Analysing the governance system for the promotion of industrial symbiosis in the Humber region, UK

Abstract

Government and industry increasingly recognise the need to develop a more circular, resource efficient and bioeconomy that is less dependent on fossil resources. Industrial symbiosis, in this study interpreted as biowaste-to-resource innovation, is a proven strategy to limit carbon emissions whilst increasing resource-efficiency and business growth. However, the effects of governance on the implementation of industrial symbiosis have remained under-explored. Hence this study analysed the governance system for biowaste-to-resource innovation in the Humber region, UK. Key individuals within governmental and associated organisations were interviewed in 2014. The results revealed that, since 2012, public sector cuts and sub-national governance changes resulted in the removal of several organisations from the regional governance network, while capacity within the remaining organisations decreased in terms of connectivity within and between governing organisations, delivered governance activities, and crucial resources including people, money, and knowledge and skills to promote resource innovation. Formal governance to specifically monitor, plan and promote (bio)waste-to-resource innovation is now virtually absent in the Humber region. This study recommends strengthening the governance for biowaste-to-resource innovation by a) increasing integration and flexibility of the regulatory 'landscape' across governmental departments at all governance levels; b) building better connections between national and regional level governmental organisations as well as within the Humber region; and c) investing in knowledge and skills as well as operational capacity of regional governance actors. These recommendations should contribute to restoring the balance between regional capacity and the national ambitions to promote biowaste-to-resource innovation as part of the circular bioeconomy.

Industrial Symbiosis Systems: Promoting Carbon Emission Reduction Activities

“…Industrial symbiosis is a proven strategy to limit carbon emissions whilst increasing resource-efficiency and business growth [58]. Through the cooperation on emission reduction between enterprises in the industrial symbiosis system, the carbon metabolism efficiency of the system can be improved, and more carbon dioxide emissions can be avoided [59].…”

How Organization Models Impact the Governing of Industrial Symbiosis in Public Wastewater Management. An Explorative Study in Sweden

“…Walls and Paquin [47] briefly approach the topic in their article on organization perspectives in IS, suggesting that network or participatory forms of governance may be effective. Velenturf [66] also introduce the topic in her study of the governance system in the Humber region, UK. Focusing on the implementation of resource efficiency policy and regulation, she divides potential governmental activities into strategic or operational categories.…”

Co-Producing a Vision and Approach for the Transition towards a Circular Economy: Perspectives from Government Partners

“…Linked to realigning incentives, regulatory efforts should focus on those who can actually (pay for) change in waste and resource management. For example, local councils carry responsibility for recycling, but austerity measures cause difficulty in achieving obligations (such as those evidenced by NAO and Velenturf [31,32]). Similarly, various energy intensive industries are reaching their boundaries for resource and energy efficiency; hence, sectoral differentiation in policy and regulation may be required to only target sectors where significant improvements are feasible.…”