INDUSTRIALSYMBIOSISGREEN BRIDGE FORUM

JŪRMALA - LATVIAFRIDAY APRIL 17TH 2015

HOW GLOBAL CHALLENGES

BECOME LOCAL ADVANTAGES

SØREN BIRKSØ SØRENSEN, PROJECT OFFICER

SYMBIOSIS CENTRE DENMARKsoren.sorensen@kalundborg.dk

From residual to resource- the principle of industrial symbiosis

A short introduction

Symbiosis Centre Denmark

• Specialized in identifying and helping Industrial Symbiosis’ to come to life

• Skilled and experienced in facilitating existing Industrial Symbiosis’

• Advisors in capacity-building in relation to Industrial Symbiosis’

The history of Industrial Symbiosis in Denmark

1960’es -> today

• Kalundborg Symbiosis•The worlds first working Industrial Symbiosis•Developed organically over the last more than four

decades•Based on commercial agreements between the partners•Today it has 8 private and public partners•Today ≈ 50 different ‘symbiotic exchanges’

Kalundborg Symbiosis is one of the most well-known in the world and widely described in the academia.

The history of Industrial Symbiosis in Denmark

1989

The term “Industrial Symbiosis” is used for the first time

1996 -> today

Kalundborg Symbiosis AssociationSymbiosis Secretariat and Visiting Center

•Kalundborg Municipality takes more active part in the Kalundborg Symbiosis

•Kalundborg Municipality focuses actively on being “The Green Industrial Municipality” - a vision partly based on the principle of industrial symbiosis

The history of Industrial Symbiosis in Denmark

2011 -> 2014

Regional Symbiosis Center• “Takes the learnings from Kalundborg Symbiosis” and ‘reuse’ the idea

allover Zealand

2013 -> 2015

National program – Green Industrial Symbiosis• National Task Force• Focus on growth and business - based in Erhvervsstyrelsen, Danish

Business Authority• Offers to businesses: Free resource check, Individual matchmaking,

Matchmaking events, Drafting of an action pla n & Assistance in applying for subsidy

The history of Industrial Symbiosis in Denmark

2015 -> 2017

Dansk SymbioseCenter | Symbiosis Center Denmark• Funded by Vækstforum Sjælland = based in Zealand Region• BUT with (inter)national focus• Continues the efforts to bring Industrial Symbiosis further

out and forward– Resource-optimization = focus on industries and companies locally– Branding and investment = focus on international companies and

investors– Education and skills = focus on employees, local administration,

students etc.– Knowledge and competence-center

• Several partly EU-funded projects

Symbiosis-initiatives in Denmark

Not just to the benefit of us …. BUT ….

Industrial Symbioses – a definition?

An industrial symbiosis is an ecosystem where the

residual product of one enterprise is used as a resource

by another enterprise, in a closed cycle / loop.

This is made possible through local collaboration, where

public and private enterprises buy and sell residual

products, resulting in mutual economic and

environmental benefits

http://www.symbiosecenter.dk/

Input resourcesInput resources

Product Product

Waste / by-productsWaste / by-products

Traditional industries

Market

Input resourcesInput resources

Product Product

Waste / by-productsWaste / by-products

Industrial Symbiotic industries

By-product 1

By-product 2

Result:

Minimising costs handling waste

Minimising costs buying resources= better competiveness

Kalundborg Symbiosis: How it started.

• The Symbiosis was not invented, but developed organically over many decades.

• Kalundborg Symbiosis was a “non-project”, created by a “non-organisation”.

• Symbiosis means ‘collaboration between different organisms for mutual benefit’ - a metaphor used about the system since 1991.

a little bit of history…

Kalundborg: The fjord, the town & the industry

Kalundborg Symbiosis

Kalundborg Symbiosis: How it started.

• The Symbiosis was not invented, but developed organically over many decades.

• Kalundborg Symbiosis was a “non-project”, created by a “non-organisation”.

• Symbiosis means ‘collaboration between different organisms for mutual benefit’ - a metaphor used about the system since 1991.

TOTAL SYMBIOSIS SYSTEM 2011

The Symbiosis Model - a model for business development

encompassing 3 dimensions:

- Economy: Minimizing costs and improved bottom line and

competititve edge

- Environment: Resource efficiency through reuse, recycling, and

reduced intake of virgin materials

- Innovation and development: Improved introduction and access

to new technologies and R&D, job creation and regional

development

Environmental Aspects

Resource savings, compared to ‘non-symbiosis-situation’– some examples (2008):

Ground water ……………… 2.000.000 m3/yearSurface water ……………… 1.000.000 m3/yearNatural gypsum …………… 100.000 tons/yearOil ………………………………… 20.000 tons/year

Reduction of CO2 emission 275.000 tonsnow more likely 300.000 tons

Kalundborg Symbiosis: How it started.

• The Symbiosis was not invented, but developed organically over many decades.

• Kalundborg Symbiosis was a “non-project”, created by a “non-organisation”.

• Symbiosis means ‘collaboration between different organisms for mutual benefit’ - a metaphor used about the system since 1991.

Kalundborg SymbiosisThe first industrial symbiosis everDeveloped over more than four decadesBuild on the basis of commercial

agreements between independent partners

Kalundborg Symbiosis: How it started.

• The Symbiosis was not invented, but developed organically over many decades.

• Kalundborg Symbiosis was a “non-project”, created by a “non-organisation”.

• Symbiosis means ‘collaboration between different organisms for mutual benefit’ - a metaphor used about the system since 1991.

Kalundborg SymbiosisOne partners by-product becomes another

partners resourceApproximately 50 symbiotic exchangesWhat would otherwise have been waste is

turned into money giving the participants a competitive edge in the marketplace

Kalundborg Symbiosis: How it started.

• The Symbiosis was not invented, but developed organically over many decades.

• Kalundborg Symbiosis was a “non-project”, created by a “non-organisation”.

• Symbiosis means ‘collaboration between different organisms for mutual benefit’ - a metaphor used about the system since 1991.

Kalundborg SymbiosisOrganised as an association of independent

industriesManaged by a board

All the partners – private and public companies – are on the board

Meets 3-4 times annuallyThe municipality is on the board but no

special services or arrangements with the Kalundborg symbiosis partners.

Kalundborg Symbiosis: How it started.

• The Symbiosis was not invented, but developed organically over many decades.

• Kalundborg Symbiosis was a “non-project”, created by a “non-organisation”.

• Symbiosis means ‘collaboration between different organisms for mutual benefit’ - a metaphor used about the system since 1991.

What can be learned from

KALUNDBORG?• The industrial potential must be

present:– Several industries within a limited

physical distance (water and energy)

– ”A good fit”– No major competitors

• Economic incentive is vital• Good communication / interaction

is essential– Based on mutual trust– Believing in the others ability to

survive in their own line of business

Please visit

www.symbiosis.dk

www.symbiosecenter.dk

to find more information.

and join our groups on:

soren.sorensen@kalundborg.dk

Systems make it

possible

People make it happen

Kalundborg SymbiosisKalundborg Symbiosis

Thank you very

much for your

attention