Towards water smart industrial symbiotic systems

“Circular economy, according to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, aims to design waste and pollution management with new value chains, by keeping products and materials in re-use and regenerating natural systems. It is widely recognised that water due to its natural origin and involvement in several processes, plays a central role in achieving these goals. Transformation of the traditional linear production-consumption-disposal chains to circular water systems is key to their success.

Industry accounts for circa 40% of all water abstractions in Europe, making it one of the largest water users next to agriculture and households. Circular concepts are already implemented in industry, but the European Commission (EC) is now giving specific attention to ‘Water Smart Industrial Symbiosis (WSIS)’ in which economic value and increased sustainability is created by introducing circular symbiotic arrangements between industry and water service providers. This approach will further enhance the opportunities for recovery and reuse of water embedded resources and stimulate new circular business arrangements (public-private partnerships, new service providers, specialised technology suppliers, etc.).”

(Citation: Berg, G.A. van den – Towards water smart industrial symbiotic systems – www.SmartWaterMagazine (2021)8)