Coordination of Industrial Symbiosis through Anchoring

Abstract

This paper aims to contribute to understanding the dynamics of industrial symbiosis. More specifically, we focus on the dynamics of anchoring as they can be observed in the Chinese context of eco-industrial development. We define anchoring as those activities that (typically local) actors perform to create local physical and institutional conditions conducive to the emergence and further development of industrial symbiosis in a specific regional industrial system. We argue that, in the study of industrial symbiosis dynamics, it is conceptually more useful to focus on anchoring as an activity, rather than anchor tenants as actors. Based on a systematic literature review, we distinguish two types of anchoring activities: institutional and physical. We analyze anchoring dynamics in the case of Qijiang Industrial Symbiosis (Chongqing Municipality) in China. We have identified the physical and institutional anchoring activities, the actors responsible for these activities, and how different anchoring activities build on each other over time. Our case study shows that the attempt to bring about industrial symbiosis in the Qijiang industrial park can be described in a richer way than just 'governmental planning'.

Industrial Symbiosis: towards a design process for eco-industrial clusters by integrating Circular Economy and Industrial Ecology perspectives

“…From a technical standpoint, Industrial Symbiosis can take place in different ways: process oriented IS refers to a cooperative network around an industrial process; residue oriented IS refers to a cooperative network around a residual flow; place oriented IS refers to a cooperative network bound to a specific location (Boons et al, 2015). Also from an organizational standpoint IS can take place in different ways, namely anchor manufacturer, eco-cluster development, government planning and business incubator (Boons et al, 2011;Chertow, 2000;Mulrow, Derrible, Ashton, & Chopra, 2017;Sun, Spekkink, Cuppen, & Korevaar, 2017). Anchor manufacturer means that there are one or two industries with large production volumes, resources and byproducts seeking economic, strategic and environmental benefits through resource exchange (Sun et al, 2017).…”

“…Also from an organizational standpoint IS can take place in different ways, namely anchor manufacturer, eco-cluster development, government planning and business incubator (Boons et al, 2011;Chertow, 2000;Mulrow, Derrible, Ashton, & Chopra, 2017;Sun, Spekkink, Cuppen, & Korevaar, 2017). Anchor manufacturer means that there are one or two industries with large production volumes, resources and byproducts seeking economic, strategic and environmental benefits through resource exchange (Sun et al, 2017). These large industries provide the critical mass for IS to develop within an eco-industrial cluster (Chertow, 2000).…”

“…The first pillar, starting conditions, is about the antecedents leading to the establishment of an IS cluster in terms of organizations involved, their business profile and specific features, their previous relationships and triggers to collaborate, their initial ideas concerning the technical system and selection of a potential location for the cluster (Boons et al, 2011;Massard et al, 2014). The second pillar, events, is about the chain of technical, social and policy actions leading from starting conditions to the implementation of the IS cluster (Boons et al, 2011;Sun et al, 2017). The third pillar, outcomes, is about the economic, environmental and social impact related to the implementation and evaluation of the industrial symbiosis cluster (Massard et al, 2014).…”

Addressing the Social Aspects of a Circular Economy: A Systematic Literature Review

“…The meso level focuses on industrial parks and industrial symbiosis districts; the macro level includes activities within a city, region, nation, and beyond. In this review, the level of analysis presents that one-third of studies reviewed (32%) conducted studies oriented at a macro level: either society level (e.g., [24,25]), municipal (e.g., [26]), or regional level (e.g., [25,27]). The micro level of analysis portrays 30% of studies (e.g., company [28], consumers [29], products [30], followed by not mentioned (17%) (e.g., [7,8,31]), and the meso level (17%) (e.g., industrial parks [32]).…”

Institutional Lens upon Industrial Symbiosis Dynamics: The case of Persian Gulf Mining and Metal Industries Special Economic Zone

“…Finally, planned IS is classified into government planning and eco-cluster development dynamics [6]. Later, Sun et al [7] defined anchoring activities to refer to the effort of local stakeholders creating favorable technical and institutional conditions for IS emergence. In this study, we considered anchoring as an eighth dynamics mainly to address physical and social facilitation in the cluster.…”