Network Analysis of Industrial Symbiosis in Chemical Industrial Parks: A Case Study of Nanjing Jiangbei New Materials High-Tech Park

Abstract

As the primary drivers of the chemical industry, chemical industrial parks should be characterized by industrial symbiosis, which is essential for realizing the worldwide transformation from linear to circular economies based on sustainable development. At present, a lack of sufficient attention is paid to analyzing the structural characteristics and interaction patterns of industrial symbiosis networks in chemical industrial parks, especially in large-scale specialized chemical industrial parks on a national scale. In this context, with Nanjing Jiangbei New Materials High-Tech Park as an example, this study applies a social-network analysis to empirically investigate the structural characteristics and interaction patterns of an industrial symbiosis network. The results revealed that the industrial symbiosis network of Nanjing Jiangbei New Materials High-Tech Park is currently in a state of low-level agglomeration with a poor transitivity index and that short-distance straight chains are the main connections between enterprises with few transverse connections. Recycling enterprises occupy the core position in the network, while chemical manufacturing enterprises are mostly located on the periphery of the network and fail to establish sufficient effective connections. In terms of individuals, stakeholders’ understanding and evaluation of industrial symbiosis are insufficient; in terms of enterprises, the obstruction of byproducts and waste information circulation and other factors are the main obstacles restricting the industrial symbiosis activities in Nanjing Jiangbei New Materials High-Tech Park. Some policy recommendations are proposed to improve the industrial symbiosis network in large-scale specialized chemical industrial parks on a national scale, and these include establishing industrial symbiosis information systems for the parks, fostering multiple central nodes, and advancing nested development among industrial chains.

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