Results and Lessons Learned from Assessing 50 Industrial Parks in Eight Countries against the International Framework for Eco-Industrial Parks

Abstract

Over the past two years the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) assessed 50 parks in eight developing and transition countries against 51 prerequisites and performance indicators outlined in the International Framework for Eco-Industrial Parks (International EIP Framework). The eight countries covered are: Colombia, Egypt, Indonesia, Nigeria, Peru, South Africa, Ukraine, and Viet Nam. This article provides a summary of the analysis and lessons learned from the assessments of the industrial parks and their performance against the International EIP Framework. The methodology is based on assessments of the current and intended performance of the industrial parks on four key categories (park management, environmental, social, and economic), supported by a scoring method. The analysis indicates that the International EIP Framework can be regarded as a practical and relevant means to assess the performance of industrial parks, as well as a basis to identify and prioritize EIP initiatives to strengthen their performance. There is a wide range of performance among the industrial parks assessed. Higher average current performance against the International Framework can be found in Colombia (68%), Indonesia (67%), and Viet Nam (63%). Ukraine and South Africa have the highest improvement potential (27% and 25%, respectively). Across all eight countries, the environmental and social performance categories have a lower compliance (34% and 44%, respectively) compared to economic performance (72% current compliance) and park management (55% compliance). A review of the root-causes indicates that the main compliance issue for 16 prerequisites and performance indicators outlined in the International EIP Framework seems mainly with the industrial park- and country-specific conditions. There is an opportunity to refine the formulation of five prerequisites and indicators outlined in the International EIP Framework. Across all 50 parks assessed, the following topics have the lowest current compliance: energy; local community outreach; environmental and park management and monitoring; waste and material use; and climate change and the natural environment. A low compliance with specific prerequisites and performance indicators under park management, economic, environmental, and social performance indicates a need by the industrial park for technical assistance. If high-performance industrial parks exist in a country, it implies that there is capacity in the country to develop an eco-industrial park. In this scenario, technical assistance should include a stronger focus on knowledge dissemination, sharing experiences, and peer-to-peer learning between industrial parks and the regulating authorities. Industrial parks managed by public–private partnerships and the private sector show a higher average EIP performance than industrial parks managed solely by the public sector. This seems to illustrate that industrial parks perform better if they are run like a private business or public–private partnership, rather than a government-managed initiative. This article is the first academic publication discussing the results from the application of the International EIP Framework with a large number of industrial parks in multiple countries. It is hoped that this article will encourage further EIP assessments to be undertaken in more industrial parks to assist in their transformation into eco-industrial parks.

Towards sustainable development in a transition economy: The case of eco-industrial parks in Ukraine

“…In addition, eco-industrial parks have not yet been widely developed in developing countries, such as South Africa (Greenberg & Rogerson, 2014). Van Beers et al (2020) summarize data on the experience of industrial parks in developing countries. In each of the studied countries, including Indonesia, Colombia, South Africa, Ukraine, etc., there are cost-effective parks; however, they have social and environmental problems.…”

A Framework for Implementation of Eco-Industrial Town (EIT) in Thailand

“…Therefore, the later stage of EIT framework included other emerging concepts in order that the EIT can response to the outside threats or factors such as situations and requirements outside the EIT by which cooperation with other stakeholders. The example of outside threats are international framework for eco-industrial parks which focus on four key categories -1) industrial park management, 2) environmental, 3) social, and 4) economic [6]; low carbon city concept [7] to which promote reduction of environmental pollution in manufacturing plants and network concept in order that various activities in the EIT are in line with sustainable development concepts, readiness for response to negative situations and international requirements.…”

Nonlinear Effects of Eco-Industrial Parks on Sulfur Dioxide and Carbon Dioxide Emissions—Estimation Based on Nonlinear DID

“…In addition to China, more countries have started to establish EIPs to achieve a winwin situation for economic development and environmental protection [16][17][18]. The mechanism of the EIPs in ameliorating environmental pollution has also received much attention from academics.…”