Question 1

What is industrial symbiosis?

Accepted Answer

One of the circular economy models - industrial symbiosis - is a collaborative framework between different companies or industries where the waste or by-products of one company serve as resources for another. For example, sawdust from a furniture manufacturer can be used by a pellet producer, while food production by-products can be utilized for animal feed or biogas production. This is a synergistic relationship aimed at achieving efficient resource utilization and reducing environmental impact.

Question 2

Who is the platform for?

Accepted Answer

Sinergia is designed for manufacturers, scientific institutions, industry experts, as well as the government and public sectors.

Question 3

What is a by-product?

Accepted Answer

By-products are production residues that comply with the conditions of Article 5(1) of EU Directive 2008/98/EC. These conditions, transposed by Paragraph 5 of Cabinet of Ministers Regulation No. 302, stipulate that a byproduct is a substance or object resulting from a production process, the primary aim of which is not the production of that item. Upon fulfilling the criteria specified in the Cabinet regulations, the facility operator classifies the relevant substance or object not as waste, but as a by-product.

Question 4

What is the Industrial Symbiosis Innovation Accelerator?

Accepted Answer

The acceleration program for promoting the development of circular economy innovations in Latvia is designed to improve the competence and capacity of market participants to create innovations and help develop innovative and sustainable solutions for the waste and by-products obtained in the production process.
The objective is to foster cross-industry collaboration to find new applications and create added value for these materials. In practice, this cooperation is known as industrial symbiosis.

The program will form interdisciplinary teams led by the manufacturing companies facing these challenges. They will be joined by SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises), startups, and individuals interested in developing new products.

Question 5

What is the resource market?

Accepted Answer

A catalogue compiling the manufacturing waste and by-products offered and sought by Latvian companies.

Question 6

What is by-product classificator?

Accepted Answer

It is a by-product database (resource classifier) developed based on:
• Research on the "Classification of manufacturing waste within the framework of circular economy and industrial symbiosis"
• An evaluation of international best practices
• An analysis of environmental permits from companies in two Latvian sectors
• Data from the official environmental protection statistical form "3-Atkritumi".

Currently, the database provides valorization classifications for by-products generated in the dairy processing and brewing industries. To ensure the system is clear and easy to navigate, a new by-product coding system has been created.

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