Actor Behaviour and Robustness of Industrial Symbiosis Networks: An Agent-Based Modelling Approach

Kasper Lange,Igor Nikolic,Paulien Herder,Gijsbert Korevaar

doi:10.18564/jasss.4635

Abstract

Industrial Symbiosis Networks (ISNs) consist of firms that exchange residual materials and energy locally, in order to gain economic, environmental and/or social advantages. In practice, ISNs regularly fail when partners leave and the recovery of residual streams ends. Regarding the current societal need for a shift towards sustainability, it is undesirable that ISNs should fail. Failures of ISNs may be caused by actor behaviour that leads to unanticipated economic losses. In this paper, we explore the effect of these behaviours on ISN robustness by using an agent-based model (ABM). The constructed model is based on insights from both literature and participatory modelling in three real-world cases. It simulates the implementation of synergies for local waste exchange and compost production. The Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) was used to model agent behaviour in time-dependent bilateral negotiations and synergy evaluation processes. We explored model behaviour with and without TPB logic across a range of possible TPB input variables. The simulation results show how the modelled planned behaviour affects the cash flow outcomes of the social agents and the robustness of the network. The study contributes to the theoretical development of industrial symbiosis research by providing a quantitative model of all ISN implementation stages, in which various behavioural patterns of entrepreneurs are included. It also contributes to practice by offering insights on how network dynamics and robustness outcomes are not only related to context and ISN design, but also to actor behaviour.

Highlights

This study aims to explore under which conditions, how and to what extent the robustness of Industrial Symbiosis Networks (ISNs) is influenced by actor behaviour during implementation of by-product exchanges in ISNs
This is true for when Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) logic is applied
We described the agents from their specific symbiosis roles, i.e., waste supplier and processor

Summary

Introduction

. Within the context of the circular economy, self-organised Industrial Symbiosis Networks (further abbreviated as ISNs) have gained a lot of interest in science and practice as a means to increase social, environmental and economic sustainability (Ghisellini et al ). . In self-organising industrial symbiosis, companies are the key players determining implementation dynamics (Tao et al ). When costs for individual firms are too high, or their benefits too low, they tend to pull out, resulting in a higher probability for other firms to leave the network. This failure phenomenon has a serious negative impact on survival probabilities of ISNs (Wang et al ; Zeng et al ).

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Discussion

Conclusion