This document discusses redefining industrial relationships for a circular economy. It defines industrial symbiosis as industries collaborating to exchange materials, energy, water, and byproducts to gain competitive advantage. The keys to industrial symbiosis are geographic proximity and collaboration between partners. There are opportunities for waste minimization and reuse outside traditional supply chains by exploring partnerships with unrelated companies. A circular economy seeks to rebuild capital by designing waste out and keeping products and materials in use. Transformational change is needed across whole regions to transition to a truly circular economy.

1. Redefining industrial relationships for the Circular
Economy
Prof. Weslynne Ashton
Illinois Institute of Technology -
Stuart School of Business
Industrial Symbiosis
WBCSD CSI Forum 2018
Cement & Concrete: from Linear to Circular
9 & 10 October 2018

2. Source: Ellen MacArthur Foundation
Promise of the Circular Economy

3. 44%
used for energy, including food
43%
goes into stock, lasting more
than 1 year
6%
quarry waste
6%
recycled in
economy
31%
organic waste, including GHGs
dissipated to atmosphere
Today’s global reality
Haas et al. 2015. “How Circular is the Global Economy.” Journal of Industrial Ecology
Fossil Fuels
Biomass
Construction
minerals
Domestic
extraction
Materials
processed
Materials
used
EoL Waste
Waste rock
Short lived products
Energetic
use
Domestic
processed
outputs
Recycling

4. FROM TO
How do we get…
A circular economy seeks to rebuild capital

5. “Industrial symbiosis engages traditionally separate industries in a collective approach to competitive advantage
involving physical exchange of materials, energy, water, and/or by products.”
Chertow 2000
Industrial symbiosis
The keys to IS are
Battelle/WBCSD 2002
geographic
proximity
collaboration

6. Industrial symbiosis waste reuse
Many opportunities exist outside
traditional supply chains
Exploring possibilities with unrelated
neighbors/potential partners
Waste minimization and reuse may not be
optimal solution
Turning wastes into new value streams might be
counter-intuitive
Social context matters as much as
technical feasibility
Creating a culture and community of
collaboration rather than waste transactions
Regulatory environment often determines
what is possible
Using voluntary agreements and flexible
regulations can aid company adoption
>

7. Values and beliefs inherent in social
practices, or incorporated by the
community. It also includes ethnicity,
spirituality, heritage, traditions, as well
as daily practices.
Cultural
Productive power and the
monetary support. It is a
representation of the elements
from the other lenses, and
includes credits and loans.
Financial
Natural resources, both renewable
and nonrenewable. It also includes
fauna and flora, as well as life
supporting systems.
Natural
Comprises material goods. It
includes human-made elements
such as physical infrastructures,
products, and machines.
Manufactured
The professional and the personal
connections among individuals and
entities. It includes partnerships and
collaborations, as well as informal
gatherings.
Social
The ability and capability of
individuals to produce, and their
wellbeing. It includes individual
health, knowledge, skills and
motivation.
Human
Digital infrastructure and data. It
includes digital platforms, as well as
the mechanisms of data collection,
analysis, and storage.
Digital
Structure of organizations that
determines how decisions are
made and power is distributed. It is
also hierarchy, inclusion, access,
and participation.
Political
Stock and Flow of Capital in any Industrial Ecosystem
Nogueira, Teixeira, Ashton. 2018. “Sustainability lenses: an integrative approach to decision-making”

8. Circulation of capital in agricultural systems
TEEB (2018). TEEB for Agriculture & Food: Scientific and Economic Foundations. Geneva: UN Environment.

9. Expanding business opportunities through capitals
Social/professional ties
Monetary transactions
Product/material trades
Our mission is building a resilient local
food ecosystem between the farmer and
consumer.

10. Transformational change across a region
Kawasaki Eco Town, Japan

11. Business
Society
Environment
Business
Society Environment
Business
Society
Environment
Split value
Business as usual
Shared value
Change as usual
System value
Transformational change
Adapted from futurefitbusiness.org
Circular economy requires transformational change

12. Weslynne Ashton
washton@iit.edu