with a special focus on its application in the plastics and packaging sector, where the need for systemic solutions is more urgent than ever. At SYMBA, the premise is that recycling is neither the only possible strategy nor sufficient to address the needs of all sectors. For example, in the packaging sector, the transition to circularity is strongly driven by an increasingly demanding regulatory framework that requires demonstrating real recyclability, verifiable recycled content, and an effective reduction in waste. However, even when these requirements are met, the system continues to exhibit structural inefficiencies that recycling systems alone cannot resolve. Dispersed flows, complex materials, insufficient volumes, and heterogeneous qualities hinder the effective reintegration of plastics into the production cycle. This is where industrial symbiosis introduces a change of approach: moving from managing waste in isolation to designing networks where that waste is transformed into resources within a connected industrial ecosystem. Applied to packaging, industrial symbiosis allows for the optimization of material, energy, and knowledge flows on a regional scale, connecting producers, processors, recyclers, and other industrial sectors. This approach not only improves recycling efficiency but also opens new avenues for valorization, facilitates economies of scale, and enhances the technical and economic viability of solutions that would not be possible in isolation. THE SYMBA PROJECT SYMBA is a European project involving various EU entities, including AIMPLAS as an expert in plastics and packaging. Its objective is to operationalize industrial symbiosis, turning opportunities into real solutions. To this end, the first step was to conduct an analysis of existing initiatives and solutions in Europe. More than 155 solutions were evaluated and prioritized based on their technical, environmental, economic, legal, and social feasibility, as well as their level of symbiosis. A method specifically designed for SYMBA was co-created, applying the multi-criteria analysis method (MCDA) in two phases. The first phase focuses on assessing the maturity level of the symbiosis, while the second addresses the evaluation of the remaining dimensions of feasibility mentioned previously. The MCDA method was used because it offers a structured and transparent framework for addressing these issues. MCDA allows for the integration of heterogeneous criteria (both quantitative and qualitative) into a coherent evaluation model by assigning relative importance (weights) to each criterion and aggregating performance results into composite indicators. Based on this foundation, the project is developing a methodology that is being validated in pilot regions, working collaboratively with companies, government agencies, and other stakeholders to ensure that the solutions are applicable and replicable in different industrial contexts. The core methodology relies on assessment tools such as Life Cycle Assessment, Cost Analysis, and Social Analysis, aligned with the DNSH principle and the European taxonomy. This approach allows for robust impact quantification and avoids solutions that simply shift environmental burdens without generating net improvements. The validation will be carried out in pilot regions: Murcia, Flanders, Milan, and Bornholm, where the methodology will be applied under real- -world conditions, integrating industry, government agencies, and local networks to ensure its viability and scalability. FROM WASTE CHARACTERIZATION TO INDUSTRIAL DECISION-MAKING Identifying synergies in plastic packaging requires a detailed characterization of the waste streams. This includes not only the type of waste, but also its polymer composition, properties, degree of contamination, volume, seasonality, and location. Added to this are the available technologies, infrastructure, and regulatory constraints, especially in food contact applications. The viability of a symbiosis, therefore, depends on aligning material quality, technological capacity, and the regulatory framework. In this context, AI acts as a tool that helps to find opportunities that would otherwise be difficult to detect. For example, using natural language processing (NLP) techniques, you can analyze large amounts of information, such as studies, databases, or technical documentation, to identify potential connections between waste, processes, and products. In turn, predictive models allow you to estimate how these materials will behave and which valorization options might be most viable. Integrated with tools like life cycle assessment (LCA), this approach allows for faster and more reliable evaluation of alternatives, facilitating decision-making in complex industrial environments. INDUSTRIAL SYMBIOSIS AS THE DRIVING FORCE BEHIND CIRCULAR PACKAGING In the packaging sector, industrial symbiosis translates into the creation of new value chains based on waste valorization. This type of solution allows for the substitution of virgin raw materials, the reduction of emissions, and the generation of economic value from previously underutilized waste. Another relevant approach is the conversion of mixed plastic waste into valuable chemicals, which opens the door to advanced recycling routes and diversification of applications. In both cases, the key lies in the connection between waste generators, processors, and end users, supported by collaborative structures such as industrial clusters. Despite its potential, the implementation of industrial symbiosis faces significant barriers, such as regulatory complexity, a lack of clarity regarding the administrative burden, and financing difficulties. These limitations can hinder the adoption of solutions even when they are technically feasible. However, the current context also offers opportunities. Increasing regulatory demands, coupled with the need to improve resource efficiency and ensure the supply of raw materials, are driving the development of more collaborative models. In this scenario, tools like SYMBA enable progress toward a more structured circularity, based on data, metrics, and industrial cooperation. CONCLUSION SYMBA proposes a new way of approaching circularity, providing it with methodology, data, and real-world implementation capabilities. Through its approach based on multi-criteria evaluation, artificial intelligence, and validation in industrial environments, the project transforms the complexity of production systems into a structured and replicable opportunity. In this context, industrial symbiosis is emerging as the next step in the evolution of the plastics and packaging sector: more connected, more efficient systems capable of transforming waste into value. This shift not only redefines how materials are managed but also how the industry of the future is built in Europe. 42EN PRIMER PLANO I IN THE FOREGROUND
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