In 1879, Anton de Bary used the word “symbiosis” to describe the ecological relationship between organisms that live in very close association but belong to different species. Lichens are a classic example: fungi and algae living together, practically forming a new organism. The fungus absorbs water and nutrients from the environment, which are utilized by the algae to perform photosynthesis and generate food for both. It is true that not all types of lichens represent such a harmonious coexistence (in fact, only a minority do), but the strategy is so efficient that about 20% of all known species of fungi are only found in nature in the form of lichens.
Symbiosis is a complicated term, even among biologists. It does not necessarily include mutual benefits for the associated species (*), but it was with this idea of mutualism in mind that the word was applied in industry. Industrial Symbiosis is an approach of Industrial Ecology, a field of study that breaks with old paradigms and begins to consider industry as an integral and inseparable part of the ecosystem. Industrial Ecology reveals the unsustainability of usual industrial processes, which occur in isolation and in a one-way flow, generating a lot of waste along the way. In natural systems, there is no waste. All generated residues are utilized as resources in an intricate web of relationships, closing a cycle.
Industrial Symbiosis is one of the possible alternatives to achieve the goals of Industrial Ecology, which encompasses the sustainability of industrial processes, environmental preservation, and intergenerational equity. Its proposal consists of the integration of different types of geographically close industries, similar to the fungi and algae that coexist intertwined in lichens. This proximity allows water, energy, and waste to be easily exchanged; what was considered waste by one sector can serve as raw material for another. This symbiosis can, and should, also extend beyond the walls of factories, including the agricultural sector and the community in which they are embedded.
The oldest example of the implementation of Industrial Symbiosis is that of Kalundborg, Denmark. In 1970, seven industries joined forces with the municipality and created an industrial ecosystem that shares groundwater, wastewater, steam, refinery gas, biomass, and exchanges a variety of industrial by-products. In total, about 2.9 million tons of waste are exchanged every year. The success of the venture is due to the initiative of cooperation among the companies, the involvement of different sectors (broadening the range of waste that can be utilized), and government incentives.
Worldwide, examples of successful Industrial Symbiosis are multiplying. In Japan, one of the best experiences is the Fujisawa Industrial Park, which integrates various types of industries, as well as residences, plantations, natural areas, and public services. The park's infrastructure, which includes state-of-the-art facilities for water treatment, sewage, and energy generation, has led to a significant reduction in energy and water consumption, as well as a decrease in solid waste disposal by about 95%.
Although proximity is a significant tool for implementing Industrial Symbiosis, it is no longer a prerequisite. It is possible to articulate projects on a regional scale, using logistical and market information. Waste Exchanges (like the one organized by FIESP since 2002 - http://apps.fiesp.com.br/bolsaresiduos/index.asp) are an excellent Brazilian example of this type of approach. Here, it is possible to find offers of chemical, organic, wood, plastic, leather waste, and many others. Agro-industrial waste is particularly interesting. Winery waste, for example, contains a high content of phenolic compounds, which are very useful due to their antioxidant power. Seeds and pulp residues from guava constitute a potential source of ascorbic acid. Pectin (a gelling and stabilizing agent) is already commercially extracted from orange pulp, but it can also be obtained from waste of passion fruit, banana, and cocoa. Substances like these have high commercial value, with applications in the food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries.
Indeed, we can go far beyond lichens. The symbiosis between fungi and algae resulted from an evolutionary process that took thousands of years to achieve such efficiency. Industrial Symbiosis depends on the intentional action of humans. And for this reason, it is not limited only to the exchange of water, energy, and waste among industries, nor is it restricted by local scale. Perhaps of greater importance is the exchange of knowledge and human resources, which some call “Soft Symbiosis.” This type of synergy includes the creation of partnerships based on trust and collaboration, opening doors to new business opportunities that go beyond a simple commercial relationship. In this way, Industrial Symbiosis is a concept that can assist companies in their pursuit of more sustainable solutions, especially concerning the shared responsibility of waste generators (manufacturers, distributors, traders, citizens) and the “zero waste” goal, which is included in current legislation, such as the National Solid Waste Policy.
(*) See a discussion on the use of the term “Symbiosis” in Ecology in this article from Nature: http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v412/n6846/full/412485a0.html
References
CANTERI, M. H. G.; et al. 2012. Pectin: from raw material to final product. Polímeros 22(2): 149-157. Available at: http://www.scielo.br/pdf/po/v22n2/aop_0690.pdf
FILHO, L. X.; LEGAZ, M. E.; CORDOBA, C. V.; PEREIRA, E. C. 2006. Biology of Lichens. Rio de Janeiro: Âmbito Cultural Publishing, 624p.
MELO, P. S. et al. 2011. Phenolic composition and antioxidant activity of agro-industrial waste. Ciência Rural 41(6): 1088-1093. Available at: http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?pid=S0103-84782011000600027&script=sci_arttext
STARLANDER, J. E. 2003. Industrial Symbiosis: a closer look at organizational factors. The International Institute for Environmental Economics, Sweden. Available at: http://lup.lub.lu.se/luur/download?func=downloadFile&recordOId=1324966&fileOId=1324967
TANIMOTO, A. H.; JESUS, D. S.; SANTOS, C. R. S. 2004. Environmental Management and Industrial Symbiosis: a practical proposal for the pursuit of sustainable development. Scientific Journal of the Federal Center for Technological Education of Bahia n.2. Available at: http://www.cefetba.br/comunicacao/etc2a10.htm
VEIGA, L. B. E. & Veiga, M. M. 2005. Industrial symbiosis in the reduction of solid waste. Proceedings of the 23rd Brazilian Congress of Sanitary and Environmental Engineering. Available at: http://www.bvsde.paho.org/bvsacd/abes23/III-177.pdf
WILKINSON, D. M. 2001. At cross purposes. Nature 412:485. Available at: http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v412/n6846/full/412485a0.html
