This video produced by The Center for Resilience describes the practice of By-Product Synergy.
Video is also available for download in high resolution
- Click here - (quicktime movie file .mov; 450 MB)
Industrial ecology is an important sustainability strategy. In essence, it suggests that we eliminate waste from industrial systems by mimicking the cyclical flows of natural ecosystems. One useful business practice is by-product synergy (BPS) – converting industrial wastes into economically viable feedstocks. Regional networks of companies can harness this powerful concept by identifying and exploiting underutilized waste streams, thus improving competitiveness, reducing energy demand, and protecting environmental resources. BPS networks are already flourishing in several regions of the U.S., thanks to the efforts of the U.S. Business Council for Sustainable Development (USBCSD).
The Center for Resilience is working to develop advanced industrial ecology tools and to promote progressive industry practices. With funding from the U.S. EPA, the Ohio EPA, and other sources, we have developed a toolkit to support BPS decision-making, including a new network optimization tool called Eco-Flow™. This tool was piloted by the Kansas City BPS network, and has helped to identify millions of dollars in savings, coupled with reductions in solid wastes and greenhouse gas emissions.
We are collaborating closely with private industry, the USBCSD, and other organizations to quantify the benefits of BPS practices, and to support the establishment and expansion of regional BPS networks. The Center for Resilience is involved in exploratory projects to form such networks in Ohio and Texas, as well across the Midwest. Meanwhile, Eco-Flow™is being applied to help both companies and municipalities work toward sustainable materials management.
