Abstract:
The concept of Industrial Symbiosis has gained much attention since the discussions
started on the Circular Economy. Industrial Symbiosis helps organizations to establish
inter-organizational relationships via resource sharing mechanisms to improve their
environmental, social and economic performances. The primary purpose of this study is
to assess the possibility of developing an Industrial Symbiosis (IS) network between
different industrial sectors in the Biyagama Export Processing Zone (BEPZ) and further
assess barriers that hinder initiating such inter-sectoral IS partnerships. The
manufacturing firms in the BEPZ were analyzed based on six different industrial sectors:
rubber, textile, fabric, ceramic, printing and packaging and food. The resource inflows
and outflows of each industrial sector were analyzed by gathering primary and
secondary data. The potential resource collaboration opportunities were identified and
mapped to minimize resource leakages. Additionally, barriers to adopting industrial
synergisms were assessed with expert interviews and evidence from empirical studies. A
total of thirteen potentials IS partnerships were identified among different industrial
sectors within BEPZ. Additionally, one inter-sectoral partnership was identified between
the IS network of BEPZ and the agricultural sector located outside the BEPZ. One of the
main barriers to enabling sectoral IS partnership is the lack of corporate awareness. Lack
of coordination, unwillingness to share information, lack of understanding on mutual
benefits, difficulty in locating receivers, focusing only on core industries, technological
and financial constraints are the other challenges hindering inter-sectoral relationships.
The study allows value creation from the materials that would otherwise be discarded, so
the materials remain economically valuable. Applying the concept of Industrial
Symbiosis facilitates materials' being used more sustainably and transforming BEPZ
towards an eco-industrial park.
