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Title Looking Forward, Pushing Back And Peering Sideways: Analyzing The Sustainability Of Industrial Symbiosis
ID_Doc 75518
Authors Bansal, P; McKnight, B
Title Looking Forward, Pushing Back And Peering Sideways: Analyzing The Sustainability Of Industrial Symbiosis
Year 2009
Published Journal Of Supply Chain Management, 45, 4
DOI 10.1111/j.1745-493X.2009.03174.x
Abstract This paper compares and contrasts two different forms of interorganizational relationships that deal with the production and movement of waste: industrial symbiosis and supply chains. Industrial symbiosis reuses, recycles and reprocesses byproducts and intermediates within the system of organizations, whereas conventional supply chains reduce waste within manufacturing processes and reuse end-of-life products. Although both these models address waste, there is surprisingly little consideration of industrial symbiosis within supply chain research. Yet, industrial symbiosis has much to offer the study of sustainable development within supply chains. Industrial symbiosis emphasizes community, cooperation and coordination among firms, which serves to protect the environmental integrity, social equity and economic prosperity of the region - all hallmarks of sustainable development. However, such tight integration among a diverse set of organizations is difficult to jump start and difficult to maintain. In this paper, we also outline the challenges and offer some ideas on how to address these challenges. We ground our insights from interviews with firms in the Sarnia-Lambton region of Ontario, Canada. This region is home to over 130,000 people, and has a strong physical infrastructure and social structures that have facilitated symbiotic relationships among local businesses.
Author Keywords supply chain management; sustainability; social responsibility; environmental issues
Index Keywords Index Keywords
Document Type Other
Open Access Open Access
Source Social Science Citation Index (SSCI)
EID WOS:000207983100003
WoS Category Management
Research Area Business & Economics
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