Institutional Barriers and Opportunities for the Implementation of Industrial Symbiosis in Greece

Industrial symbiosis (IS) aims to couple industrial development and environmental protection through the conservation of energy and resources. Conservation of resources is achieved through synergies with industries, which mainly occur through the reuse of waste and water. The promotion and implementation of IS highly depends on the policies adopted at the national and European Union levels. The present study explores the adequacy of the current institutional framework applied in Greece for the practical implementation of IS and highlights its strengths and weaknesses. Despite providing some opportunities for attaining eco-industry, the legislation also imposes restrictions. Specifically, the absence of a comprehensive and specialized legislation and the difficulty of implementing the current regulations effectively pose barriers towards the adoption of the IS model. Considering this, the present legislative and institutional framework needs to be further integrated, while coordination among stakeholders and simplified procedures should be applied so as to realize IS in Greece.