Supramunicipal Industrial Symbiosis in Vallès Occidental
First supramunicipal industrial symbiosis project in Catalonia, conceived as a stable service to companies from the economic development departments of the city councils of Sabadell, Barberà del Vallès and Sant Quirze del Vallès.
Location
Vallès Occidental, Catalonia (Spain)
Year of Start
2015
Promoter
City councils of Sabadell, Barberà del Vallès and Sant Quirze del Vallès.
Participants
Industrial and service companies together with the municipal technical teams for economic promotion.
Objective
This project marks the beginning of industrial symbiosis as a public service to companies in Catalonia, with the aim of improving efficiency in the use of resources and reducing waste generated by the local production network.
The model is based on a bottom-up strategy, working directly with companies through individualized audits and surveys that identify real opportunities for collaboration. Based on this groundwork, collective projects are developed when sufficient critical mass exists.
The service offers technical advice, training and support in the implementation of synergies, and is complemented by awareness and dissemination actions to promote a business culture oriented towards the circular economy and inter-company cooperation.
Results obtained
- More than 300 companies involved in individual and collective projects.
- Development of initiatives such as the joint collection of organic waste, circular economy strategies in the textile sector, reuse of packaging and sustainable mobility and transport solutions in industrial estates.
- Preparation of 25 infographics of good practices and a guide to industrial symbiosis, available for download and dissemination.
To highlight
- First example of supramunicipal collaboration in industrial symbiosis promoted by the local administration.
- Visualization of the role of city councils as active facilitators of the circular economy in industrial estates.
- Strong component of awareness and dissemination to accelerate the adoption of circular practices in companies.
