Summary: This report explores industrial-urban symbiosis (I-US) as a catalyst for sustainability in European cities, emphasizing circular economy principles and resource efficiency. It addresses nontechnological barriers—regulatory, administrative, economic, and social—that hinder the scaling of systems like wastewater reuse and waste valorisation by showcasing action plans that have been developed by the four EcoSites in Denmark, Spain, Austria and Greece. Key initiatives reported on include recommendations on I-S standardization through CEN/TC 465, advancing CWA 17354:2018, a pre-standard on I-S developed in 2018, by emphasizing specifically local governments’ roles as enablers, regulators, and facilitators. The report underscores the importance of governance models, public-private collaboration, and innovative policy alignment to overcome barriers and foster scalable, sustainable practices in urban-industrial ecosystems.
Keywords: industrial-urban symbiosis; circular economy; resource efficiency; wastewater reuse; waste valorisation; non-technological barriers; governance models; public-private collaboration; local governments; standardisation; CEN/TC 465; CWA 17354:2018; EcoSites; urban-industrial ecosystems.
