Enhancing circularity and sustainability in Eco-Industrial Parks: A DEA-Based efficiency assessment and regression-based impact analysis of SME contributions

Eco-Industrial Parks (EIPs) are a novel strategy in which businesses engage in Industrial Symbiosis (IS) to improve resource efficiency and reduce waste within local ecosystems. Although large companies mostly participate in EIPs, the function of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) remains ambiguous, despite their capacity to serve as catalysts for innovation and sustainable growth. This study examines how sustainability initiatives and SME-related indicators contribute to the effectiveness and efficiency of EIPs in the context of circular economy transition. Using binary logistic regression and DEA-BCC modeling, we analyze the association between eco-initiatives, SME-related indicators, and EIP success factors, and assess the relative efficiency of 72 EIPs. The DEA offers a comprehensive methodology to evaluate the performance of EIPs by examining inputs, such as park size and number of companies, and outputs, such as employment, eco-criteria, sub-eco-criteria, and success factors. The results show that 25 of the 72 EIPs are classified as efficient. Efficient parks tend to operate on smaller areas while generating approximately 8.42 times more jobs than inefficient parks on average. The regression results indicate that mobility and transportation, recycling, energy management, social and educational initiatives, air monitoring, and combined heat and power plants are associated with key success factors, including organized coordination, financial incentives, policy and regulation frameworks, and economic value added. SME-related indicators are positively associated with selected success factors, particularly local economic diversity, regional infrastructure, and policy and regulatory frameworks. The findings suggest that policymakers and park managers should strengthen coordination mechanisms, financial incentives, infrastructure, environmental management systems, and SME participation to support the transition from EIPs to broader Hubs for Circularity. Future research should incorporate more detailed park-level SME data and industry-specialization variables.