Intended learning outcomes: Produce an overview on major aims of industrial symbiosis. Present measures such as enhanced utilization of wastes, the recovery of medium and low temperature waste heat, and the framework for alternative fuels and resources.
Continuation from previous subsection (3.3.4)
The following presents exemplary approaches on the subject of circular economy for improvements that can be classified under the term industrial symbiosis.
Industrial symbiosis is defined as an approach for companies, where a by-product (or waste) of one company serves as feedstock to another company. See, for example, [ChLi07].
Figure 3.3.4.2 shows the major aim of industrial symbiosis, namely, the implementation of cycle flows that reduce material and energy waste. Similarly, Figure 3.3.3.1 showed an example of an industrial symbiosis kind of concept that can reduce the amount of waste and simultaneously achieve cost savings. To become a viable option for a broader spectrum of companies, the alternative materials need to fulfill certain criteria and be less costly than virgin raw materials. Besides processing issues, several risks from Figure 3.3.3.2 need to be taken into account.
Fig. 3.3.4.2 Major aims of industrial symbiosis. Adapted from [KoMa04].
The following examples are measures that may be taken in the field of industrial symbiosis (based on [ScVo10]).
Firstly, the enhanced utilization of wastes: Industry is increasingly interested in access to by-products, which were previously considered “wastes.” Pretreatment, transport, storage, and an efficient use of alternative fuels in existing processes enables higher substitution rates of scarce resources and fossil fuels to be obtained.
- Production processes need to cope with alternative feedstocks related to product quality, energy efficiency, and emissions.
- Mapping and integration of the possible flows of materials and energy is required, while efficiently identifying the best possible reuse (in both economic and environmental matters).
- Complexity in the market needs to be reduced on different levels to detect sources and sinks of by-products.
Secondly, the recovery of medium and low temperature waste heat, i.e., heat around and below 150 °C: The respective amount of heat is significant. In contrast to current approaches, the analysis needs to take place at various production plants from different sectors.
- A suitable method needs to be developed for plant, industry, and cross-industry analysis to detect heat recovery potentials.
- Collaboration potentials need to be explored and promising partnerships between heat sources and sinks identified to apply advanced technologies for heat recovery, transport, and exchange and benefit from synergies
Thirdly, the framework for alternative fuels and resources: This approach is reminiscent of the eco-industrial parks, in which nearby located plants share and use their by-products, energy, information, and capacities in order to increase overall efficiency and productivity. Planning an industrial park of this kind seldom resulted in real ecological and economic benefits. This approach therefore aims at supporting existing industries in efficiently sharing and distributing information and by-products.
- Research should address the collaboration of alternative fuel and resource (AFR) suppliers and users on a cross-sectoral basis to learn about the amounts and suitability of by-products.
- Integrated process chains across industries should be formed in networks of industrial partners to increase the AFR availability. The risk of dependencies requires attention.
- Awareness needs to be fostered so that available materials find their way into a suitable reuse as a standardized commodity, in spite of the fact that today’s waste market is rather localized.
Course section 3.3: Subsections and their intended learning outcomes
3.3 Sustainable Supply Chains
Intended learning outcomes: Explain the changing concept of sustainability with reference to the triple bottom line. Disclose economic opportunities for social commitment and for environmental commitment. Describe energy management concepts and measures for improved environmental performance. Produce an overview on the measurement of the environmental performance. Present social and environmental dimensions in industrial practice.
3.3.1 TBL — The Triple Bottom Line
Intended learning outcomes: Produce an overview on the concept of the triple bottom line.
3.3.1b The Changing Concept of Sustainability with Reference to the Triple Bottom Line
Intended learning outcomes: Present the paradigm change that correlates to the evolution of sustainability aspects and their interaction.
3.3.2 SCoC — The Supplier Code of Conduct: Economic Opportunities for Social Commitment of Sustainable Supply Chains
Intended learning outcomes: Disclose the term “double bottom line”. Produce an overview on ethical standards, or code of conduct (CoC). Differentiate between groups of company-internal ethical standards and groups of company-external ethical standards. Present the supplier code of conduct (SCoC) and the certificate of compliance.
3.3.3 Energy-intensive Industries — Using Waste From Other Industries: Economic Opportunities for Environmental Commitment of Sustainable Supply Chains
Intended learning outcomes: Produce an overview on energy-intensive industries. Disclose examples of using alternative fuels and raw materials in order to decrease the carbon footprint and the amount of fossil fuels required in the cement industry.
3.3.3b Proactive Environmental Involvement: Economic Opportunities for Environmental Commitment of Sustainable Supply Chains
Intended learning outcomes: Differentiate between opportunities and threats favoring proactive and reactive environmental involvement.
3.3.4 Energy Management Concepts Using Triple Bottom Line (TBL) Thinking
Intended learning outcomes: Describe energy management in production systems. Differentiate between energy-aware manufacturing processes and integrating energy efficiency in production information systems.
3.3.4b Industrial Symbiosis, and Measures for Improved Environmental Performance Using Triple Bottom Line (TBL) Thinking
Intended learning outcomes: Produce an overview on major aims of industrial symbiosis. Present measures such as enhanced utilization of wastes, the recovery of medium and low temperature waste heat, and the framework for alternative fuels and resources.
3.3.5 The Measurement of the Environmental Performance of Sustainable Supply Chains
Intended learning outcomes: Produce an overview on ecoefficiency. Describe an indicator system for the costs, quality and delivery, and environmental impact performance dimensions.
3.3.6 CSR and IPL Statement — Social and Environmental Dimensions of Sustainable Supply Chains in Industrial Practice
Intended learning outcomes: Produce an overview on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). Present in detail the integrated profit and loss statement (IPL) of Holcim Global.
