Case Study - Kawerau Industrial Symbiosis Project – New Zealand

The Shaper Group have been engaged by the New Zealand Department of Trade and Enterprise to advance the application of industrial symbiosis as a tool and process to attract international investment to New Zealand in the area of advanced manufacturing, clean technology and renewable energy. We have applied our sustainability business case and industrial symbiosis methodologies to identify areas of existing natural and social capital in various regions that would have international competitive advantages. In particular we have applied a high level of stakeholder engagement that has identified at least 19 new business opportunities in the Kawerau region. This project continues as we move now into a deeper analysis of the opportunities including investment requirements and job creation. The activities conducted to date include:

• Developed a background briefing paper on Industrial Symbiosis which included global best practices
• Development of strategic framework and vision for application of Industrial Symbiosis in New Zealand
• Engagement with key stakeholders including facilitation of community meetings and discussions with all key project stakeholders
• Development of findings report and symbiosis flow maps
• Presentation of findings