| Issue |
Matériaux & Techniques
Volume 114, Number 1, 2026
Special Issue on ‘Advances in Steel Technologies’, edited by Carlo Mapelli, Silvia Barella and Riccardo Carli
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Article Number | 103 | |
| Number of page(s) | 18 | |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1051/mattech/2026002 | |
| Published online | 24 February 2026 | |
Review
Recent achievements of Industrial Symbiosis in the steel sector based on the Symbio-Steel project: a review
1
Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, TeCIP, ICT-COISP, 56124, Pisa, Italy
2
RINA CONSULTING - Centro Sviluppo Materiali SPA, 00128 Castel Romano, Italy
3
FEhS Institut für Baustoff-Forschung e.V., 47229 Duisburg, Germany
4
Swerim AB, 97125, Lulea, Sweden
5
K1-MET GmbH, 4020 Linz, Austria
6
European Steel Technology Platform ASBL, 1000 Brussels, Belgium
* e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Received:
23
September
2025
Accepted:
29
December
2025
Abstract
Industrial Symbiosis refers to a collaborative approach, including synergies among companies for the transaction of resources, such as materials, energy, water, and by-products, thus resulting in mutual benefits and promoting a Circular Economy approach. Over the past decades, the steel sector was committed to reduce waste production as well as reuse waste and by-products to exploit them as a resource. Significant results in Industrial Symbiosis implementation have been achieved, creating new synergies and networks with other industrial sectors. Nonetheless, a comprehensive analysis of technical and non-technical barriers, that hinder the successful implementation of Industrial Symbiosis within the steel sector, can help implement an integrated and synergic approach encompassing and merging results and experience already achieved. This review paper presents a comprehensive overview of recent studies on the research trends on Industrial Symbiosis, considering drivers and barriers to its implementation, and maps the recent achievements related to the steel sector, by analysing the impact of some significant case studies. For instance, CO2 valorisation in flue gases and steel slags to produce silicates and carbonates via mineral carbonation and CO2 capture, re-use and sequestration by industrial symbiosis activities involving the steel and ammonia/urea industries are presented. The literature review based on selected publications allowed tracing the evolution of Industrial Symbiosis over the last few years. The assessment of main lines for research in Industrial Symbiosis allows identifying the challenges for future research. The analysis of implementation of new technologies can help to create new symbiotic networks and further developments and scenarios for the steel industry in a future characterized by material scarcity, decarbonization, and more stringent environmental legislation.
Key words: Industrial Symbiosis / circular economy / drivers / barriers / steel sector
© V. Colla et al., 2026
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