Kalundborg (Denmark) is considered one of the oldest “eco-industrial parks” in the world and the birthplace of the “industrial symbiosis” model. The industrial park (IP) project began in 1960, involving a network of companies exchanging by-products, energy, and resources. 

A pharmaceutical company used surplus heat from a nearby power plant for its heating system, while industrial waste was recycled into raw materials for other processes. This approach reduced waste and cut operating costs for businesses in Kalundborg.

The Händelö eco-industrial park (HEIP) in Norrköping (Sweden) is a typical example of urban industrial symbiosis, where industries and surplus city resources are integrated into a symbiotic system.

Citing the examples, John Campbell from Savills HCMC, said this is a trend for the future industry and a useful reference for Vietnam on its path toward net zero by 2050.

“With hundreds of IPs, a diverse and growing industrial sector, and increasingly sophisticated value chains, Vietnam has great potential to implement the industrial symbiosis model,” he told VietNamNet.

According to Campbell, there are four major benefits of industrial symbiosis.

First, resource efficiency. By sharing resources like energy and materials, IPs can minimize waste and reduce the demand for raw materials, aligning with net zero goals.

Second, cost savings. Businesses lower their operational costs by reducing waste treatment fees and material costs through the use of by-products from other industries within the IP.

Third, environmental impact. The symbiotic model reduces the environmental footprint of industrial activities by cutting waste and emissions.

Fourth, better tenant attraction. This model helps IPs attract multinational corporations rather than losing them to competitors.

With the EVFTA agreement, more European manufacturers are investing in Vietnam, and these companies place a high priority on sustainability. As a result, they are more likely to choose IPs that emphasize circular economy principles.

In a report on promoting industrial symbiosis, the EC pointed out that improving the reuse of raw materials through large-scale industrial symbiosis could save €1.4 billion and generate €1.6 billion in revenue (around VND49,600 billion) across the EU annually.

Modest figures in Vietnam

In Vietnam, Nguyen Thi Xuan Thuy, industrial policy consultant at UNIDO, said that UNIDO was the organization that originally “imported” the eco-industrial park model from Europe to Vietnam. Today, the term “eco-industrial park” has been incorporated into legal documents so that businesses can align their operations with the relevant criteria.

Some domestic IPs are implementing industrial symbiosis. Nam Cau Kien IP (Hai Phong) has developed three industrial symbiosis chains (steel, plastic, and electrical-electronics supporting industries). For example, steel slag and impurities separated from metal scrap are sorted to recover metals. Residual iron is sent back to the steel mill for billet production. The non-metallic steel slag is crushed and screened to recycle into ecoslag artificial stone, used as cement additive.

In Deep C IP (Hai Phong), glass polishing powder generated from the production process is reused for road leveling, significantly reducing glass waste.

In Tra Noc IP (Can Tho), seafood and packaging businesses utilize by-products for animal feed, while treated wastewater is reused in production.

However, the industrial symbiosis model still accounts for a very small proportion of IPs in the country. As of May 2024, out of 299 operational IPs, only about 1-2 percent are undergoing transformation into eco-industrial parks. Yet, no specific data is analyzing the internal industrial symbiosis linkages.

The head of industrial services at Savills HCMC assessed that compared to more mature economies, the industrial symbiosis model in Vietnam is still in a rather early stage.

Savills HCMC assessed that compared to more mature economies, the industrial symbiosis model in Vietnam is still in a rather early stage.

“Developing industrial symbiosis projects requires close collaboration among stakeholders to maximize the use of by-products and resources. In Vietnam, the focus remains on building new IPs with green technologies rather than optimizing symbiotic relationships among existing businesses within current IPs,” Campbell said.

In addition, mechanisms for sharing information about by-products and exchangeable resources among enterprises are still lacking. Vietnam also lacks financial support policies and tax incentives to encourage businesses to adopt the industrial symbiosis model.

The Savills representative suggested that the government should implement policies encouraging cross-industry cooperation, such as tax incentives or subsidies for businesses participating in industrial symbiosis projects.

Nguyen Le