Zero waste in industrial networks

The ZeroWIN project will focus on regional collaboration of companies from traditionally separated sectors, which exchange by-products in such a way that the waste from one industry becomes raw material for another.

The five-year project will determine how existing approaches and tools can be improved and combined to best effect in an industrial network, and how innovative technologies can contribute to achieving the zero waste vision.

The specific environmental targets are a 30% reduction of greenhouse gas emissions; 70% overall re-use and recycling of waste; and a75% reduction of fresh water use.

The zero waste approach envisions a second industrial revolution

Ian Williams, Professor of Applied Environmental Science at the University of Southampton, said: “The term ‘zero waste’ is perhaps a bit misleading in that it does not mean that wastes will not arise in society.

“Zero emissions represent a shift from the traditional industrial model, where waste is considered the norm, to integrated systems, where everything has its use. It advocates a transformation, whereby businesses minimise the load they impose on natural resources and learn to do more with what the Earth produces.

“The zero waste approach envisions a ‘second industrial revolution’, with all inputs used in final products or converted into value-added materials or resources for use by other industries or processes.”

The project focuses on two key waste types - high-tech electronics waste and demolition waste.

The ZeroWIN approach is being tested in nine case studies of sustainable industrial networks.

It is being funded by the EC under the 7th Framework Programme, with 31 academic and industrial partners across Europe and Asia.