Characterization of National Eco-Industrial Park Demonstration Projects in Indonesia

Abstract

The Eco-Industrial Park (EIP) concept has emerged as a critical strategy for sustainable industrialization, yet its practical transition in developing nations requires careful scholarly evaluation. This study characterizes the early-stage performance of Indonesia's national EIP demonstration projects, focusing on the interplay between governance structure, industrial symbiosis, and financial viability. Using mixed-methods analysis, this research identifies that while initial results show promising improvements in resource efficiency, the overall transition is impeded by major regulatory fragmentation and a policy-practice gap. The result of this study contributes to the scholarly community by identifying specific challenges, such as regional infrastructural gaps and institutional thickness, that are often overlooked in centralized EIP models. The findings highlight that scaling sustainable production systems requires a reconsideration of EIP governance that balances international best practices with local administrative realities. This evidence-based characterization offers academically and practically important insights for scaling pilot initiatives into nationwide sustainable production systems and provides recommendations for the Indonesian EIP roadmap.