Abstract: Industrial symbiosis (IS) provides a strategy for more resource-efficient economies,potentially contributing to several SDGs. However, many potentials remain unrea-lised as realisation is given low priority in companies. This paper explores the role ofcompanies that incorporate IS in their core business strategy, termed regenerativebusinesses (RBs). Five cases were followed for four years using a contextualisticapproach. Results suggest that RBs are crucial in IS realisations that go beyond low-hanging fruit, as they engage in ‘pre-realisation development’, motivate others, workpersistently to overcome barriers, and, in some cases, mobilise support from public cham-pions. The paper also proposes that RBs not only engage in local realisations but candiffuse and scale up solutions. As RBs are found to be dependent on contextual con-ditions and, in some cases, collaboration with public actors, support for RBs can be astrategy for the promotion of IS.
Nyström, K., & Mirata, M. (2024). Regenerative businesses’ role in industrial symbiosis realisation. Sustainable Development. https://doi.org/10.1002/sd.3246
