About Us

The International Industrial Symbiosis Alliance (IISA) is a collaborative international alliance for promoting sustainable economic development through the exchange of knowledge and tools. This will help further the transition to a sustainable circular economy through industrial symbiosis (IS) initiatives in various regions of the world. The primary objective is to develop an international, knowledge-sharing network

Background

IISA's member organizations have been cooperating to promote industrial symbiosis projects in their own regions, using the experiences from Kalundborg Symbiosis as a frame of reference, through mutually sharing information on their progress and methodologies to attune their own projects within their particular political, social and economic realities. In October 2023, those partners met in the city of Portland, Oregon (USA) and formed the decision to develop a network of institutions committed to the exchange of knowledge, the promotion of industrial symbiosis, and sharing this knowledge and experience withother governments and organizations with similar interests.

IISA has met monthly in 2024, facilitated by the Center for Sustainable Infrastructure, with a focus on developing developing a shared platform for international IS case studies and storytelling; drafting and signing a formal agreement to collaboratively adapt and promote the advancement of IS in various countries, and creating IS-focused educational events at the G-20 Summit and Green Rio conference in Rio De Janeiro in Fall 2024.

Our Member Orgs

Kalundborg Symbiosis

is a world leader in industrial symbiosis with a circular approach to production and strives to inspire clusters around the world to learn from the more than 50 years of experience of public-private partnership in Kalundborg. Kalundborg Symbiosis is a non-profit association with companies from diverse sectors within industry as dedicated partners in the partnership.

State of Rio De Janeiro

through its State Secretariat of Economic Development, by coordinating efforts with the State Secretariat of Environment and Sustainability and the Executive Office of the State of Rio de Janeiro aims to promote the transition to a circular economy by the implementation of the concept of industrial symbiosis in the industrial districts of the State of Rio de Janeiro, and offer its experience of sustainability and symbiosis as future reference to other fellow regions facing similar challenges in their own territories.

Center for Sustainable Infrastructure

(CSI) in Olympia, Washington brings integrated infrastructure solutions to clean industry challenges in the Pacific Northwest, enabling win-win-win projects that deliver economic, environmental and social benefits. CSI is helping to import industrial symbiosis to the Pacific Northwest by facilitating study tours abroad with bipartisan policy makers. We then work with them back home to adapt the model for our region and support symbiosis projects that strengthen industry while contributing to decarbonization and other community benefits.

City of Portland, Oregon

oversees climate action, land use planning, and waste management for the city of Portland, Oregon. As part of its climate action work, BPS leads the Clean Industry Initiative, a cross-sector effort to reduce carbon emissions, air pollution, and waste while advancing equity and inclusion in Portland's industrial sector. BPS partners with other stakeholders to identify potential projects and build a robust industrial symbiosis ecosystem across Portland.

Washington State Dept. of Commerce

an executive agency of the State of Washington, administers the first statewide Industrial Waste Coordination Program in the United States of America. The law [RCW 43.31.635], initiated in 2021, provides Commerce statutory authority to “provide expertise, technical assistance, and best practices to support local industrial symbiosis projects.” Through this statute, the executive agency now has a Circular Economy Development Unit, within its Office of Economic Development and Competitiveness, poised to assist in building relationships and fostering best practices for the emerging circular economy focused on waste reduction and recycling innovation.

Washington State

Microenterprise Association

(WSMA) strengthens sustainable economic development by lowering the barriers to business ownership and engaging and supporting 150+ nonprofit Entrepreneurial Support Organizations (ESOs) that serve business owners throughout Washington. WSMA’s will bring strategic efforts in three areas: Training and Technical Assistance with and for ESO partners; Grantmaking to ESOs to buttress the delivery of business services to small businesses; and, Resource Coordination through Evergreen BizLink that connects every business with 24/7 access to the ecosystem (nonprofit, public and academic) of business resource partners throughout Washington.

Assoc. of Companies of Santa Cruz Industrial District

(AEDIN), in Rio de Janeiro, is a non-profit association that act as a representative and facilitator of its associated companies and is in charge of coordinating the implementation of the industrial symbiosis among the local companies and their surrounding communities. AEDIN provides support for the companies through the establishment of partnerships with universities research centers, search for credit, dissemination of the knowledge and relationship with public authorities.