Industrial symbiosis programme
What is it?
Industrial symbiosis (IS) is companies coming together to use each other's by-products. IS is capable of diverting hundreds of thousands of tonnes of materials from landfill in heavily industrialised areas. In 18 months the national industrial symbiosis programme diverted over half a million tonnes of waste from landfill sites in the UK.
Incorporating IS in industry today would mean a reduction in resource use and a reduction in waste management costs leading to increased job creation and reduced emissions.
More about industrial symbiosis (pdf - 191kb)
Who is it for?
IS is for companies looking to cut costs and generate revenue. Companies also get environmental benefits from joining an IS project. Membership is free. Please contact us for further details.
The national industrial symbiosis programme
NISP has had a £13m funding boost from the UK Government to embark on the world's first national IS programme. The programme operates on a regional basis, with CLEMANCE as the North East co-ordinators. CLEMANCE delivered previously the independent Tees Valley Industrial Symbiosis Programme (2003-2004), where they engaged with over 90 companies to divert almost 150,000 tonnes of waste per annum from disposal.
NISP aims to facilitate the uptake of IS concepts across the North East to deliver:
- a step change in sustainable development across the region
- a substantial amount of waste diverted from landfill
- a reduction in CO² emissions
- the creation of jobs and new businesses
- improved economic robustness of the region's industry.
North East Industrial Symbiosis Network
'Providing practical solutions to difficult waste problems'
Aim
The North East Industrial Symbiosis Network (NE-ISN) is a solution for business product. The aim of the programme is to encourage and promote Industrial Symbiosis (IS) - the idea that waste is a useful raw material, a resource to be used and a real business opportunity. By instilling IS thinking into small and medium size enterprises (SMEs) and their activities, a solid foundation for innovation can be created quickly. NISP NE has extensive experience in working with SMEs and understands the difficult business environment in which they operate.
More about Solutions for Business (word - 74kb)
Objectives
The project will enable participants to:
- improve the skills of their workforce and build a strong technology and knowledge base within the region
- understand and manage their resources in all their forms and implement strategies to become more efficient and competitive
- identify and overcome technological barriers to resource efficiency and identify new market opportunity.
By stimulating the adoption of the IS approach, SMEs will benefit from:
An SME is a company or other private sector organisation with less than:
- 250 staff
- 25% owned by a larger group
- £34m turnover
- £29m balance sheet
Some other restrictions apply
- environmental issues
- reduced costs
- increased sales
- higher asset utilisation
- new products
- business opportunities
- the adoption of innovation and cross-sector technology transfer.
The project is part financed by the European Union’s ERDF Competitiveness Programme 2007-13, securing £621,000 ERDF investment through development agency One North East to match the University’s contribution.
The ERDF programme is bringing over £300m into the North East to support innovation, enterprise and business support across the region.
To discover what NISP can do for your company, call 01642 342409 or email northeast@nisp.org.uk
Not for you? Business Link can give you independent advice to help you find the best support for your business. Visit your local Business Link, or call 0845 600 9006.
