Circular economy and industrial symbiosis as tools for sustainable resource management

Abstract

The concepts of sustainable resource management and environmental sustainability have become key topics in corporate management recently. Companies tend to build ambitious resource-optimization goals in their strategies, pursuing efficiency and acting towards the preservation of the natural environment at the same time. The focus of our article is to demonstrate that significant economic and environmental benefits can be achieved through the symbiosis of industries, while also a number of barriers can be identified at the micro, meso, and macro levels. In alleviating a significant part of the problems, the so-called facilitators can play a key role. These supportive organizations can be of great help in shaping and managing symbioses through exploring possible opportunities for cooperation, building information platforms, and managing them effectively.