Industrial Symbiosis in Sicily: Perspectives and Criticalities

The principles of the circular economy present a production and consumption model that involves sharing, reuse, repair, reconditioning, and recycling of materials and resources. They are closely related to the phenomenon of industrial symbiosis, a process in which a company’s waste products and byproducts become raw materials for another company or for another production process, which in turn creates interdependence between companies in which energy and waste circulate uninterruptedly without refusing products. This study is based on the assessment of the degree of circularity of the economy, inspired by the new UNI 1608856 standard and on the analysis of Sicilian good practices, according to the provisions of UNI 1608977, by the definition and measurement of appropriate indicators. The paper aims to analyze and collect data relating to the Sicilian eco-industrial framework, analyzing the critical issues and opportunities of the industrial symbiosis system within Sicilian companies. To achieve this goal, a questionnaire developed in collaboration with ENEA was administered. The questionnaire investigates the successes and failures of causes related to the implementation of a path of industrial symbiosis within companies. By processing the results, it was possible to observe how Sicilian companies relate to the system of industrial symbiosis.