Public actors and their diverse roles in eco-industrial parks: A multiple-case study

Jarmo Uusikartano; Hannele Väyrynen; Leena Aarikka-Stenroos

doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2021.126463

Public actors and their diverse roles in eco-industrial parks: A multiple-case study

Jarmo Uusikartano^*
, Hannele Väyrynen
, Leena Aarikka-Stenroos

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Scientific › peer-review

24 Citations (Scopus)

35 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

The roles of public actors in promoting the industrial circular economy is uncharted, despite sustainable actions often resulting from collaboration between these actors and private actors. This study therefore illuminated (1) what roles public actors take on in the operation of an eco-industrial park (EIP) and (2) how these roles occur within the actor structure of an EIP? Correspondingly, the research conducted two qualitative case studies on EIPs where public entities are essential actors and analyzed these public spaces via the qualitative content analysis of primary and secondary data. Study 1 extensively analyzed 20 EIP cases around the world. The analysis uncovered six roles played by public actors in EIPs: operator, organizer, financer, supporter, policymaker, and regulator. Study 2 involved a longitudinal exploration of four national EIP cases, an examination of identified roles, and an ecosystem visualization mapping of what positions public actors can assume in an EIP. The research contributes to the literature primarily through the identification of roles, which show how public actor involvement in EIPs can be multifaceted and crucial in successfully operating an EIP. The research also offers new insights and a model of public actor roles in EIPs, serving as a tool for these actors to self-reflect and understand the functions that they can serve in aiming for sustainable EIP operations.

Original language	English
Article number	126463
Number of pages	10
Journal	Journal of Cleaner Production
Volume	296
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2021.126463
Publication status	Published - 10 May 2021
Publication type	A1 Journal article-refereed

Funding

The financer is responsible for the public financing applied to the EIP. The instruments include indirect financial incentives as well as direct economic support for the park members. The financer can offer the park members beneficial energy prices and infrastructure (C4) or even services free of charge (C11) to promote sustainability goals. Direct funding instruments include financial support toward voluntary sustainability actions (C8; C12), financing for sustainability projects (C11), and covering the operation costs of the park (C1). This work was supported by the European Regional Development Fund through the projects entitled “Future circular economy hubs in Finland” (CircHubs) (grant ID A72829 ) and “Utilization of side streams and masses of soil in the cities” (CircVol) (grant ID A74186 ) and by the Strategic Research Council, Academy of Finland , through the project entitled “Circular Economy Catalysts: From Innovation to Business Ecosystems” (CICAT2025) (grant ID 320194 ).

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy
SDG 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth
SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production
SDG 13 Climate Action

Keywords

Circular economy
Eco-industrial park
Organization
Public actor
Qualitative multiple case study
Roles

Publication forum classification

Publication forum level 2

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment
General Environmental Science
Strategy and Management
Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering

Access to Document

10.1016/j.jclepro.2021.126463Licence: CC BY

Public actors and their diverse 2021
CC BY
Final published version, 1.02 MBLicence: CC BY

http://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:tuni-202104213218Licence: CC BY

Cite this

@article{8d39b0a5920f4ec4ae73c592e600eb0d,

title = "Public actors and their diverse roles in eco-industrial parks: A multiple-case study",

abstract = "The roles of public actors in promoting the industrial circular economy is uncharted, despite sustainable actions often resulting from collaboration between these actors and private actors. This study therefore illuminated (1) what roles public actors take on in the operation of an eco-industrial park (EIP) and (2) how these roles occur within the actor structure of an EIP? Correspondingly, the research conducted two qualitative case studies on EIPs where public entities are essential actors and analyzed these public spaces via the qualitative content analysis of primary and secondary data. Study 1 extensively analyzed 20 EIP cases around the world. The analysis uncovered six roles played by public actors in EIPs: operator, organizer, financer, supporter, policymaker, and regulator. Study 2 involved a longitudinal exploration of four national EIP cases, an examination of identified roles, and an ecosystem visualization mapping of what positions public actors can assume in an EIP. The research contributes to the literature primarily through the identification of roles, which show how public actor involvement in EIPs can be multifaceted and crucial in successfully operating an EIP. The research also offers new insights and a model of public actor roles in EIPs, serving as a tool for these actors to self-reflect and understand the functions that they can serve in aiming for sustainable EIP operations.",

keywords = "Circular economy, Eco-industrial park, Organization, Public actor, Qualitative multiple case study, Roles",

author = "Jarmo Uusikartano and Hannele V{\"a}yrynen and Leena Aarikka-Stenroos",

note = "Funding Information: The financer is responsible for the public financing applied to the EIP. The instruments include indirect financial incentives as well as direct economic support for the park members. The financer can offer the park members beneficial energy prices and infrastructure (C4) or even services free of charge (C11) to promote sustainability goals. Direct funding instruments include financial support toward voluntary sustainability actions (C8; C12), financing for sustainability projects (C11), and covering the operation costs of the park (C1). Funding Information: This work was supported by the European Regional Development Fund through the projects entitled “Future circular economy hubs in Finland” (CircHubs) (grant ID A72829 ) and “Utilization of side streams and masses of soil in the cities” (CircVol) (grant ID A74186 ) and by the Strategic Research Council, Academy of Finland , through the project entitled “Circular Economy Catalysts: From Innovation to Business Ecosystems” (CICAT2025) (grant ID 320194 ). Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2021 The Authors Copyright: Copyright 2021 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.",

year = "2021",

month = may,

day = "10",

doi = "10.1016/j.jclepro.2021.126463",

language = "English",

volume = "296",

journal = "Journal of Cleaner Production",

issn = "0959-6526",

publisher = "Elsevier",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Public actors and their diverse roles in eco-industrial parks

T2 - A multiple-case study

AU - Uusikartano, Jarmo

AU - Väyrynen, Hannele

AU - Aarikka-Stenroos, Leena

N1 - Funding Information: The financer is responsible for the public financing applied to the EIP. The instruments include indirect financial incentives as well as direct economic support for the park members. The financer can offer the park members beneficial energy prices and infrastructure (C4) or even services free of charge (C11) to promote sustainability goals. Direct funding instruments include financial support toward voluntary sustainability actions (C8; C12), financing for sustainability projects (C11), and covering the operation costs of the park (C1). Funding Information: This work was supported by the European Regional Development Fund through the projects entitled “Future circular economy hubs in Finland” (CircHubs) (grant ID A72829 ) and “Utilization of side streams and masses of soil in the cities” (CircVol) (grant ID A74186 ) and by the Strategic Research Council, Academy of Finland , through the project entitled “Circular Economy Catalysts: From Innovation to Business Ecosystems” (CICAT2025) (grant ID 320194 ). Publisher Copyright: © 2021 The Authors Copyright: Copyright 2021 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.

PY - 2021/5/10

Y1 - 2021/5/10

N2 - The roles of public actors in promoting the industrial circular economy is uncharted, despite sustainable actions often resulting from collaboration between these actors and private actors. This study therefore illuminated (1) what roles public actors take on in the operation of an eco-industrial park (EIP) and (2) how these roles occur within the actor structure of an EIP? Correspondingly, the research conducted two qualitative case studies on EIPs where public entities are essential actors and analyzed these public spaces via the qualitative content analysis of primary and secondary data. Study 1 extensively analyzed 20 EIP cases around the world. The analysis uncovered six roles played by public actors in EIPs: operator, organizer, financer, supporter, policymaker, and regulator. Study 2 involved a longitudinal exploration of four national EIP cases, an examination of identified roles, and an ecosystem visualization mapping of what positions public actors can assume in an EIP. The research contributes to the literature primarily through the identification of roles, which show how public actor involvement in EIPs can be multifaceted and crucial in successfully operating an EIP. The research also offers new insights and a model of public actor roles in EIPs, serving as a tool for these actors to self-reflect and understand the functions that they can serve in aiming for sustainable EIP operations.

AB - The roles of public actors in promoting the industrial circular economy is uncharted, despite sustainable actions often resulting from collaboration between these actors and private actors. This study therefore illuminated (1) what roles public actors take on in the operation of an eco-industrial park (EIP) and (2) how these roles occur within the actor structure of an EIP? Correspondingly, the research conducted two qualitative case studies on EIPs where public entities are essential actors and analyzed these public spaces via the qualitative content analysis of primary and secondary data. Study 1 extensively analyzed 20 EIP cases around the world. The analysis uncovered six roles played by public actors in EIPs: operator, organizer, financer, supporter, policymaker, and regulator. Study 2 involved a longitudinal exploration of four national EIP cases, an examination of identified roles, and an ecosystem visualization mapping of what positions public actors can assume in an EIP. The research contributes to the literature primarily through the identification of roles, which show how public actor involvement in EIPs can be multifaceted and crucial in successfully operating an EIP. The research also offers new insights and a model of public actor roles in EIPs, serving as a tool for these actors to self-reflect and understand the functions that they can serve in aiming for sustainable EIP operations.

KW - Circular economy

KW - Eco-industrial park

KW - Organization

KW - Public actor

KW - Qualitative multiple case study

KW - Roles

U2 - 10.1016/j.jclepro.2021.126463

DO - 10.1016/j.jclepro.2021.126463

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85102071320

SN - 0959-6526

VL - 296

JO - Journal of Cleaner Production

JF - Journal of Cleaner Production

M1 - 126463

ER -

Public actors and their diverse roles in eco-industrial parks: A multiple-case study

Abstract

Funding

UN SDGs

Keywords

Publication forum classification

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Access to Document

Fingerprint

Cite this