Industrial symbiosis (IS) enhances resource efficiency by enabling industries to exchange waste materials and energy flows. However, ensuring the economic viability of these exchanges is crucial for their long-term success.
A newly published study by CIRCE, RISE, Grupo Fertiberia, ENERGAIA, and CEMEX namely “Advancing Sustainability Through Industrial Symbiosis: A Technoeconomic Approach Using Material Flow Cost Accounting and Cost–Benefit Analysis”, presents a methodology to evaluate IS projects from both a technical and economic perspective.
Traditionally, MFCA has been used to identify inefficiencies and hidden costs in production processes. In this study, it has been adapted to the IS context, helping industries understand how material flows impact costs and resource use. CBA complements this by incorporating capital (CAPEX) and operational (OPEX) expenditures, offering a comprehensive financial assessment of IS exchanges.
Read the full paper here.
