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Governing industrial and urban symbiosis : Internal and external strategies for municipal development

Södergren, Karolina LU and Palm, Jenny LU (2025) In Journal of Environmental Management 384. p.125469-125469
Abstract

Industrial and urban symbiosis (IUS) is an emerging sustainability strategy in which organizations collaborate to optimize resource flows and minimize waste within urban environments. Rooted in circular economy principles, IUS has gained global attention as cities seek innovative solutions to enhance resource efficiency and resilience. However, local authorities play a critical yet underexplored role in governing IUS. While previous studies recognize their importance in initiating and expanding such initiatives, limited research has systematically examined how municipalities balance internal governance with external engagement strategies to manage IUS effectively. This study addresses this gap by analyzing the internal and external... (More)

Industrial and urban symbiosis (IUS) is an emerging sustainability strategy in which organizations collaborate to optimize resource flows and minimize waste within urban environments. Rooted in circular economy principles, IUS has gained global attention as cities seek innovative solutions to enhance resource efficiency and resilience. However, local authorities play a critical yet underexplored role in governing IUS. While previous studies recognize their importance in initiating and expanding such initiatives, limited research has systematically examined how municipalities balance internal governance with external engagement strategies to manage IUS effectively. This study addresses this gap by analyzing the internal and external governing strategies employed by Swedish municipalities with emerging or established IUS initiatives. A survey of 22 municipalities revealed that while IUS is widely prioritized, the level of municipal engagement varies. Findings suggest that broader administrative involvement can strengthen capacity for circular solutions. Internally, self-governing strategies, particularly political anchoring, were key to successful implementation. Externally, municipalities adopted enabling, provision, and partnership strategies, emphasizing coordination and facilitation over legal enforcement. The results provide valuable insights for policymakers and urban planners in and beyond Sweden, offering governance strategies applicable to cities and regions seeking to integrate IUS into their sustainability agendas.

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author
and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
epub
subject
in
Journal of Environmental Management
volume
384
pages
125469 - 125469
publisher
Academic Press
external identifiers
  • scopus:105003375401
  • pmid:40294446
ISSN
0301-4797
DOI
10.1016/j.jenvman.2025.125469
project
Smart symbiosis - collaboration for common resource flows
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
Copyright © 2025 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.
id
6c0e24a6-88c6-4cef-9f8e-16da95e5adcd
date added to LUP
2025-05-02 13:16:47
date last changed
2025-07-26 11:43:26
@article{6c0e24a6-88c6-4cef-9f8e-16da95e5adcd,
  abstract     = {{<p>Industrial and urban symbiosis (IUS) is an emerging sustainability strategy in which organizations collaborate to optimize resource flows and minimize waste within urban environments. Rooted in circular economy principles, IUS has gained global attention as cities seek innovative solutions to enhance resource efficiency and resilience. However, local authorities play a critical yet underexplored role in governing IUS. While previous studies recognize their importance in initiating and expanding such initiatives, limited research has systematically examined how municipalities balance internal governance with external engagement strategies to manage IUS effectively. This study addresses this gap by analyzing the internal and external governing strategies employed by Swedish municipalities with emerging or established IUS initiatives. A survey of 22 municipalities revealed that while IUS is widely prioritized, the level of municipal engagement varies. Findings suggest that broader administrative involvement can strengthen capacity for circular solutions. Internally, self-governing strategies, particularly political anchoring, were key to successful implementation. Externally, municipalities adopted enabling, provision, and partnership strategies, emphasizing coordination and facilitation over legal enforcement. The results provide valuable insights for policymakers and urban planners in and beyond Sweden, offering governance strategies applicable to cities and regions seeking to integrate IUS into their sustainability agendas.</p>}},
  author       = {{Södergren, Karolina and Palm, Jenny}},
  issn         = {{0301-4797}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{04}},
  pages        = {{125469--125469}},
  publisher    = {{Academic Press}},
  series       = {{Journal of Environmental Management}},
  title        = {{Governing industrial and urban symbiosis : Internal and external strategies for municipal development}},
  url          = {{https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/files/218318693/S_dergren_Palm_2025.pdf}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.jenvman.2025.125469}},
  volume       = {{384}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}