project was to develop and demonstrate an innovative IS model towards a zero waste approach in the resource intensive industries (ferrous/non-ferrous metals, cement, ceramic, natural stone and chemical sectors) across the construction value chain. The project tackles harmonized technological and non- technological aspects, leading to material closed-loop processes and moving to a circular economy.
The implementation of the innovative IS model is facilitated by a methodology and software platform. The FISSAC IS platform is able to support decision making in material flow analyses and industrial clustering. It aims to demonstrate and maximize environmental, social and financial benefits of IS networks to support circular economy and to facilitate the formation and operation of IS networks.
In order to tackle technological barriers, FISSAC has demonstrated the applicability of the new IS model as well as the effectiveness of the innovative processes, services and products at different levels:
•Manufacturing processes and Product validation
•Demonstration of the software platform
•Replicability assessment through living lab (LL) concept.
FISSAC implies a transformation that brings multiple changes as organisational culture, habits, labour and market skills. Non-technological barriers have been also tackled in the project in the LL and other activities for social engagement and acceptance for identifying sociocultural barriers that could hinder the transformation process. Target groups of beneficiaries and influencers of the FISSAC model have been involved to validate the model, to participate in LL and webinars and to test its replicability in new markets and regions.
Regarding the applicability of the new IS model some of the enabling factors that have been identified are: Clearer and simpler regulatory framework to simplify the exchange of waste; Initiatives to enhance the market uptake for secondary raw materials; Trust and collaboration needs among the stakeholders in order to build together new opportunities; and Training materials and exchange of experiences.
(1)maestri-spire.eu/project (2)Eurostat Comext data code: DS-016895
