In nature mutual gain is called symbiosis. Zebras feed together with ostriches who have a perfect hearing and alert in case of danger. Cowbirds clean buffalos’ hair from parasites and get eating and covering in a sick coat from cold. Industrial symbiosis means also mutual gain but between companies. Any production has its wastes. Material ones – break-stone from mining, skim from dairy cream production, construction waste after exhibitions etc. Wastes could be also gases, heat energy, other kinds of energy. Anything of that is a potential resource for another production cycle.
This idea became a fundamental for the Baltic Industrial Symbiosis (BIS) project. It was initiated within the Interreg Baltic Sea Region 2014-2020 program that combined countries of the EU, Norway and Russia in order to develop innovative, transport and environment potentials of the Baltic Sea region. The program is financed by Russian, Norwegian and EU governments within the European Neighbourhood Policy and European Regional Development Fund.
Baltic Industrial Symbiosis intensifies a cooperation between companies within the region, helps to improve a legislation issues and puts an industrial symbiosis as sustainable development basement and circular economy instrument. Partners from Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Poland and Russia participate in the Project. Symbiosis programs have been successfully launched in the EU already.
Green tubes – a symbol of symbiosis
Denmark, Kalundborg ecosystem is a good example. The network of material and energy resources exchange arose between households, industrial sites and farms. In the beginning entrepreneurs tried to reduce production costs and to get extra earnings by processing wastes. Time after time management of the companies and local authorities discovered that they were able to reduce an environmental footprint at the same time. By the time there are stream pipes all along roads of Kalundborg that provides symbiotic chains participants with the steam. There was an odd amount of steam at the Asnæsværket power plant that started an industrial symbiotic chain providing other companies with the steam. In Statoil refining company this steam is being used to heat a raw oil. Volatile compounds separate and raw oil divides into diesel and gasoline by different temperature. Novozymes and Novo Nordisk companies use steam for cleaning and sterilization. By the time steam became the main product and electricity – by-product. That is how industrial symbiosis upgrade a new business model.
How develops the Russian symbiosis ?
Tyreman Group – a provider of smart tire saving technologies became an initiator of the BIS project in Russia. Innovative technologies allow to increase tires wear-resistance, to exclude the loss of use, to enhance safety and to cut an environment impact.
The second Russian participant is the State Company “Mineral” running under the authority of the Saint-Petersburg Committee for Nature Use, Environmental Protection and Ecological Safety. On behalf of Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of the Russian Federation “Mineral” realizes Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission, The Helsinki Commission, HELCOM projects. Sea Regional Nutrient Recycling Strategy – is a number one priority of the HELCOM (phosphorus and nitrogen recycling). Within the BIS project “Mineral” shares its experience on industrial symbiosis potential and environment innovations that would allow Russia to satisfy liabilities of the Helsinki Convention. This concerns the Baltic Sea environment conditions – lowering of wastes, harmful substances and biogenes.
The third Russian participant is Saint-Petersburg Cleantech Cluster for urban environment. Cluster makes researches and participates in the development of educational program dedicated to industrial symbiosis.
Tyreman Group realizes the Baltic Industrial Symbiosis project and forms an ecosystem of companies interested in such symbiosis.
Severnaya Krevetka, is among such companies, it is the first Russian start-up that launched a shrimp aquafarm development in North-West Russia in 2018 being a member а “Ingria” business incubator, the Technology Transfer activity. Entrepreneurs are trying to organize a production in line with industrial symbiosis principles. Representatives of “Severnaya Krevetka” notice that “Symbiotic approach allows to cut expenses and resources consumption and to make a production more effective and environment friendly.
Another participant is Kronidov -
company produces ready to eat meals for tourists since 2014 in Saint-Petersburg. Side products of the production processes could be used for feeds production. Kronidov is looking for partners how could process wastes and associates of zero-waste production.
Bushe bakeries and restaurants decided to join the Project as they have anticipated sustainable development ideas for years. Ekaterina Aksenova, environmental friendliness project manager stated the company “Looks for a additional measures that can help to cut an environmental footprint. We practice waste separate collection and processing and our aim is to cut usage of disposable cutlery”.
Like any other food company Bushe produces a large amount of organic wastes and coffee pulp. There is a problem to proceed it as Russian legislation restricts its export and there is a lack of proceeding factories. Bushe joined the BIS project with understanding that this is the only option to find associates who are interested in effective waste processing technologies.
How to join the Project?
Any company of North-West Russia can join the Project. Participants follow the free screening by Symbiosis Center Denmark methodology, that forms a database with participants’ demands and wastes. That is how symbiotic chains are being developed – companies can cut their expenses on raw materials and get some extra income from wastes processing. Center for Symbiosis would start its activities in Saint-Petersburg in 2020. It should be a coworking for mutual project evaluation and the Living Lab to test prototypes of the new products. Make your business more efficient by finding available resources and processing wastes! In real life symbiosis is an important part of natural selection. The same thing works in business – only the fittest survivals can adopt.
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Anastasia Afonina and the “Baltic Industrial Symbiosis” project team.