Generalized Framework for the Design of Eco-Industrial Parks: Case Study of End-Of-Life Vehicles
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sustainability Article Generalized Framework for the Design of Eco-Industrial Parks: Case Study of End-of-Life Vehicles Shimaa Al-Quradaghi 1,2, Qipeng P. Zheng 2 and Ali Elkamel 3,* 1 Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Qatar University, Doha P.O. Box 2713, Qatar; [email protected] 2 Department of Industrial Engineering and Management Systems, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL 32816, USA; [email protected] 3 Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada * Correspondence: [email protected]; Tel.: +1-519-888-4567 Received: 5 July 2020; Accepted: 11 August 2020; Published: 15 August 2020 Abstract: Eco-industrial parks (EIPs) are promoting a shift from the traditional linear model to the circular model, where industrial symbiosis plays an important role in encouraging the exchange of materials, energy, and waste. This paper proposes a generalized framework to design eco-industrial parks, and illustrates it with regard to the end-of-life vehicle problem (ELV). An eco-industrial park for end-of-life vehicles (EIP-4-ELVs) creates synergy in the network that leverages waste reduction and efficiently uses resources. The performance of the proposed framework is investigated along with the interactions between nodes. The proposed framework consists of five steps: (1) finding motivation for EIP, (2) identifying all entities with industrial symbiosis, (3) pinpointing the anchor entity, (4) determining industrial symbiosis between at least three entities and two exchange flows, and (5) defining exchange-flow types. The two last steps are connected by a feedback loop to allow future exchange flows. The proposed framework serves as a guideline for decision makers during the first stages of developing EIPs. Furthermore, the framework can be linked to car-design software to predict the recyclability of vehicle components and aid in manufacturing vehicles optimized for recycling. Keywords: eco-industrial park (EIP); end-of-life vehicles (ELVs); industrial symbiosis (IS); design framework; sustainability; process optimization 1. Introduction An industrial ecosystem optimizes the consumption of energy and materials, and minimizes the generation of waste [1]. The study of industrial systems that operate like natural ecosystems is called industrial ecology, in which the natural ecosystem generates waste from one organism to be the resource for another [2]. Similar to the natural ecosystem, the industrial ecosystem capitalizes on the exchanges of one firm’s waste to be another firm’s resource. Industrial symbiosis is a subset of industrial ecology and has a particular focus on material and energy exchanges [3]. Eco-industrial parks develop when industrial symbiosis occurs between firms; the interactions include exchanges of material and energy. Eco-industrial parks (EIPs) promote a shift from the traditional linear model to the circular model. They are considered a community of businesses that reduce the global impact by sharing resources like materials, energy, and water to reduce waste and pollution, and increase economic gains [4]. The interactions in the community improve the environmental performance of the industrial network. EIP is promoting a shift from the traditional linear model of “raw material to industry to Sustainability 2020, 12, 6612; doi:10.3390/su12166612 www.mdpi.com/journal/sustainability Sustainability 2019, 11, x FOR PEER REVIEW 2 of 16 industry to waste” to a closed-loop model of “raw material to industry A to waste to raw material to industry B”. Considering the global strategy, cities are considered at macro level, and single industry at the micro level, and in between, there is the meso level where EIPs exist. EIPs not only exchange waste heat, steam, bio-waste, and industrial waste but also knowledge, material, and energy. The circular process that is built within EIP connects the entities and results in minimum effect on the environment. Hence, solving environmental problems using an EIPs approach is one effective Sustainability 2020, 12, 6612 2 of 17 strategy of waste management that limits pollution impacts on the environment. In this way, EIPs can be implemented within industrial districts to encourage eco-design practices and the transition towaste” circular to a closed-loopbusiness models model that of “raw are materialmore sustainable to industry inA nature. to waste This to rawwill material also improve to industry the efficienciesB”. 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While components researchers tolike achieve [17–25 maximal] a general benefits framework economically, for EIPs, otherenvironmentally, researchers, andlike socially.[7,26,27] However,proposed asmore indicated specific in frameworks the report, thefor Internationalsolving a special Framework-case issue. for TheEIPs reviewed provides articles only strategic are presented details forin the EIP next requirements sections in and chronological does not translate order in them each to theme. existing EIPs. Figure 1. International Framework for Eco-Industrial Parks. The International Framework for Eco-Industrial Parks created by UNIDO, GIZ, and WBG is not the only initiative to provide essential elements for forming EIPs. Several studies in the literature proposed frameworks for EIPs from different views. There are two common themes for these frameworks, general and special-case. While researchers like [17–25] a general framework for EIPs, other researchers,