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Guides

Demonstrator for Resource and Material Savings

May 2026; Updated: July 2026

This demonstrator showcases how industrial symbiosis (IS) enables synergistic exchange of resources, such as waste, by-products, water, and energy between companies within a locality, region, or even a virtual community. It is a clickable simulation that allows users to explore how choosing industrial symbiosis supply sources instead of standard sources reduces carbon footprint and saves resources and materials.region, or even in a virtual community. It is a clickable simulation that allows users to explore how choosing industrial symbiosis supply sources instead of standard sources reduces carbon footprint and saves resources and materials.

New opportunities can arise in different stages of supply chains, and may occur even in inter-ecosystem cases, and between retail companies and consumers. The demonstrator is designed with a view to being extended to other settings, such as savings through eco-design, advanced manufacturing techniques, and use of alternative materials.

How it Works

A. Company and Resource Selection (Step 1)

Five simulated companies (A–E) each offer a different combination of resources, reflecting realistic industrial symbiosis network configurations:

  • Company A — Manufactures industrial components and manages water treatment facilities. Offers: Raw Materials, Water.
  • Company B — Specialises in by-product valorisation and alternative raw material sourcing. Offers: Raw Materials.
  • Company C — Operates renewable energy installations and water recycling systems. Offers: Energy, Water.
  • Company D — Produces secondary raw materials from industrial waste streams. Offers: Raw Materials, Water.
  • Company E — Provides residual heat and recovered materials from manufacturing processes. Offers: Raw Materials, Energy.

For each selection, the user sets the supply source (Standard or Industrial Symbiosis) and the quantity consumed. Multiple resources from different companies can be combined to build a realistic multi-actor scenario.

B. GWP Impact Comparison (Step 2)

The GWP (Global Warming Potential) is calculated in kg CO₂ equivalent for both the Standard and Industrial Symbiosis source, enabling a direct carbon footprint comparison. The energy conversion factors used are based on the European electricity mix (0.233 kg CO₂eq/kWh, EU average 2023):

  • Water: Standard source — 0.4 kWh/m³ (fresh water extraction); IS source — 0.3 kWh/m³ (recycled/treated water). GWP = energy consumption × 0.233 kg CO₂eq/kWh × quantity.
  • Energy: Standard source — 0.233 kg CO₂eq/kWh (EU electricity mix); IS source — 0 kg CO₂eq/kWh (residual heat or renewable energy, zero direct emissions). GWP = factor × quantity.
  • Raw Materials: Standard source — 3.0 kWh/kg (virgin extraction); IS source — 0.02 kWh/kg (recovered secondary materials). GWP = energy consumption × 0.233 kg CO₂eq/kWh × quantity.

Results are shown as three summary KPIs (Standard GWP Total, Industrial Symbiosis GWP, CO₂eq Avoided) and a per-resource breakdown with proportional bars. The Standard Source bar is always the full-width reference; the IS bar shows the proportionally lower carbon impact. When Standard is selected, the annotation shows the potential saving if the user switches to IS.

C. Resource and Material Savings (Step 3)

Beyond carbon footprint, the demonstrator calculates how much material is recovered or avoided through industrial symbiosis exchange. The recovery and waste reduction rates applied are:

  • Water: 85% material recovery rate (recycled water replaces fresh extraction); 80% waste reduction rate (reduction in wastewater discharge).
  • Energy: 100% material recovery rate (residual heat and renewable energy fully substitute fossil-based grid energy); 95% waste reduction rate (energy waste avoided through residual heat reuse).
  • Raw Materials: 90% material recovery rate (by-products recovered as secondary raw materials); 88% waste reduction rate (waste diverted from landfill/incineration).

Results are shown as two summary KPIs (Total Resources Recovered, Total Waste Avoided) and a per-resource breakdown with progress bars for material recovery and waste avoidance rates.

Step-by-Step Guide

  1. Access the Demonstrator
    • Navigate to the demonstrator from the platform landing page
    • Read the Industrial Symbiosis introduction and synergy type descriptions
  2. Start the Demonstration
    • Click the "Start Demonstration" button to reveal the simulation
    • Read the instruction callout explaining the two simulation goals
  3. Select a Supplier and Resource
    • Click a resource button (Raw Materials, Water, or Energy) on any company card
    • Choose a supply source: Standard Source or Industrial Symbiosis
    • Enter the quantity and click "Add to Simulation"
  4. Add More Selections (Optional)
    • Repeat the selection process for other companies to build a multi-actor scenario
    • Mix Standard and IS sources across companies to compare outcomes
  5. Calculate GWP Impact
    • Click "Calculate GWP Impact" to trigger Step 2 and Step 3 results
    • Review the GWP comparison bars and CO₂eq Avoided summary
  6. Review Resource and Material Savings
    • Scroll to Step 3 to see material recovery and waste avoidance per resource
    • Compare Total Resources Recovered and Total Waste Avoided KPIs
  7. Reset and Experiment
    • Click "Reset" to clear all selections and start a new scenario
    • Try switching sources between Standard and IS to see the impact difference

Tips and Best Practices

  • Mix sources deliberately: Select Standard for some companies and IS for others to understand the marginal contribution of each symbiosis relationship to overall carbon and resource savings.
  • Energy has the highest impact: IS energy (residual heat, renewables) produces zero direct GWP versus 0.233 kg CO₂eq/kWh for the EU electricity mix — making it the resource with the greatest carbon saving potential per unit.
  • Raw materials drive large GWP differences: The gap between IS (0.02 kWh/kg) and Standard (3.0 kWh/kg) for raw materials is the largest of the three resource types, reflecting the high energy intensity of virgin material extraction.
  • Transferability: The demonstrator logic applies beyond the five simulated companies — the same principles transfer to eco-design scenarios, advanced manufacturing, and alternative material sourcing.
  • Consider joining the platform: The public demonstrator provides a hands-on simulation experience. Joining the ResC4EU platform gives access to tailored IS opportunity matching and collaboration tools with real industrial partners.

References

    Description of this demonstrator and its open dataset are available through Zenodo, a trusted open-access repository, enabling their reuse in future applications. Developed by CERN and supported by the European research community, Zenodo provides free and long-term access to scientific datasets and research outputs.

  • Description: https://zenodo.org/records/21163921
  • Open Research Dataset: https://zenodo.org/records/21204839