Centre of Excellence in Cleaner Production Division of Science and Engineering Application of the Cleaner Production Framework to the Development of Regional Synergies in Heavy Industrial Areas: A Case Study of Kwinana (Western Australia) Dick van Beers This thesis is presented for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy of Curtin University of Technology 5 July 2009 Application of the Cleaner Production Framework to the Development of Regional Synergies in Heavy Industrial Areas Statement STATEMENT To the best of my knowledge and belief this thesis contains no material previously published by any other person except where due acknowledgement has been made. This thesis contains no material which has been accepted for the award of any other degree or diploma in any university. Dick van Beers Date: _____________________ Place: _____________________ Doctoral Thesis Dick van Beers Page ii Application of the Cleaner Production Framework to the Development of Regional Synergies in Heavy Industrial Areas Acknowledgements ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This PhD research was conducted within the framework of the project ‘Capturing Regional Synergies in the Kwinana Industrial Area’ commissioned by the Centre for Sustainable Resource Processing (CSRP). The project was conducted at Curtin University of Technology (a core participant of CSRP) through its Centre of Excellence in Cleaner Production (CECP) in close collaboration with the Kwinana Industries Council (an associate participant of CSRP). The CSRP is established and supported under the Australian Commonwealth Cooperative Research Centres Program. I wish to acknowledge the support and valuable input from the PhD supervisors Dr. Benjamin Mullins, Adjunct Professor Chris Lund, and Dr. Karin Schianetz. Also acknowledgements to my colleagues at the Centre of Excellence in Cleaner Production at Curtin for their feedback and advice: Mrs. Albena Bossilkov, Dr. Wahidul Biswas, and Dr. Michele John. The Kwinana Industries Council (in particular Mr. Chris Oughton and members of the Eco-Efficiency Committee) and industry representatives (Dr. David Cooling, Mr. Cameron Schuster, and Dr. Rod Lukatelich) are thanked for their ongoing feedback and input to the research. Also acknowledgements to all member companies of the Kwinana Industries Council for their participation, data provision and positive response to the project. I thank the team at the Centre for Sustainable Resource Processing for their kind support and providing me with the opportunity to conduct research on this most interesting topic. Special acknowledgements to Dr. Rene van Berkel for his excellent guidance and support to the research outlined in this thesis. Last, but definitely not least, I want to thank my wife Elles and my parents for their understanding, personal support and always being there for me. A million thanks to our daughter Emma for her laughter and joy, and showing me what is really important in life. We very much look forward to the arrival of your little brother or sister in October. This thesis got completed just in time! Doctoral Thesis Dick van Beers Page iii Application of the Cleaner Production Framework to the Development of Regional Synergies in Heavy Industrial Areas Acknowledgements ABSTRACT The aim of the PhD research is to examine the effectiveness of drawing common elements of regional synergy development into an overall framework, generally used for the implementation of cleaner production, to assist industries in heavy industrial areas with the further development of regional synergy opportunities. The literature review revealed an absence of practical methodologies to support industry with the development of promising synergy opportunities. An assessment of existing synergies in the case-study region (the Kwinana Industrial Area) has confirmed the close collaboration and integration which already exists in the region. These existing synergies provide a range of sustainability benefits. The research resulted in customised methodologies to assist in the advancement of regional synergies, focussed on the priority themes of: inorganic by-products, water, and energy. The trial application of the methodologies demonstrated their effectiveness in delivering valuable outcomes for the stakeholders involved (e.g. feasible synergy opportunities for industry uptake). Overall, the cleaner production framework is not a driver for synergy development perse, but rather should be regarded as a flexible framework to advance synergy development – targeted towards specific local research needs. Strengths of the novel methodologies include added-value to stakeholders, stakeholder participation, transparency and flexibility. The principal weakness concerned the time investment to apply the methodologies. However, it is anticipated that the trialled methodologies could be performed in other regions in a significantly shorter time period (by learning from the experiences here). A set of parameters must be understood before applying the customised methodologies in industrial regions elsewhere in the world. These include: distances between industries, number and diversity of industries, industry interest, industry champions, presence and functioning of an industry organisation, relevant regulations, community support, availability of know-how and expertise, funding, and corporate culture. Doctoral Thesis Dick van Beers Page iv Application of the Cleaner Production Framework to the Development of Regional Synergies in Heavy Industrial Areas Acknowledgements AUTHOR’S JOURNAL PUBLICATIONS ARISING FROM THIS WORK Journal Publication Relevant Chapter Van Beers, D., G. Corder, A. Bossilkov, and R. Van Berkel. Chapters 2007. Regional Synergies in the Australian Minerals Industry: 2, 3, 4, and 5 Case-Studies and Enabling Tools. Minerals Engineering 20(9): 830-841.1 Van Beers, D., G. Corder, A. Bossilkov, and R. Van Berkel. Chapter 4 2007. Industrial Symbiosis in the Australian Minerals Industry: The Cases of Kwinana and Gladstone. Journal of Industrial Ecology 11(1): 55-72. Van Beers, D., A. Bossilkov, and C. Lund. 2009. Progressing Chapter 6 the Reuse of Inorganic By-Products: The Case of Kwinana, Western Australia. Resources, Conservation and Recycling 53 (7): 365-378. Van Beers, D., A. Bossilkov, and R. Van Berkel. 2008. A Chapter 7 Regional Approach Using Synergy to Advance Sustainable Water Use: A Case Study Using Kwinana (Western Australia). Australasian Journal of Environmental Management 15 (September): 149-158. Van Beers, D. and W. Biswas. 2008. A Regional Synergy Chapter 8 Approach to Energy Recovery: The Case of the Kwinana Industrial Area, Western Australia. Energy Conversion and Management 49: 3051-3062. 1 Journal paper arising from conference paper presented at Material, Minerals, and Metal Ecology Conference (MMME), 2006, South Africa. Doctoral Thesis Dick van Beers Page v Application of the Cleaner Production Framework to the Development of Regional Synergies in Heavy Industrial Areas Acknowledgements AUTHOR’S CONFERENCE PUBLICATIONS RELEVANT TO THESIS Conference Publication (Listed in Chronological Order) Relevant Chapter Van Beers, D., C. Oughton, and D. Cooling. 2007. Update on Chapters Regional Synergy Development in the Kwinana Industrial 2, 4, 6, 7, and 8 Area. International Conference on Engineering Sustainability, 31 October – 2 November, Perth, WA, Australia. Van Beers, D. and R. Van Berkel. 2007. Collaborative Chapters Industry Research to Develop Regional Synergies: 4, 6, 7, and 8 Experiences and Lessons from Kwinana (Western Australia). 4th International Conference of the International Society for Industrial Ecology, 17-20 June, Toronto, Canada. Van Beers, D., Corder, G.D., Bossilkov, A., Van Berkel, R. Chapter 7 2006. Enhancing Water Efficiency Through Regional Cooperation – The Case of Kwinana. Water in Mining Conference, 14-16 November, Brisbane, QLD, Australia. Van Beers, D., G. Corder, A. Bossilkov, and R. Van Berkel. Chapters 2006. Regional Synergies in the Australian Minerals Industry: 2, 4, 6, 7, and 8 Case-Studies and Enabling Tools. Material, Minerals, and Metal Ecology Conference (MMME), 14-15 November, Cape Town, South Africa. Swetman, T.E., D. Cooling, and D. Van Beers. 2006. Chapters Regional Synergies in the Kwinana Industrial Area: Lessons 4, 6, 7, and 8 Learnt and the Way Forward. Waste and Recycling Conference, 19-22 September, Fremantle, WA, Australia. Doctoral Thesis Dick van Beers Page vi Application of the Cleaner Production Framework to the Development of Regional Synergies in Heavy Industrial Areas List of Thesis Conference Publications Conference Publication (Listed in Chronological Order) Relevant Chapter Corder, G.D., D. Van Beers, J. Lay, and R. Van Berkel. 2006. Chapters Benefits and Success Factors of Regional Resource Synergies 4, 6, 7, and 8 in Gladstone and Kwinana. Green Processing Conference, 5-6 June, Newcastle, NSW, Australia. Van Beers, D. and R. Van Berkel. 2006. Regional Synergy Chapters Implementation and Research in Australia: the Case of 2, 4, 6, 7, and 8 Kwinana. 2nd Asia-Pacific Eco-Business Forum in Kawasaki - Urban and Industrial Symbiosis, 23-25 January, Kawasaki, Japan. Van Berkel, R., D. Van Beers, and A. Bossilkov. 2005. Chapter 6 Regional Resource Synergies for Sustainable Development: The Case of Kwinana. Materials and Testing 2005 Conference, 30 October - 2 November, Fremantle, WA, Australia. Van Beers, D., R. Van Berkel, and A. Bossilkov. 2005. Chapters Update on Industrial Symbiosis in the Kwinana Industrial 4, 6, 7, and 8 Area. 2nd Conference of the International