Ecologically sustainable Ecologically sustainable industrial parks: An industrial parks: An

oxymoron?oxymoron?Raymond CoteRaymond Cote

Professor Emeritus Professor Emeritus and Senior Fellowand Senior Fellow

Eco-Efficiency CentreEco-Efficiency CentreDalhousie University, Halifax, CanadaDalhousie University, Halifax, Canada

Presented at University of AlbertaPresented at University of AlbertaSeptember 2010September 2010

Outline of presentationOutline of presentation

Rationale for a new modelRationale for a new model TerminologyTerminology EIP or IS modelsEIP or IS models EIP standardsEIP standards Characteristics of EIPsCharacteristics of EIPs Guidance for planners and designersGuidance for planners and designers ReferencesReferences

““ The world we have created today as a The world we have created today as a

result of our thinking thus far, has result of our thinking thus far, has problems which cannot be solved by problems which cannot be solved by thinking the way we thought when thinking the way we thought when we created them.”we created them.” Albert Einstein Albert Einstein

Why ecological sustainability?– “Over the past 50 years, humans have

changed ecosystems more rapidly and extensively than in any comparable period of time in human history

– This has resulted in a substantial and largely irreversible loss in the diversity of life on Earth

– The changes that have been made to ecosystems have contributed to substantial net gains in human well-being and economic development

– But these gains have been achieved at growing costs that, unless addressed, will substantially diminish the benefits that future generations obtain from ecosystems.”

UN Millenium Ecosystem Assessment

Status of Ecosystem Services

UN Millenium Ecosystem AssessmentUN Millenium Ecosystem Assessment

Our current industrial system

appears to have been designed to: “ put billions of pounds of toxic materials into the air,

water and soil every year, produce materials so dangerous that they will require

constant vigilance from future generations, result in gigantic amounts of waste, put valuable materials in holes all over the planet,

where they cannot be easily retrieved, require thousands of complex regulations – not to

keep people and natural systems safe, but rather to keep them from being poisoned too quickly,

measure productivity by how few people are working, create prosperity by digging up or cutting down

natural resources and then burying or burning them, erode the diversity of species and cultural practices.” McDonough and Braungart,2002

Nature as model Renewable energy is the main source of power for

living systems In natural systems, there is no waste in the sense of

matter that cannot be recycled or absorbed constructively

Concentrated toxic materials are generated and used locally

A major portion of the energy flows in a system are consumed in decomposition processes that make nutrients available

Ecosystems are resilient and relatively stable because of the biodiversity of species organized in complex web of relationships

Each individual of a species in an ecosystem acts independently, yet its activity patterns mesh cooperatively with those of other species

Industrial ecology

The study of the physical, chemical, and biological interactions and interrelationships both within and between industrial and biological systems. National Pollution Prevention Center for Higher Education

Industrial ecology is ecological in that it (1) places human activity -- industry in the very broadest sense -- in the larger context of the biophysical environment from which we obtain resources and into which we place our wastes, and (2) looks to the natural world for models of highly efficient use of resources, energy and byproducts. Journal of Industrial Ecology

TerminologyTerminology

Industrial parksIndustrial parks: ‘a large tract of land, sub-divided, and : ‘a large tract of land, sub-divided, and developed for the use of several firms simultaneously, developed for the use of several firms simultaneously, distinguished by its shareable infrastructure and close proximity of distinguished by its shareable infrastructure and close proximity of firms’ (Peddle 1993).firms’ (Peddle 1993).

Eco-industrial parksEco-industrial parks: : A short form forA short form for ecologically sustainable ecologically sustainable industrial park. In addition to satisfying the definition of an industrial park. In addition to satisfying the definition of an industrial park it is “a community of businesses that cooperate industrial park it is “a community of businesses that cooperate with each other and with the local community to efficiently share with each other and with the local community to efficiently share resources (information, materials, water, energy, infrastructure resources (information, materials, water, energy, infrastructure and local habitat), leading to economic gains, gains in and local habitat), leading to economic gains, gains in environmental quality, and equitable enhancement of human environmental quality, and equitable enhancement of human resources for the business and local community” (PCSD, 1996resources for the business and local community” (PCSD, 1996))

Industrial symbiosisIndustrial symbiosis: : Traditionally separate industries Traditionally separate industries engaged in a collective approach involving physical exchanges of engaged in a collective approach involving physical exchanges of materials, energy, water and/or by-products (Chertow, 2000).materials, energy, water and/or by-products (Chertow, 2000).

By-product synergyBy-product synergy: : A synonym for industrial symbiosisA synonym for industrial symbiosis

EIP models in the literatureEIP models in the literature Kalundborg model – multiple sectors and sizes of Kalundborg model – multiple sectors and sizes of

industries where by-products are exchanged industries where by-products are exchanged ( also sector based)( also sector based)

Burnside model – multiple sectors of SMEs where Burnside model – multiple sectors of SMEs where “scavenger and decomposer” companies cycle “scavenger and decomposer” companies cycle materials, products and by-productsmaterials, products and by-products

Resource recovery model – The emphasis of the Resource recovery model – The emphasis of the park is on recovery and recycling of wastespark is on recovery and recycling of wastes

The Kalundborg modelThe Kalundborg model

The Burnside modelThe Burnside model

The Resource Recovery modelThe Resource Recovery model

Assessment

None of these are EIPs, in my view, as they focus largely on industrial symbiosis.

They incorporate few other ecological functions in their design and operations.

Eco-Industrial Park

Environmental Management Continuum for Industrial Parks

Concentrated industrial and business activity within a defined planning

boundary with

organized infrastructure

A labelling scheme (PALME)

developed in France to

recognize an organized

set of enhanced

environmental practices

and amenities in industrial parks and

zones

Clusters of manufacturers

of environmental

products, providers of

environmental services

and developers

of environmental technologies

Clusters of industries co-located

such that the by-products

of one become the

inputs or materials for

other businesses or industries to minimize waste and

dissipation of resources

Clusters of companies

taking account of ecological limits, using resource-efficient

infrastructure, buildings and processes, networking

purchases and a balance of producers,

scavengers & decomposers

Standard Industrial

Park

Eco-Labeled Industrial Park

Environmental Industrial

Park

Environmentally Balanced

Industrial Clusters (Industrial

Symbiosis)

Eco-Efficient Park

Clusters of companies working to

reduce resource intensity, control

pollution and minimize collective

waste outputs

EIP standards

Port of Cape Charles, VirginiaPort of Cape Charles, Virginia Koenig’s criteria for Thai EIPs Koenig’s criteria for Thai EIPs

(proposed)(proposed) Devens EcoStar criteriaDevens EcoStar criteria Chinese EIP standardChinese EIP standard Oree’s PALME label and guideOree’s PALME label and guide LEED standard for neighborhood LEED standard for neighborhood

developmentsdevelopments

Innovista EIP, Hinton, AlbertaInnovista EIP, Hinton, Alberta PrinciplesPrinciples

– Ecology as central organizing themeEcology as central organizing theme– Community linkagesCommunity linkages– Distributed, renewable energy systemsDistributed, renewable energy systems– Waste as resourceWaste as resource– Strategic collaboration among businessesStrategic collaboration among businesses– Efficient and effective infrastructureEfficient and effective infrastructure– Efficient buildingsEfficient buildings

Integrated ecological design principlesIntegrated ecological design principles Siting and building orientationSiting and building orientation Landscaping using indigenous plantsLandscaping using indigenous plants Energy systems based on renewable sourcesEnergy systems based on renewable sources Water, stormwater and wastewater systems designed for Water, stormwater and wastewater systems designed for

recovery and reuserecovery and reuse Building design and materialsBuilding design and materials Recycling of materialsRecycling of materials

Other Canadian initiatives Fort McMurray TaigaNova EI park, Alberta

(developing) Kaizer Meadows eco-business park,N.S.

(developing) Debert eco-industrial park, N.S.

(transforming) Ross EIP Regina, Sask. (transforming) Pearson eco-business zone, Ont.

(transforming) Ontario East Wood Centre and EIP, Ont.

(developing)

Characteristics of an EIPCharacteristics of an EIPCote and Cohen-Rosenthal (1997) suggested some characteristics for an Cote and Cohen-Rosenthal (1997) suggested some characteristics for an

industrial park operating as an ecosystem: Iindustrial park operating as an ecosystem: I planning with the ecological capacityplanning with the ecological capacity of the area in mind, paying of the area in mind, paying

particular attention to the assimilative capacity of the air, water particular attention to the assimilative capacity of the air, water (surface and ground), and connectivity;(surface and ground), and connectivity;

energy production based increasingly on renewable resourcesenergy production based increasingly on renewable resources, , and at least increase the efficiency of current energy production and and at least increase the efficiency of current energy production and use through cogeneration and district heating;use through cogeneration and district heating;

buildings designed and built to optimize conservationbuildings designed and built to optimize conservation of heat of heat and water while enabling disassembly for reuse, and recycling at the and water while enabling disassembly for reuse, and recycling at the end-of-life;end-of-life;

landscaping using indigenous resourceslandscaping using indigenous resources and designed to support and designed to support building heating and cooling;building heating and cooling;

industries and businesses selected based in part on their compatibility industries and businesses selected based in part on their compatibility for for symbiosis;symbiosis;

management encouraging management encouraging a web of businessesa web of businesses involving not only involving not only producers and consumers, but also scavengers and decomposers to producers and consumers, but also scavengers and decomposers to support cycling of materials;support cycling of materials;

redundancy in materialsredundancy in materials sources built into the structure of the sources built into the structure of the system;system;

water recovered, cleaned and reusedwater recovered, cleaned and reused;; a common a common information management systeminformation management system which would facilitate which would facilitate

networking.networking.

Designing eco-industrial parks: key Designing eco-industrial parks: key strategiesstrategies

An appreciation of and restoration of the area’s An appreciation of and restoration of the area’s ecological functions – ecological functions – ecologyecology

A survey of the nature of companies – A survey of the nature of companies – diversitydiversity A survey of flows of materials and energy and A survey of flows of materials and energy and

generation of by-products– generation of by-products– industrial industrial metabolismmetabolism

Techniques for improving industrial, commercial Techniques for improving industrial, commercial and institutional uses of energy and materials – and institutional uses of energy and materials – resource efficiencyresource efficiency

Techniques for reducing waste disposal–Techniques for reducing waste disposal–recovery, remanufacturing and recyclingrecovery, remanufacturing and recycling

Tools for assessing and using alternative Tools for assessing and using alternative processes, products – processes, products – life cycle analysis and life cycle analysis and design for environmentdesign for environment

Planning and designPlanning and design

The characteristics of an EIP have not yet been The characteristics of an EIP have not yet been agreed upon by all agencies, researchers and agreed upon by all agencies, researchers and developers.developers.

In my view, they require an ecological or systemic In my view, they require an ecological or systemic approach -this means designing an industrial park approach -this means designing an industrial park which does not compromise or result in the loss which does not compromise or result in the loss of ecological services but rather incorporates of ecological services but rather incorporates them into planning and design. them into planning and design.

This is particularly important for This is particularly important for regulating regulating andand supportingsupporting services but could also involve services but could also involve provisioningprovisioning services. services.

Where natural wetlands are not available, build engineered Where natural wetlands are not available, build engineered aquatic ecosystems which use sunlight, bacteria, plants, and other aquatic ecosystems which use sunlight, bacteria, plants, and other aquatic life to break down toxics, concentrate metals and treat aquatic life to break down toxics, concentrate metals and treat organic materialorganic material

Use ground source heat Use ground source heat pumps, solar walls for pumps, solar walls for space heating and install space heating and install small wind turbines for small wind turbines for lighting.lighting.

Collect rainwater and Collect rainwater and snowmelt for fire snowmelt for fire

fighting, irrigating plants, fighting, irrigating plants, flushing toilets and whereflushing toilets and wherepossible, process waterpossible, process water

Develop composting for Develop composting for landscaping resources and landscaping resources and nutrient cyclingnutrient cycling

InfrastructureInfrastructure examples examples

ConclusionsConclusions Identify local champions and get Identify local champions and get

commitment for the long termcommitment for the long term Stakeholders need to be engaged early & Stakeholders need to be engaged early &

throughout the processthroughout the process Use expertise from various disciplines, Use expertise from various disciplines,

especially ecologists and ecological especially ecologists and ecological designersdesigners

Applying ecological thinking to Applying ecological thinking to infrastructure eg water supply, wastewater infrastructure eg water supply, wastewater treatment, energy generation, treatment, energy generation, transportation, solid waste & recyclingtransportation, solid waste & recycling

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Appendix 1Appendix 1Guidance for developing EIPsGuidance for developing EIPs

There is no shortage of guidance documents for the There is no shortage of guidance documents for the development and operation of eco-industrial development and operation of eco-industrial parks. Some are:parks. Some are:

Designing and Operating Industrial Parks as Ecosystems, Designing and Operating Industrial Parks as Ecosystems, Cote et al Canada. 1994.Cote et al Canada. 1994.

Discovering Industrial Ecology: An Executive Briefing and Discovering Industrial Ecology: An Executive Briefing and Sourcebook, Lowe et al. United States. 1997Sourcebook, Lowe et al. United States. 1997

Eco-industrial Park Handbook.for Asian Developing Nations. Eco-industrial Park Handbook.for Asian Developing Nations. Lowe et al.. Asian Development Bank and Indigo Lowe et al.. Asian Development Bank and Indigo Development. 2001.Development. 2001.

Environmental Management for Industrial Estates. Environmental Management for Industrial Estates. Information and training resources UNEP. 2001Information and training resources UNEP. 2001

Planning for sustainable industry development. Roberts,B. Planning for sustainable industry development. Roberts,B. Australian Planning Institute. 2001Australian Planning Institute. 2001

Eco-industrial Strategies: Unleashing Synergy between Eco-industrial Strategies: Unleashing Synergy between Economic Development and the Environment. Cohen-Economic Development and the Environment. Cohen-Rosenthal et al. United States. 2003Rosenthal et al. United States. 2003

Mettre en oeuvre une démarche d’écologie industrielle sur Mettre en oeuvre une démarche d’écologie industrielle sur un parc d’activités.. Oree, France. 2008.un parc d’activités.. Oree, France. 2008.