Industrial parks (IPs) represent critical nodes in sustainable industrial development, with Industrial Symbiosis (IS) emerging as a promising approach for enhancing resource efficiency and environmental performance. This paper examines the Fosso Imperatore IP in Southern Italy to address the geographical gap in IS studies focused on this region. Using a computational approach combining Python-based waste flow estimation with network analysis, the study quantifies potential material exchanges and identifies barriers to implementation. Results reveal the technical potential for symbiotic relationships with 319.74 tons of metal, 1,775.02 tons of plastic, 186.55 tons of paper, and 547.06 tons of organic waste that could potentially be exchanged within the park. However, network analysis shows that despite favorable network density (0.32) and compatible material flows, companies currently process 100% of waste externally, primarily due to economic incentives from external buyers. The research identifies key barriers to IS implementation including economic considerations, information asymmetry, and limited internal processing infrastructure. Digital technologies including IoT-enabled waste monitoring, blockchain-based transaction systems, and AI-powered matching algorithms present promising solutions to overcome these barriers. However, technological innovation must be coupled with economic incentives and institutional support to transform technical potential into implemented symbiotic relationships. Indeed, geographical proximity and technical compatibility alone are insufficient drivers for symbiosis development without addressing underlying economic and social barriers.

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Industrial Symbiosis Networks in Italian Industrial Parks: The Case of Fosso Imperatore

  • Carlotta D’Alessandro,
  • Giuseppe Ioppolo,
  • Grazia Calabrò,
  • Giuseppe Caristi

摘要

Industrial parks (IPs) represent critical nodes in sustainable industrial development, with Industrial Symbiosis (IS) emerging as a promising approach for enhancing resource efficiency and environmental performance. This paper examines the Fosso Imperatore IP in Southern Italy to address the geographical gap in IS studies focused on this region. Using a computational approach combining Python-based waste flow estimation with network analysis, the study quantifies potential material exchanges and identifies barriers to implementation. Results reveal the technical potential for symbiotic relationships with 319.74 tons of metal, 1,775.02 tons of plastic, 186.55 tons of paper, and 547.06 tons of organic waste that could potentially be exchanged within the park. However, network analysis shows that despite favorable network density (0.32) and compatible material flows, companies currently process 100% of waste externally, primarily due to economic incentives from external buyers. The research identifies key barriers to IS implementation including economic considerations, information asymmetry, and limited internal processing infrastructure. Digital technologies including IoT-enabled waste monitoring, blockchain-based transaction systems, and AI-powered matching algorithms present promising solutions to overcome these barriers. However, technological innovation must be coupled with economic incentives and institutional support to transform technical potential into implemented symbiotic relationships. Indeed, geographical proximity and technical compatibility alone are insufficient drivers for symbiosis development without addressing underlying economic and social barriers.