Servitization as an Enabler of Industrial Symbiosis: A Case Study in the Steel Industry

Among the various pathways for the companies to reduce their environmental impact and optimise resource management, integrating circular economy models with new managerial strategies, open up interesting opportunities, although their practical application can vary significantly by sector and region. This study explores how industrial symbiosis in the steel sector can be facilitated through servitization, focusing on a single exploratory case study conducted in Lombardy, Italy. The paper examines an innovative technology enabling the granulation of white slag from the ladle furnace, making it potentially recyclable within the cement sector. After identifying the current barriers to creating a symbiotic system, the study presents a comparative analysis of four scenarios: two based on the traditional sale of the technology and two on servitized models. The results from the case study analysis suggest that servitization can play an enabler role for industrial symbiosis, while also potentially providing greater economic and environmental benefits and reducing uncertainties related to building an industrial network, which is essential for establishing a symbiotic environment. Without a servitized approach, these barriers could hinder the implementation of industrial symbiosis, thus limiting the circularity of resources between industries. These findings highlight the importance for managers to consider servitization as a strategic lever to foster cross-sectoral collaborations, while providing policymakers with insights to support the transition toward circular industrial ecosystems.