Screening tool launched

Besides the preferred use of renewable energies, a key characteristic of a green industrial area is cooperation between companies to manage energy and energy-intensive raw materials more efficiently as means to reduce both costs and the overall energy requirements. Under the leadership of Kalundborg Symbiosis, the project consortium therefore elaborated a Screening tool that allows companies to quickly assess their maturity in industrial symbiosis and identify potential circular-economy resource flows.

Industrial symbiosis is typically pursued by resource-intensive companies seeking to reduce waste and decrease their consumption of materials, energy, or water. However, identifying suitable partners and consolidating collaboration requires several key steps, including mapping, screening, matching, and business case development.

In simple terms, five steps are essential. With the development of the screening tool, our focus is on the screening phase, which plays a crucial role in both initiating new partnerships and strengthening existing ones. Effective screening helps generate interest and engagement by addressing the fundamental question, “What’s in it for us?”, thereby tapping into motivation while reducing uncertainty and the fear of missing out.

The screening tool offers a “safe” self-evaluation process, with optional follow-up contact with a symbiosis facilitator. It also provides strong visualisation, reinforcing the principle that seeing is believing. The screening helps to identify domains where investments lead to economic benefits, facilitating the use of the project’s Toolbox that provides an overview of available technologies. Eventually, companies collaborating the seek synergies through industrial symbiosis may opt for certification as a green industrial area.

The Screening Tool should ideally be set up by a local facilitator, that sets up a questionnaire using Microsoft Forms for data capture. Data is then stored using SharePoint Excel, while Power BI is used for data visualisation and reporting. The resulting process is straightforward: a Microsoft Forms questionnaire is sent by email, and a Power BI report is automatically generated based on the data provided by the company representative. The resulting assessment might thereafter be used for targeted consult provided by the local facilitator.

Alternatively, a web-only version may be used by companies independently to assess their available resources, motivation, and readiness. This version of the tool is entirely browser-based and no entered data is stored.

Click here to access the browser-based version of the screening tool: https://greenindustrialareas.github.io/screening-tool/

Technical Setup for facilitators

Facilitators wishing to set up the screening tool in their own IT environment need to deploy SharePoint Excel and Power BI, used for data visualisation. The tool may be downloaded and amended by any interested organisation, especially managers of industrial areas or promoters of economic development (municipalities, regions, chambers of commerce). The download kit, a video tutorial as well as a presentation of the tool can be accessed on the GreenIndustrialAreas project website. Additional support may be requested by contacting Kalundborg Symbiosis.

• Import the screening tool to your own environment (link; requires local installation of Microsoft Forms)
• Watch a video tutorial on YouTube
• Screeningtool_UserGuide