SYMBA EU Project: Transforming biobased industries through industrial symbiosis

The SYMBA project, an EU-funded initiative, is redefining sustainability in the biobased industrial sector by championing Industrial Symbiosis (IS) as a transformative approach to resource efficiency and environmental responsibility. With a robust EUR 1.5 million budget and a visionary consortium, SYMBA is setting the stage for a circular economy that benefits industries, communities, and future generations.

Industrial symbiosis (IS) stands as one of the most effective strategies for addressing resource limitations and environmental degradation. Unlike traditional waste management approaches, IS fosters a closed-loop system that maximizes resource efficiency, reduces waste, and minimizes pollution. Yet, despite its immense potential, only 0.1% of the 26 million EU enterprises are currently active in this transformative field, largely due to historical access to inexpensive and abundant resources [1].

The SYMBA project, guided by the 4R hierarchy, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, and Recover, seeks to overcome these barriers by developing a groundbreaking methodology for assessing circularity and symbiosis in biobased industrial ecosystems. By analysing and improving existing methods, SYMBA is creating a holistic framework supported by innovative digital tools and artificial intelligence (AI). This approach facilitates adaptability and replicability across Europe, enabling regional and local ecosystems to transition seamlessly from linear to circular economies.

SYMBA’s methodology unfolds through a six-step process:
• Mapping Current Approaches: identifying ongoing IS projects and best practices.
• Analysis of EU, national, and regional policies and legislation: reviewing EU, national, and regional policies to address regulatory challenges.
• Development of a co-created methodology: engaging stakeholders to build innovative frameworks for assessing and implementing IS.
• Evaluation of environmental, social, and economic impacts using the SYMBA approach.
• Demonstration Activities: Testing solutions in regional hubs to showcase adaptability and success.
• Strategic Networking and Training: Facilitating knowledge sharing through events, forums, and training sessions.
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SYMBA integrates Artificial Intelligence (AI) and cutting-edge digital tools to ensure adaptability and scalability, setting a new standard for innovation in biobased industries.

The project unites a consortium of leading organizations and institutions with expertise across sectors and geographies, ensuring comprehensive solutions:
• ENCO: A top EU consulting firm with over 300 international clients and a strategy expanding beyond EU boundaries.
• AIMPLAS: Leaders in packaging innovation and training, offering over 170 activities annually through its Plastic Academy.
• CIRCE: Experts in artificial intelligence for energy-intensive industries, driving digital innovation.
• NOVAMONT: a Benefit Company certified B Corporation, is among the leading international players in the bioplastics sector and development of renewable bioproducts and biochemicals.
• CETAQUA, CENTEXBEL, and BBEPP: Pioneers in agri-food, wastewater, textiles, and waste valorisation sectors.
• ICLEI and CLIMATE-KIC: Strategic links to stakeholders along the biobased value chain to ensure replicability and demonstration success.
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This diverse expertise covers the full scope of SYMBA’s mission, enabling a wide-reaching impact both geographically and technically.

At the basis of the SYMBA project lies a cooperative approach, ensuring that initiatives like the SYMBA Forum and partnerships with Hubs4Circularity and New European Bauhaus (NEB) communities foster collaboration across Europe. By embracing co-creation journeys, SYMBA not only identifies cross-cutting opportunities but also develops actionable recommendations for policymakers. This cooperative foundation paves the way for long-term investment, innovation, and the widespread adoption of Industrial Symbiosis Networks (ISNs), driving a unified transition toward a more sustainable and circular economy.

SYMBA’s innovative methodology promises to deliver truly transformative results, reshaping the way resources are managed in biobased industries. By significantly reducing waste, the project aims to repurpose 76 % of materials that would otherwise be discarded, transforming them into valuable secondary raw materials. This approach is projected to drive an impressive 58 % increase in productivity through waste recovery, equivalent to 9.92 million tonnes of reusable waste each year, resulting in remarkable cost savings of EUR 1.24 billion annually [2].

Additionally, SYMBA’s focus on energy efficiency could lead to a 13 % improvement, which would not only cut greenhouse gas emissions but also provide a substantial boost to sustainability efforts. These groundbreaking outcomes extend beyond the industrial sector, fostering economic growth, aligning with the EU’s climate objectives, and laying the foundation for a greener, more sustainable future for generations to come.

In conclusion, SYMBA exemplifies how collaboration, innovation, and sustainability can intersect to create a better world. By addressing pressing environmental challenges and unlocking the potential of Industrial Symbiosis, SYMBA is not just transforming industries, it’s creating a legacy of resilience and sustainability for future generations.

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Programme under GA N° 101135562. AT

www.symbaproject.eu

[1] A Case Study of Industrial Symbiosis in the Humber Region Using the EPOS Methodology.
sciprofiles.com/profile/835701
[2] Towards a Sustainable Bioeconomy through Industrial Symbiosis: Current Situation and Perspectives.
doi.org/10.3390/su14031605
An Assessment of European Information Technology Tools to Support Industrial Symbiosis.
doi.org/10.3390/su11010131