Green Bridge Forum 2015. Technology Showcase Day, April 17th. Presentation of Mr. Soren Birkso Sorensen.

1. INDUSTRIAL
SYMBIOSIS
GREEN BRIDGE FORUM
JŪRMALA - LATVIA
FRIDAY APRIL 17TH 2015
HOW GLOBAL CHALLENGES
BECOME LOCAL ADVANTAGES
SØREN BIRKSØ SØRENSEN, PROJECT OFFICER
SYMBIOSIS CENTRE DENMARK
soren.sorensen@kalundborg.dk

2. From residual to resource
- the principle of industrial symbiosis
A short introduction

3. Symbiosis Centre Denmark
• Specialized in identifying and helping Industrial Symbiosis’
to come to life
• Skilled and experienced in facilitating existing Industrial
Symbiosis’
• Advisors in capacity-building in relation to Industrial
Symbiosis’

4. The history of Industrial Symbiosis in Denmark
1960’es -> today
• Kalundborg Symbiosis
•The worlds first working Industrial Symbiosis
•Developed organically over the last more than four
decades
•Based on commercial agreements between the partners
•Today it has 8 private and public partners
•Today ≈ 50 different ‘symbiotic exchanges’
Kalundborg Symbiosis is one of the most well-known in
the world and widely described in the academia.

5. The history of Industrial Symbiosis in Denmark
1989
The term “Industrial Symbiosis” is used for the first time
1996 -> today
Kalundborg Symbiosis Association
Symbiosis Secretariat and Visiting Center
•Kalundborg Municipality takes more active part in the
Kalundborg Symbiosis
•Kalundborg Municipality focuses actively on being “The
Green Industrial Municipality” - a vision partly based on
the principle of industrial symbiosis

6. The history of Industrial Symbiosis in Denmark
2011 -> 2014
Regional Symbiosis Center
• “Takes the learnings from Kalundborg Symbiosis” and ‘reuse’ the idea
allover Zealand
2013 -> 2015
National program – Green Industrial Symbiosis
• National Task Force
• Focus on growth and business - based in Erhvervsstyrelsen, Danish
Business Authority
• Offers to businesses: Free resource check, Individual matchmaking,
Matchmaking events, Drafting of an action pla n & Assistance in
applying for subsidy

7. The history of Industrial Symbiosis in Denmark
2015 -> 2017
Dansk SymbioseCenter | Symbiosis Center Denmark
•Funded by Vækstforum Sjælland = based in Zealand Region
•BUT with (inter)national focus
•Continues the efforts to bring Industrial Symbiosis further
out and forward
– Resource-optimization = focus on industries and companies locally
– Branding and investment = focus on international companies and
investors
– Education and skills = focus on employees, local administration,
students etc.
– Knowledge and competence-center
•Several partly EU-funded projects

8. Symbiosis-initiatives in Denmark
Not just to the benefit of us …. BUT ….

9. Industrial Symbioses – a definition?
An industrial symbiosis is an ecosystem where the
residual product of one enterprise is used as a resource
by another enterprise, in a closed cycle / loop.
This is made possible through local collaboration, where
public and private enterprises buy and sell residual
products, resulting in mutual economic and
environmental benefits
http://www.symbiosecenter.dk/

10. Input resources
Input resources
Product Product
Waste / by-products
Waste / by-products
Traditional industries
Market

11. Input resources
Input resources
Product Product
Waste / by-products
Waste / by-products
Industrial Symbiotic industries
By-product 1
By-product 2
Result:
Minimising costs handling waste
Minimising costs buying resources = better competiveness

12. Kalundborg Symbiosis: How it started.
• The Symbiosis was not invented, but developed organically over
many decades.
• Kalundborg Symbiosis was a “non-project”, created by a “non-
organisation”.
• Symbiosis means ‘collaboration between different organisms for mutual
benefit’ - a metaphor used about the system since 1991.
a little bit of history…

13. Kalundborg: The fjord, the town & the industry

14. Kalundborg Symbiosis

15. Kalundborg Symbiosis: How it started.
• The Symbiosis was not invented, but developed organically over
many decades.
• Kalundborg Symbiosis was a “non-project”, created by a “non-
organisation”.
• Symbiosis means ‘collaboration between different organisms for mutual
benefit’ - a metaphor used about the system since 1991.

16. TOTAL SYMBIOSIS SYSTEM 2011

17. The Symbiosis Model - a model for business development
encompassing 3 dimensions:
- Economy: Minimizing costs and improved bottom line and
competititve edge
- Environment: Resource efficiency through reuse, recycling, and
reduced intake of virgin materials
- Innovation and development: Improved introduction and access
to new technologies and R&D, job creation and regional
development

18. Environmental Aspects
Resource savings, compared to ‘non-symbiosis-situation’
– some examples (2008):
Ground water ……………… 2.000.000 m3/year
Surface water ……………… 1.000.000 m3/year
Natural gypsum …………… 100.000 tons/year
Oil ………………………………… 20.000 tons/year
Reduction of CO2 emission 275.000 tons
now more likely 300.000 tons

19. Kalundborg Symbiosis: How it started.
• The Symbiosis was not invented, but developed organically over
many decades.
• Kalundborg Symbiosis was a “non-project”, created by a “non-
organisation”.
• Symbiosis means ‘collaboration between different organisms for mutual
benefit’ - a metaphor used about the system since 1991.
Kalundborg Symbiosis
The first industrial symbiosis ever
Developed over more than four decades
Build on the basis of commercial
agreements between independent partners

20. Kalundborg Symbiosis: How it started.
• The Symbiosis was not invented, but developed organically over
many decades.
• Kalundborg Symbiosis was a “non-project”, created by a “non-
organisation”.
• Symbiosis means ‘collaboration between different organisms for mutual
benefit’ - a metaphor used about the system since 1991.
Kalundborg Symbiosis
One partners by-product becomes another
partners resource
Approximately 50 symbiotic exchanges
What would otherwise have been waste is
turned into money giving the participants a
competitive edge in the marketplace

21. Kalundborg Symbiosis: How it started.
• The Symbiosis was not invented, but developed organically over
many decades.
• Kalundborg Symbiosis was a “non-project”, created by a “non-
organisation”.
• Symbiosis means ‘collaboration between different organisms for mutual
benefit’ - a metaphor used about the system since 1991.
Kalundborg Symbiosis
Organised as an association of independent
industries
Managed by a board
All the partners – private and public
companies – are on the board
Meets 3-4 times annually
The municipality is on the board but no
special services or arrangements with the
Kalundborg symbiosis partners.

22. Kalundborg Symbiosis: How it started.
• The Symbiosis was not invented, but developed organically over
many decades.
• Kalundborg Symbiosis was a “non-project”, created by a “non-
organisation”.
• Symbiosis means ‘collaboration between different organisms for mutual
benefit’ - a metaphor used about the system since 1991.
What can be learned from
KALUNDBORG?
• The industrial potential must be
present:
– Several industries within a limited
physical distance (water and energy)
– ”A good fit”
– No major competitors
• Economic incentive is vital
• Good communication / interaction
is essential
– Based on mutual trust
– Believing in the others ability to
survive in their own line of
business

23. Please visit
www.symbiosis.dk
www.symbiosecenter.dk
to find more information.
and join our groups on:
soren.sorensen@kalundborg.dk

24. Systems make it
possible
People make it happen
Kalundborg Symbiosis
Kalundborg Symbiosis
Thank you very
much for your
attention