Eco-industrial parks: Technologies and procedures for low environmental impacts

Abstract

Negative environmental impacts related to the production system entail the rethinking of existing industrial areas and its organizational and technical requirements. An eco-industrial area is a new organization of the production site that aims to facilitate companies to achieve their environmental objectives. The model of this area is based on the assumption that infrastructures and services are present in the industrial site and managed so to create business development, reducing environmental impact. This new concept of industrial area, characterized by organizational and technical requirements aiming at minimizing the environmental impacts, arises from the need to replace the so-called end-of-pipe approach with the principle of prevention one, therefore removing, as much as possible, pollutants from the production cycle. An ever increasing number of countries are regulating new and existing industrial areas, through specific standards that provide measures and actions taking into consideration the ecological aspects. The production model of ecological industrial areas is based on the principle of low environmental impact, assured through planning of infrastructures, services and production cycles resulting in territory and companies' development, while preventing and controlling environmental pollution. This paper focuses on the importance of technological innovation. In particular it aims at defining the performance of industrial areas and at contributing to the definition of specific environmental factors monitoring: the greenhouse effect, CO2 emissions, the presence of toxic elements, the consumption of non renewable resources (energy and materials), the exploitation of natural resources, the depletion of biodiversity, soil contamination, water and air pollution, as well as noise and electromagnetic pollution. This paper highlights the critical aspects and considers the objectives to be achieved for attending the "best situation". The analysis of the critical factors of the industrial area should correspond to their ranking in terms of dimensions and of coping with their conscious choices. Some best practices are described as reference. The aim is to propose low environmental impact industrial areas, including the transformation of existing ones, highlighting the importance of a sustainable integrated management in relation to the urban or suburban area they are in. © 2011 WIT Press.