The ZeroWIN-project will examine and develop new and innovative approaches and effective strategies for the prevention of waste in industries based on industrial symbiosis. Industrial Symbiosis is concerned with regional collaboration of companies from traditionally separated sectors which exchange by-products, energy, water and materials in such way, that the waste from one industry becomes raw material for another.

Goal

To find innovative approaches and effective strategies for the prevention of waste in industrial network based on industrial symbiosis

1. The development of innovative technologies, waste-prevention methodologies, strategies and system tools (e.g. eco-design, local industrial clusters, and resource exchange) exportable into other European and worldwide contexts shall represent the main focus of this action,
2. The goal is to develop a structured and innovative production model for resource-use optimisation and waste prevention, also taking residues as secondary raw materials, and test it in real cases of sustainable industrial networks.

Results will translate the vision of sustainable development into elements of a sustainable entrepreneurship, focusing at enhancing business opportunities according to a "towards zero waste" approach.

Expected Impacts

The assessment of the life cycle benefits and costs for achieving the main EU environmental resource-related targets (in the context of the industrial networks assessed) will be a measure of the outcomes of this action.

Expected Results

• A decrease of at least 30% of greenhouse gases emissions,
• At least 70% of overall re-use and recycling of waste,
• A reduction of at least 75% of fresh water utilisation.

Target Group

By concentrating on industrial networks in the automotive, construction, electronics and photovoltaic industries ZeroWIN will address

• Nearly 3 million companies (of which 80% are SMEs),
• With more than 2,8 trillion € turnover and a value creation of more than 800 billion €,
• With more than 20 million employees,
• Creating about 40% or more than 400 million tons of industrial waste,
• Using as much as 50% of all materials extracted from the earth´s crust,
• Generating about 40% of all energy use and about 35% of all greenhouse gas emissions.

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