Industrial symbiosis as a sustainable development model and industrial symbiosis applications in SMEs

Through centuries people think that the natural resources are endless. Thus, for the centuries, even after industrial revolution the main paradigm of industry was more production. The idea was started to discussed when the economic development and growth destroy the natural resources and the environment. When the destruction of the environment and the natural resources has begun to effect the daily life, people try to find the new methods of production. Industrial symbiosis which is one of these methods is a tool for sustainable development and aims to meet human needs while preserving the natural resources. This method has been started to be applied as a production strategy which focusing on the environment and has been accepted by many countries as a national strategy in many of these countries. Industrial symbiosis applications do not only focusing on the environment but also aiming the efficient use of natural resources, observed to decrease the operation costs and to increase the competitiveness of the enterprises. The aim of this thesis is to examine the subject of industrial symbiosis, which is a new concept in Turkey, with successful examples from the world and to present suggestions on the application methods of industrial symbiosis in SMEs. For this purpose, first of all, the approach to sustainable development has been examined with historical development at the conceptual level, and studies on sustainable development in the world, in EU countries and in Turkey have been mentioned. Theoretical information about industrial symbiosis applications as a tool for Sustainable Development is given through the literature survey and successful examples of industrial symbiosis applications are taken under consideration. Examples of these successful practices are analyzed at sectoral and managerial levels and recommendations for potential practices in SMEs are given.