Identifying Policy Needs for Industrial Symbiosis
The RISERS project has identified key policy needs, industries, and regions crucial for advancing Industrial Symbiosis (IS) in Europe. Using a multi-method approach—including literature reviews, statistical analyses, and a survey—RISERS has mapped out policy challenges and opportunities for supporting IS development.
A survey in which RISERS partner FhG collaborated with partner CEN, conducted between June and October 2024, among 200 experts interested in IS standardisation, also analysed broader policy needs. Of these, nearly 100 respondents completed at least the first substantive question. The results reinforced the need for multi-level policy engagement. Policymakers at all levels—from EU and international bodies to national and regional authorities—must collaborate across ministries to drive IS forward.
12 Preliminary Policy Recommendations
To support IS, RISERS has identified twelve priority areas for policymakers:
- Simplify regulations for defining waste and determining end-of-waste status.
- Harmonize waste classification rules across all EU member states.
- Support the development and recognition of by-product solutions.
- Facilitate the safe and efficient use of treated wastewater.
- Establish a database for tracking and analyzing waste flows.
- Ease regulations on trading different energy carriers.
- Streamline the permitting process for IS projects.
- Designate regulatory sandbox areas to test innovative IS applications.
- Reduce taxation to incentivize the use of secondary raw materials.
- Provide financial incentives for recycling and reuse.
- Increase awareness of industrial symbiosis.
- Promote IS education and establish dedicated IS facilitators.
Sectoral Analysis: IS as a Source and Sink
RISERS research examined 600+ IS cases through binary synergy models, identifying key sectors that act as either sources (providing streams like energy, by-products, waste, and water) or sinks (receiving and utilizing these streams).
Findings highlight six priority industrieswith the chemical and steel industries emerged as IS leaders.
Industry-Specific IS Potential
Below are just some of the examples of IS opportunities that are available for each of the industries.
Chemicals
The European chemical industry represents over 1.2 million workers. It is not only a key industry of the European economy, it plays also a vital role in IS. Chemical companies are important IS sources for other companies of their industry and the energy sector and important sinks for waste and energy. Chemical recycling and polymer reuse are key topics.
Steel
The European steel industry directly employs 303,000 people. In RISERS’ analyses, the industry represented the second most IS source cases and the third most IS sink cases. While the industry has long used scrap metal, it seeks to expand IS opportunities to boost competitiveness, focusing on carbon capture and excess heat utilization. Other IS applications in collaboration with the cement industry are described below.
Food
The EU food and drink industry represents 4.7 million workers. Food producers can enhance IS for example as a source of by-products and regarding the use of IS-based packaging. The sugar industry shows particularly high IS potential in various areas.
Cement
The European cement industry employs around 35,000 people. Regarding IS, the industry is an important sink for chemicals, minerals, steel and waste as well as a big provider of IS sources for the energy sector. As a more specific example, it benefits from IS by incorporating by-products from steel production, such as granulated slag, into its processes.
Refineries
Statista counted almost 90 oil refineries operating in Europe as of early 2024. Refineries are an important source for the energy sector. They generate excess heat, which can be repurposed to heat homes or support nearby industries. Their role as a sink sector for energy is also worth mentioning.
Bio-based Industrial Ecosystem
As defined by the European Commission, bio-based products are derived from biological resources (including, for example, organic residues or wastes from primary production and industrial processes, dedicated industrial crops, biogenic CO2, etc.). They cover a variety of sectors and uses, such as textiles, home and personal care, furniture and construction, chemicals, plastics, fertilisers etc. Specific IS activities of the relevant companies refer, for example, to the production of bio-based chemicals, biofuels, biogas, animal feed, or fertilizers.
Regional Priorities for IS
Beyond industry-specific focus areas, RISERS identified eight European countries as pivotal for IS development: Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain, and the United Kingdom. These nations play a central role in fostering industrial symbiosis due to their strong industrial bases and policy landscapes.
Next Steps: Strengthening Policy Frameworks
Moving forward, IS development requires industry-specific policy measures tailored to each industry’s needs. RISERS will conduct further analyses to refine policy recommendations, ensuring a supportive regulatory environment that fosters industrial symbiosis across Europe.
References:
- CEFIC (2024), https://cefic.org/a-pillar-of-the-european-economy/
- EUROFER (2024), https://www.eurofer.eu/assets/publications/brochures-booklets-and-factsheets/european-steel-in-figures-2024/EUROFER-2024-Version-June14.pdf
- European Commission (2025), https://research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/research-area/environment/bioeconomy/bio-based-products-and-processes_en
- FoodDrinkEurope (2025), https://www.fooddrinkeurope.eu/resource/data-trends-of-the-european-food-and-drink-industry-2024/#:~:text=Data%20%26%20Trends%202024%20shows%20that%20the%20EU,it%20the%20largest%20manufacturing%20industry%20in%20the%20EU.
- Statista (2024a), https://www.statista.com/study/172752/cement-industry-in-europe/#:~:text=This%20report%20presents%20graphs%20and%20tables%20about%20the,contains%20a%20copyright%20violation%2C%20please%20let%20us%20know.
- Statista (2024b). Largest crude oil refineries by capacity in Europe in 2023 (in 1,000 barrels per day). https://www.statista.com/statistics/1445218/largest-oil-refineries-europe/
Dr. Simone Wurster
Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research ISI
