Industrial Symbiosis occurs when primary products, byproducts and waste products can be of use to another manufacturer. Industrial Symbiosis has been used in UK with excellent results through the NISP “National Industry Symbiosis Programme” network initiated in 2005. Notable results have been obtained in cost savings, increased earnings in the selling of byproducts, productive utilization of waste
products otherwise designated for disposal, reduction in CO2 emissions, and other beneficial effects for the environment.
As an initial test case ENEA selected Sicily as the kick off point by organizing a conference entitled “New opportunities for companies taking advantage of Industrial Symbiosis”. Forty Eastern Sicilian companies, including the Teamnetwork Group, were invited to participate and exchange information regarding available products, byproducts and services through the use of questionnaires and direct dialogues. ENEA is using the resulting data to create a platform facilitating the exchange among the conference attendees.
The success of this initiative will determine the expansion to other companies.
