The rapid industrialization and urbanization in Turkey have created various challenges in waste management and resource efficiency. Turkey’s 10th Development Plan emphasizes sustainable resource use and environmental protection. Industrial symbiosis (IS) has been identified as a strategic tool to achieve these goals and is considered an ecological efficiency model that enhances regional competitiveness. However, a systematic framework is required for widespread implementation across the country.
Key Factors
- Resource Efficiency: Industrial symbiosis promotes the reuse of unused resources (waste, by-products, energy, water), reducing resource use and preventing environmental pollution.
- Economic Competitiveness: The implementation of IS creates new economic opportunities by improving Turkey’s competitiveness, lowering production costs, and enhancing resource management. This aligns with national goals such as the SME Strategy and Action Plan.
- Sustainability Goals: Industrial symbiosis helps Turkey meet its Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDC) under the Paris Agreement, including targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and supporting sustainable industrial practices.
Challenges and Recommendations
The biggest challenge to adopting industrial symbiosis in Turkey is the limited local experience. While some projects exist, they are not coordinated under a national program. To address this issue, the roadmap suggests adopting the NISP® Model (National Industrial Symbiosis Programme), which has been successfully implemented in the UK and promotes inter-industry collaboration through regional teams and a shared information platform.
The Role of Technology in Facilitating Industrial Symbiosis in Turkey
Technology plays a vital role in the implementation and scaling of industrial symbiosis. The use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) platforms enables better tracking, reporting, and management of resource exchanges between industries. Turkey’s industrial symbiosis roadmap recommends the use of world-class ICT tools, particularly the SYNERGie®4.0 system, to support these efforts.
The Role of ICT in Industrial Symbiosis
- Data Collection and Analysis: ICT platforms collect data on waste flows, resource needs, and by-products. This information is analyzed to identify recycling and reuse opportunities.
- Impact Reporting: Another critical function of ICT platforms is reporting the impacts of symbiotic activities. For example, tools like SYNERGie®4.0 allow for tracking metrics such as waste diverted, reduced carbon emissions, and cost savings.
- Synergy Detection: ICT tools help businesses identify opportunities for resource exchanges. By matching inputs and outputs, businesses can more easily find partners that can use their waste or by-products.
Challenges and Solutions
The biggest challenge in using ICT is the lack of standardized data on industrial waste and resource flows. A solution to this problem is training regional coordinators and facilitators to input data accurately and promptly into ICT tools.
The Role of Public-Private Partnerships in the Development of Industrial Symbiosis in Turkey
The success of industrial symbiosis relies on collaboration between public institutions and the private sector. In Turkey, the Ministry of Industry and Technology (MoIT) plays a leading role in coordinating industrial activities and promoting IS. However, the participation of the private sector is critical to fully realize the potential of industrial symbiosis.
The Role of the Public Sector
- Policy Support: The Turkish government, particularly MoIT and the Ministry of Environment and Urbanization (MoEU), is responsible for creating an enabling policy environment for IS. This includes complying with waste management regulations, supporting innovation with research funds, and providing waste management infrastructure.
- Financial Incentives: Public authorities can encourage private sector participation in IS through tax reductions, grants, or subsidies for participation in resource efficiency programs.
The Role of the Private Sector
- Innovation and Investment: Private companies contribute to IS by investing in new technologies and processes for reusing waste materials. In sectors such as construction, energy, and manufacturing, IS fosters innovation and new business models.
- Stakeholder Collaboration: Successful IS initiatives rely on close collaboration between businesses. Private companies are encouraged to share data on resource needs and waste outputs through platforms supported by public-private partnerships.
Public-private partnerships are critical to the success of IS in Turkey. The public sector provides the regulatory framework and financial support, while the private sector drives innovation and collaboration. Together, these two sectors can help Turkey achieve its environmental and economic goals through industrial symbiosis.