Configurations of Industrial Symbiosis: Categorising by-product exchanges by geographic proximity, industry diversity, and network size

This paper examines Industrial Symbiosis (IS), the exchange of by-products and pre-consumer waste within industrial networks. Drawing on an established dataset of 46 international cases, we employ a fuzzy set ideal type analysis to identify four IS configurations: Local Related Multilateral Exchanges, Regional Unrelated Bilateral Exchanges, Regional Unrelated Multilateral Exchanges, and Local Unrelated Multilateral Exchanges. We then illustrate these four different configurations in more detail by analysing IS cases from Germany. The analysis indicates that industry diversity, geographic proximity, and network size play a different role in different types of exchanges, underscoring the importance of a nuanced socio-spatial perspective. Findings indicate that different IS types may follow different socio-spatial logics and thus require specific tailored policy approaches. Focusing on by-product exchanges as the core of IS allows us to more effectively address the contingent characteristics and materiality of the resources involved.