ENABLING INDUSTRIAL SYMBIOSIS BETWEEN CO -LOCATED INDUSTRIAL SECTORS: A CASE STUDY IN BIYAGAMA EXPORT PROCESSING ZONE

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.