West Midlands region at forefront of industrial ecological thinking

November 2006

Three-and-a-half years ago when I started with NISP (National Industrial Symbiosis Programme) we were a small team working on an embryonic initiative. I was brought on board to develop the West Midlands regional programme and help distinguish NISP West Midlands from other regions. We all knew at an early stage that this initiative had the potential to be at the forefront of industrial ecological thinking and practice worldwide.

NISP helps companies improve management of their resources in a way that cuts costs, generates new sales and reduces industrial impact on the environment. Using the principles of industrial symbiosis to achieve an environmentally sustainable economy, NISP has now achieved impressive industry results, with its 5000 plus members saving more than £145 million in the last 15 months alone.

NISP West Midlands is one of the most mature of the NISP regions and has been operating since September 2003. The region currently has more than 600 members.

In August 2006 we visited America to help set up an industrial symbiosis programme in Chicago.

I was struck by how similar the industrial make-up of Illinois and the West Midlands actually are. Auto manufacturing, paper mills and recyclers feature heavily, with some metal works and lots of food and drink companies – so I felt right at home! Also, how beautiful ‘downtown’ Chicago is; apparently it has latterly been modelled on Paris, so lots of parks and open spaces, very scenic and incredibly clean and shiny.

We worked intensively for two days with the team from the Chicago Manufacturing Centre to equip them with as much useful insight, information, experience and ideas as they might need to put down the necessary roots for their own regional network.

One of the real challenges was the difference in our regulatory and economic climate. There is less Governmental pressure on business and industry in the US to scrutinise their processes in the way NISP encourages the UK industry to. This makes engagement with business a lot tougher – businesses have to link up and share resources to benefit one another and make NISP work.

It is impossible within two days to convey every single nuance and detail that work in concert to make NISP such a success in the UK, but we were able to identify a common ground and kick-start a longer term co-operative process to make it a success. The fact that the industrial composition is so similar meant we could hand over some virtually ready-made synergies.

The trip has given the Chicago team a terrific boost in its bid to create what will arguably be the largest US-based industrial symbiosis network, and one of the largest outside the UK.

It’s still early days, but we have been in contact since returning with advice, ideas and suggestions and will continue to act in an advisory capacity as it moves forward. Who knows, this might even pave the way for further US projects and possibly even create new business links between both countries. In time we’d like to think we can share best practice and perhaps adopt some successful ideas from the US experience to the UK.

For further information please contact Claire Brown at Seal Communications on 01743 234 224