Symbiosis means co-existence between diverse organisms in which each may benefit from the other. In this context, the term is applied about the industrial co-operation taking place in Kalundborg between a number of companies and Kalundborg Municipality, all of which exploit each otherís residual or by-products mutually.
The Symbiosis co-operation has developed spontaneously over a number of decades and today comprises some 20 projects. The exchange of residual products between the companies is laid out in the diagram.
- All projects are environmentally and financially sustainable.
The Symbiosis are still in development with new projects and initiatives between the member companies and the society. New member is going to be signed in in 2009 - meaning new processes and new potential symbiosis projects. The Symbiosis Institute are also supporting other industrial districts in Denmark and internationally in their effort to initiate symbiosis activities.
The overall goal of the Industrial Symbiosis in Kalundborg is to improve the environmental standard through efficiency, further development and information exchange of utilisation of bi-products in industry. Trough these actions will enterprises minimise the utilisation of energy, water and natural raw materials.
Networking The Industrial Symbiosis of Kalundborg is built as a network co-operation between the seven companies and the Municipality of Kalundborg technical departments.
The philosophy behind the Symbiosis is that the seven companies: DONG Energy Asnæs Power Station, the plasterboard factory Gyproc A/S, the pharmaceutical plant Novo Nordisk A/S, the enzyme producer Novozymes A/S, the oil refinery Statoil A/S, RGS 90 A/S as well as the waste company Kara/Noveren I/S and Kalundborg Municipality - exploit each other's residual or by-products on a commercial basis.
One company's by-product becomes an important resource to one or several of the other companies. The outcome is reduced consumption of resources and a significant reduction in environmental strain.
The collaborating partners also benefit financially from the co-operation because the individual agreement within the Symbiosis is based on commercial principles.
