The Role of Design Considerations in Life Cycle Sustainability Performance of Water and Carbon: A Case Study of Shamsabad Industrial Park

Abstract

Transforming Industrial Park (IP) into Eco-industrial Park (EIP) has been recognized as an effective way to address environmental, social, and economic problems arising from industrial development. Iran requires considerable efforts to develop EIPs to address environmental challenges, such as water scarcity, carbon emission, and waste production. In this regard, special-case frameworks which present a set of design considerations and straightforward steps for the transition of IPs into EIPs are essential to address the environmental problems and achieve maximal benefits economically, environmentally, and socially. This research aims to develop a framework based on the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and local legal and regulatory factors analysis, to serve as a guideline for stakeholders and decision-makers during the first stages of developing new EIPs. It adopts a mixed-method approach to form industrial symbiosis for reducing the environmental impacts of the Shamsabad IP, which is set to be transformed into an EIP. Also, it proposes strategic solutions for improving the effectiveness of the policies, regulations and plans promoting the development of the EIP and its sustainable performance. The strategic solutions include increasing penalties and taxes, designing programs for strategic investment technologies and committees, and developing programs to raise awareness of EIPs. The outputs of various stages of this study comprise (1) enterprises forming the new EIP and exchange flow types among them, (2) impact analyses of the materials and processes of Behnoush food packaging systems on the water and carbon life cycle using LCA, and (3) laws, policies, regulations, plans and programs which guarantee the establishment and future sustainable performance of the EIP.