The Strategic Role of Waste Inventories in Industrial Symbiosis: A Simulation‐Based Perspective on Performance and Resilience of Industrial Symbiosis Networks

Ensuring the resilience of industrial symbiosis networks (ISNs) has emerged as a key concern in the literature. However, existingstudies focus on network-level strategies, neglecting the potential benefits derived from strengthening the links between symbi-otic partners. Indeed, the single symbiotic relationships serve as the building blocks of the network. Therefore, their breakdownis a major threat for ISNs' survival. Specifically, the mismatch between waste supply and demand is a renowned operationalbarrier for IS, which can often trigger the interruption of symbiotic relationships. In this study, we investigate through an agent-based model whether introducing waste inventories—as a tool to counteract supply–demand mismatches—can increase theenvironmental and economic performance of an ISN and enhance its resilience. A case study involving marble producers andconcrete producers exchanging marble residuals is used as a simulation setting. The analysis is performed with different levels ofmarket dynamicity, disruptions' probability and magnitude, and waste inventory capacity. The main results suggest that invento-ries can increase both the economic and environmental performance of the ISN. This enhancement contributes to strengtheningthe link between symbiotic partners, resulting in a positive impact on network resilience.