Executive summary
In its Big City Plan, Birmingham City Council (BCC) set out its aims to exploit opportunities
for industrial symbiosis in the Tyseley Environmental Enterprise Zone (TEEZ) In order to
harness the area’s true potential and become an exemplar for the low carbon economy. BCC
commissioned International Synergies Limited to identify opportunities to: increase the
productivity of existing resources, reduce carbon emissions in the area, and spark new
investment and green business growth through industrial symbiosis.
Based on existing resource flows, infrastructure and economic activity, the analysis
identifies strategies to improve resource efficiency, and opportunities for strategic
economic development that incorporates identified development sites. The project
requirements were addressed by examining the following three opportunity time horizons:
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Today: Existing synergy opportunities for available resources with existing solutions;
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Tomorrow: Opportunities for inward investment and expansion to complement
existing resources and solutions where technology is known; and
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Future innovation: Innovation potential drawing on the local research infrastructure
to address strategically important resources.
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This report presents the industrial symbiosis opportunities in TEEZ that meet immediate and
long-term business growth and diversification objectives, and environmental targets. Two
key themes emerged. Metals recovery was considered first, as recovering valuable
resources (including precious metals, rare earth elements and other critical materials) from
waste streams is necessary to reduce future UK dependence on imports. Key opportunities
build on Birmingham’s long history with metals fabrication and manufacturing: a strategy is
proposed to recover precious metals and other critical materials from local resource flows,
including waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE). Second, low carbon fuel
opportunities were addressed to meet Birmingham’s commitment to reduce carbon
emissions by 60% by 2026; a portfolio of energy technologies is recommended to provide
TEEZ and Birmingham with the solid, liquid and gaseous fuels needed to meet local needs
while reducing carbon emissions. In both of these theme areas, recommendations are
made to leverage local university research in creating technology incubators and innovation
networks.
Further, BCC expressed interest in establishing a future vision for TEEZ that positions the
area to lead the low carbon economy through green growth. As an integrated resource
recovery system, the future TEEZ would host a portfolio of materials and energy recovery
technologies that improve material and energy security by closing local loops. Innovation
networks would encourage best practice sharing among local businesses, and build on local
research to foster new developments in materials recovery. The future technologies piloted
at the TEEZ incubator would attract inward investment and create jobs.
The potential economic, social and environmental impact of implementing those industrial
symbiosis opportunities identified for today, tomorrow, and the future should result in:
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400-500 direct jobs (and further jobs related to investment)
55,000 tonnes per annum of carbon reduction
Cost savings for existing companies in excess of £1.9M per annum
Additional revenue for Birmingham-based businesses of £8-10M per annum
Total GVA impact of circa £12-15M* per annum
Early action is recommended for the development of TEEZ:
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Stakeholder workshop to introduce investors and technology providers to site
owners and BCC; and
Local learning networks to share best practice and support CO2 reduction and
resource recovery.
Identification of further economic development opportunities through industrial
symbiosis approach to economic zones.
* Based on ONS data for West Midlands average figures, modified to account for anticipated lower that
average GVA levels in resource recovery and recycling activities; current ONS data are not sector specific.
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