LEGAL ASPECTS OF INDUSTRIAL SYMBIOSIS IN THE TRANSPORT SECTOR

Abstract

Transport has a significant harmful impact on the environment, contributing
to air, water and soil pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, and climate change.
Burning fossil fuels in transportation means releases large amounts of CO₂ and
other pollutants, degrading air quality and contributing to global warming.
Transport also causes noise pollution and habitat destruction due to infrastructure
development like roads and highways. On the other hand, sustainable transport
seeks to minimise these negative effects by promoting cleaner technologies, such
as electric and hydrogen-powered vehicles, and improving fuel efficiency.
Industrial symbiosis in the transport sector refers to collaborative efforts between
companies to optimise resources, reduce waste, and improve energy efficiency.
Industrial symbiosis in the transport sector can include recycling vehicles and their
parts, using alternative fuels, sharing infrastructure, etc. There are several
successful practical examples of industrial symbiosis in the transport sector. While
no single legal framework is dedicated solely to industrial symbiosis in transport,
the legal aspects of this concept are covered through broader regulations related to
sustainability, the circular economy, and emissions reduction. These legal
frameworks include European Union directives and Member States' national laws
as well as international treaties and rules of most important international
organisations dealing with transport. At the European Union level, the European
Green Deal is a key policy initiative to achieve climate neutrality by 2050. It
encourages emissions reduction in the transport sector by promoting energy
efficiency, vehicle electrification, and circular economy principles - key
components of industrial symbiosis. Within the Green Deal, the Circular Economy
Action Plan promotes recycling, waste reduction, and the sharing of resources
across industries, which is fundamental to industrial symbiosis. Industrial
symbiosis also includes legal aspects related to waste management (Waste
Framework Directive), alternative fuels and energy regulations (Directive (EU)
2018/2001 on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources,
Regulation (EU) 2019/631 setting CO2 emission performance standards for new passenger cars and for new light commercial vehicles), legislation on the use of
shared infrastructure, etc. However, inadequate legislation (regulation) is very often
mentioned as a type of industrial symbiosis barrier.
The paper lists various issues and regulations that regulate sustainability in
transport. The paper presents the most important provisions of European
regulations aimed at reducing environmental pollution, especially those related to
transport and those that mention industrial symbiosis as a form of environmentally
friendly production and activity.