When we talk about a circular economy, one of the possible practices is industrial symbiosis. This consists of pooling economic actors' resources in the same territory to save them and increase their productivity.
As one of the partners of the “Pacte Climat”, IMS assists the municipalities and companies of the national territory in chapter 6: cooperation and communication. As a neutral interlocutor, IMS ensures municipalities and territorial actors connect to create alliances around innovative, virtuous and sustainable projects.
A collaborative approach
Sharing good practices and collaborative work as an accelerator of change are at the heart of IMS' work. State actors, public or private, form an ecosystem whose different elements cannot be considered separately. The IMS approach involves creating collaborative synergies to make connections between actors, topics and geographical areas.
These synergies between companies include:
- Creation of new activities to develop a spirit of cohesion between companies based in the same territory (co-creative workshops, organisation of conferences, development of communication platforms, etc.)
- Pooling of services between companies (collective waste management, responsible mobility, anti-food waste campaigns, etc.)
- Developing the valuation and exchanges of industrial flows (promotion of the circular economy model)
We tackle all aspects of the Pacte Climat and sustainable development through our actions. However, certain topics, such as mobility, are recurrent in our working groups and workshops since it is transversal and often closely connected to other issues.
Method
We run workshops inspired by the process of social innovation. Firstly, we want to understand the problematic of the territory’s user. We work on a diagnosis (a rapid field analysis) and then offer solutions to engage the actors in a collaborative dynamic and foster social learning. We encourage the implementation of pilot projects to, ideally, develop them on a larger scale. Ultimately we aim to create systemic changes.
Cloche d'Or Working Group
Since 2016 this working group has been active in mobility. The development of the district with the constant construction sites and the future arrival of the tram in Howald has changed the mobility situation in the entire district. The working group currently includes eight large companies. It has a close and continuous collaboration with several public actors, including, among others, the Administration des Ponts et Chaussées, the AVL, the RGTR and the Ministry of Mobility and Public Works. This group boosts the accessibility of the district within the framework of the Pacte Climat 2.0.
Kirchberg Working Group
Over the last three years, the Kirchberg working group has grown to 20 dynamic companies committed to mobility. The "Positive Drive" and "Mobilize your Company" campaigns have shown collaboration and a willingness to exchange best practices that are maintained year after year. Adopting new mobility modes and changing habits is a priority for the district.
Corporate Gardens
After the publication of the IMS Corporate Gardens Guide in collaboration with the municipalities of Bettembourg and Dudelange, IMS is committed to promoting corporate garden actions within companies.
Awareness-raising and information about the different forms and the first steps to follow will continue with collaborations and the implementation of projects throughout Pacte Climat 2.0.
Economic Activity Zone: a privileged field of action
IMS's approach is particularly relevant in business parks, where the proximity of economic players encourages collaboration.