Transforming cities: the power of Industrial Symbiosis and Eco-Industrial Development
A groundbreaking guide, developed under the DIATOMIC project, an interdisciplinary cross-cutting platform for embedding innovation capacity in the city, reveals how cities can transform their industrial waste into economic opportunities whilst tackling climate change. The newly released “Industrial Symbiosis and Eco-Industrial Development for Cities and Regions” practical guide, authored by Peter Laybourn OBE, Dr D. Rachel Lombardi, and Hung Suck Park, and co-led by STEAMhouse from Birmingham City University, showcases Birmingham’s pioneering role in sustainable industrial development.
At its heart, the guide explores how industrial symbiosis (IS) and eco-industrial development (EID) are revolutionising the way cities approach sustainability. These innovative strategies enable businesses to turn their waste materials into valuable resources for other industries—a practical demonstration of the circular economy in action.
Birmingham’s success story
Our city stands as a testament to the transformative power of industrial symbiosis. Through long-term commitment to this approach, Birmingham has achieved remarkable results:
The numbers speak for themselves. Our facilitated industrial symbiosis programmes have slashed carbon emissions by more than 5 million tonnes, generated over 3,000 new jobs, and delivered cost savings exceeding £120 million. Perhaps most impressively, the West Midlands region has seen a benefit-cost ratio of more than 15:1 on public investment in these initiatives.
“These results demonstrate that sustainability and economic growth can go hand in hand,” says Peter Laybourn OBE, one of the guide’s authors. “Birmingham’s experience shows that industrial symbiosis isn’t just an environmental solution—it’s a powerful economic driver”.
Global partnership in action
This guide also highlights our partner city Ulsan, South Korea’s industrial capital, which has embraced similar principles since 2004. Their achievements mirror our own: 665,000 tonnes of annual carbon reductions and energy savings equivalent to 280,000 tonnes of oil per year.
This shared success underscores the importance of international collaboration in sustainable industrial development. Both cities have proven that IS and EID strategies can deliver substantial environmental benefits whilst fostering economic resilience.
Practical implementation
The guide, a key output of the DIATOMIC project, offers detailed insights into how other cities can replicate Birmingham’s success. Key recommendations include:
Looking ahead
As Birmingham continues its journey towards Net Zero by 2030, industrial symbiosis remains a cornerstone of our strategy. The successes documented in this guide demonstrate that our city is not just participating in the green industrial revolution—we’re helping to lead it.
Get involved
The complete “Industrial Symbiosis and Eco-Industrial Development for Cities and Regions” guide is now available for download. Whether you’re a business leader, policy maker, or sustainability professional, this comprehensive resource provides valuable insights into creating more sustainable and prosperous cities.
Download the guide today and join Birmingham’s journey towards a more sustainable industrial future. Share it with your network to help spread these innovative approaches to urban sustainability.
Web design Adventure
