The Standard of Industrial Symbiosis. Environmental Criteria and Methodology on the Establishment and Operation of Industrial and Business Parks

Abstract

The siting of an Industrial park with environmental criteria is an attempt to organize and develop the productive capacity of a region while seeking to reduce the burden of environmental conditions. The companies involved aim at reducing production costs by increasing the efficiency of materials and energy and recycling byproducts / waste. The establishment of an EnvironmentalIndustrial Park promotes the use of new environmentally friendly technologies, structures and infrastructure and reduces the sources of pollution and waste. The application of industrial ecology and eco-industry networks remains in an early stage in Greece. The Greek legislation does not incorporate or define Environmental Industrial Parks and the standard of “industrial symbiosis” has not yet been implemented.

The paper examines the “industrial symbiosis” standard, through international practices and existing implemented examples. Also, the paper examines the principles, conditions and design criteria in locating a manufacturing / industrial park in accordance with environmental standards and legislation. A case study is being presented involving the proposal for siting and design of a BusinessPark in the municipality of Pili, Greece,with implementation of environmental criteria.A methodology of establishing the B.P. is being applied with emphasis on location criteria, since issues such as geographic proximity and spatial principles are considered to be of high importance. The methodology comprises certain steps, which examine the elements of the natural and human environment. An evaluation of alternative locationsis carried out, which results in the final evaluation of the selected location. Finally, the compatibility of the location selectedin relation to the elements of the natural and human environmentis being assessed. The principles of industrial symbiosis are also applied through certain proposals for saving and reuse of energy, water, materials / by-products / waste and reducing the environmental burden.