From waste to value - exploring industrial symbiosis
Industrial symbiosis is gaining increasing attention as companies around the world search for smarter ways to use energy, water and materials. In Gothenburg, this concept is now being explored as a promising pathway for more resource efficient and resilient business operations.
Across different industries, many companies have surplus flows that are underutilized, such as waste, heat, treated water or other residual flows that might hold value for another actor. Industrial symbiosis is built on a simple idea: connect these flows where possible, so resources can be used multiple times and create greater value along the way.
"Industrial symbiosis isn’t a new concept. Several companies have already been working this way for years by reusing surplus heat, treated water or material by products. What we’re seeing now is a growing interest in scaling these kinds of collaborations", says Investment Adviser Hans Larsson.
The Gothenburg region is now beginning to map and identify these untapped opportunities. Examples include technical water, a form of treated wastewater, which has potential applications such as industrial cooling where infrastructure is partly already in place. This makes it a practical area for companies to explore when considering future operations in the region.
“Many opportunities emerge not through new inventions but through a fresh look at existing flows. This mindset is driving early discussions and pilot ideas among local actors,” Hans Larsson notes.
Opportunities for international companies
Gothenburg is known globally for its strong innovation environment, advanced manufacturing capabilities and thriving mobility, tech and life science sectors.
Industrial symbiosis presents several advantages for companies looking to establish or collaborate in Gothenburg:
- Cost efficiency potential, as shared resource flows may lower expenses related to raw materials, energy or waste management.
- Innovation potential, as collaboration across sectors often leads to unexpected solutions and applications.
- Sustainability advantages, enabling companies to strengthen their environmental performance in line with global regulatory trends.
A region open for collaboration and co-creation
Industrial symbiosis thrives in ecosystems where public actors, academia and companies collaborate. In Gothenburg, this collaboration is already embedded in the business culture, making it easier for newcomers to find partners, test new concepts and scale resource efficient solutions.
The region offers:
- Access to established industrial clusters.
- Opportunities for cross-sector collaboration.
- A sustainability driven local market.
- A business environment designed for piloting and scaling solutions.
By engaging with the region’s growing network of industrial actors, businesses can accelerate their transition toward circular and resource efficient operations.
Gothenburg welcomes companies that want to explore how circular resource flows can strengthen their operations, and how their presence can contribute to shaping the next generation of industrial solutions.