Environmental and Economic Benefits of Waste Heat Recovery as a Symbiotic Scenario in Sweden

This study pioneers a combined Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Life Cycle Costing (LCC) evaluation of an industrial symbiosis (IS) case involving waste heat recovery from a pulp and paper mill to a tomato greenhouse in Sweden. Unlike previous studies that assess environmental or economic aspects separately, this research provides a holistic assessment quantifying both environmental burdens and economic feasibility. A comparative analysis framework is applied, evaluating a symbiotic real case of waste heat recovery versus conventional greenhouse tomato production in the Netherlands and subsequent import to Sweden. LCA examines greenhouse gas emissions, eutrophication, toxicity, land use, and resource depletion, while LCC assesses total ownership costs, including Capital and Operational Expenditures. The findings demonstrate that the IS scenario significantly reduces greenhouse gas emissions and operational costs while enhancing energy efficiency. This work fills a gap in IS literature, offering a replicable framework for sustainable greenhouse operations. The results highlight the potential of IS to improve resource efficiency, promote circular economy strategies, and foster sustainable practices in the agri-food sector.