ECO-INDUSTRIAL PARKS: 7 EXAMPLES OF SUSTAINABLE INDUSTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS IN ITALY AND AROUND THE WORLD

Sharing, synergy and collaboration are key words to make sustainability and circular economy feasible. Eco-industrial parks are inspired by these values. Together with the World Bank and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) promotes the creation of eco-industrial parks in different continents, in line with Goal 9 of the 2030 Agenda: “Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation”.

WHAT ARE ECO-INDUSTRIAL PARKS (EIPS)?

An eco-industrial park is a business park linked to the green and circular economy, that is, a community of companies, located in a common area, that try to obtain better environmental, economic and social performance. To this end, they not only establish practices of mutual collaboration in the management of resources - such as energy, water, by-products, information and infrastructures - but they also strive to involve local institutions and communities in an attempt to reduce waste, pollution and environmental impact.
Unlike traditional industrial parks, EIPs adopt sustainable practices, use renewable energy and implement innovative technologies to support low-carbon industrial development.

Examples of circular economy and green economy business parks, of different sizes, types and inspirations, can be found all over the world: here are seven (plus one under construction).
 

PROGETTO MANIFATTURA, ITALY

Progetto Manifattura is the technology park of Trentino Sviluppo dedicated to green innovation: located in Rovereto (Trento), in the facilities of the former Manifattura Tabacchi (tobacco factory), it dates back to the time of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, but it has been renovated to offer suitable spaces and tools.
Certified by the Ministry of Enterprise and of Made in Italy, it is a center for development and creativity and it brings together numerous organizations active in various sectors: circular economy, intelligent building, sustainable mobility, clean energy, sports industry and quality of life. Different realities coexist in a virtuous way, such as innovative startups, small and medium enterprises, large industrial groups, universities (Faculty of Motor Sciences of the University of Trento and University of Verona) and research centers (CIMEC, COSBI, CERISM).

In recent years, the available space has increased thanks to Be Factory, a low carbon production complex designed by architect Kengo Kuma. The hub stands out for its high energy performance, high comfort and low environmental impact, thanks to the use of wood, glass, curtain walls, optic fiber and one of the largest green roofs in Europe.
>> Progetto manifattura
 

ENVIRONMENT PARK, ITALY

Located just outside Turin, Environment Park is a technology hub dedicated to sustainable innovation and development of green technologies. Established at the end of the 90s, it covers an area of 30,000 square meters and hosts about 70 companies and various research labs. It stands out for its eco-friendly architecture, since it includes numerous green building solutions: green roofs and walls, rainwater recovery, radiant ceiling and floor systems, photovoltaic solar panels, electric vehicle charging stations, rooftop beehives and even an hydroelectric power plant. A campus in harmony with the territory that offers services open to all, such as catering, common green areas, and networking spaces. Moreover, it also plays a key role in training and dissemination, through events, workshops, and acceleration programs for startups and businesses.
>> environment park
 

PARK 20|20, NETHERLANDS

Park 20|20  is located in Hoofddorp, in the municipality of Haarlemmermeer, near Amsterdam and Schiphol Airport: a strategic location, easily accessible and well connected to other important Dutch cities. This is why it is a popular location for many international companies.

It presents itself as a “work environment inspired by the Cradle to Cradle (C2C) model”, which indicates a circular approach to design and production. Beside the workspaces, it offers additional facilities that promote a work-life balance, including a hotel, restaurant, sports facilities and childcare facilities.

It is equipped with a wastewater reuse system, solar panels to produce energy sustainably, urban gardens to grow organic produce, and parking lots with charging stations for electric vehicles. The buildings have glass halls, many windows to favour natural light, and innovative acoustic technologies to make the work environment more pleasant.
>> park 20|20
 

KALUNDBORG SYMBIOSIS, DENMARK

Conceived in 1972, Kalundborg Symbiosis is located in Kalundborg, in the region of Zealand, about a hundred kilometers from Copenhagen. It is the world's first example of “industrial symbiosis”: a circular ecosystem where 17 public and private companies collaborate, exchanging resources such as steam, cooling water and waste materials.

The basic principle is that the waste flows in one company become resource flows for the others, benefiting both the environment and the economy. Each year, this system allows the partner companies to save 4 million cubic meters of groundwater, thanks to the use of surface water, and 586,000 tons of CO₂. This adds up to the fact that 62,000 tons of recycled waste materials are used.

The Kalundborg Symbiosis model is a global benchmark for the circular economy, since contributes to the economic growth of the local community and the transition to a low-carbon industry.
>> kalundborg symbiosis
 

HÄNDELÖ ECO-INDUSTRIAL PARK, SWEDEN

The Händelö Eco-Industrial Park, near Norrköping in eastern Sweden, is based entirely on the bioeconomy and on harnessing synergies between energy companies and the processing industry. To this end, a group of companies use each other's by-products and waste products as raw materials, also collaborating with institutions, universities and local communities.

To illustrate in concrete terms: waste, wood chips and wood scraps from homes and businesses in the municipality of Norrköping are used in the cogeneration plant of the eco-industrial park, which provides electricity and district heating to the city. The residual steam of the cogeneration plant is sent to the biorefinery, where fuel ethanol, animal feed (using food waste) and carbon dioxide are produced: the latter is converted into carbonic acid, useful for the food industry, while the by-products from the production of ethanol and animal feed are converted into biogas and fertilizer.
>> händelö eco-industrial park
 

BERRECHID ECOPARC, MOROCCO

The Berrechid Industrial Ecopark, located in the homonymous province in the municipality of Sidi El Mekki, is an innovative project in the African industrial landscape, the first on the continent to obtain HQE Aménagement certification. Extending over 61 hectares, it can accommodate up to 192 companies, offering both building land plots and ready-to-use buildings with high-quality infrastructure at competitive costs.

Strategically located along the regional road RR318, it has excellent connections to the national road network, facilitating access to the main urban centers and ports. UNIDO collaborated on the project to promote sustainable industrial practices by supporting the French Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Morocco in the implementation of environmental assessments. Berrechid Ecoparc currently hosts companies from various sectors: automotive, food processing, chemical, electronics, renewable energy and textiles.
>> Berrechid Ecoparc
 

CLEANTECH PARK, SINGAPORE

CleanTech Park is a cutting-edge industrial center, part of the Jurong Innovation District and located next to Nanyang Technological University: it is the first eco-business park in Singapore, built by JTC Corporation to promote research and development in the clean technology sector.
It covers 50 hectares of land that host three different buildings: JTC CleanTech One, JTC CleanTech Two and JTC CleanTech Three. All of them are characterized by a focus on sustainability: bio-architecture, low-consumption LED lighting, solar panels and intelligent energy management systems.
>> cleantech park
 

ŠABAC GREENFIELD ECO-INDUSTRIAL PARK, SERBIA

Šabac Greenfield Eco-Industrial Park is a newly conceived industrial park, designed to incorporate the principles of sustainability from the outset: it will be the first eco-industrial park in the Western Balkans, a pioneering initiative that should accelerate the sustainable industrial development of the region. It will be built in Šabac, which already hosts one of the largest industrial areas in the region, covering 600 hectares, and it is expected to be operational by 2028.

Its construction is part of a larger program, funded by the EU through the Western Balkans Investment Framework, which includes a total of five pilot projects. The second planned park will be MIND Park Brownfield Eco-Industrial Park: this business park will result from the renovation of an existing structure. This project how it is possible to adopt sustainable practices even starting from an old-fashioned industrial area, as shown already by other successful examples in Europe and worldwide.

An article by Emanuele Bompan

This blog is an editorial project developed by Ecomondo in collaboration with Renewable Matter.