Background Industrial development in Suceava County in northern Romania has led to an agglomeration of industries that generate significant amounts of solid waste and wastewater. This situation negatively affects the status of the natural and constructed environment, and the quality of life. There are many industrial-ecology endeavours in the European Union (e.g. Kalundborg eco-industrial Park in Denmark, West Midland Region in the UK, Styria Region in Austria) that may serve as case studies for creating industrial synergies for economic and environmental improvements in this region of Romania. Objectives The primary objective of the LIFE ECOREG project was the application of Industrial Symbiosis (IS) principles in the area of Suceava County, Romania. Industrial symbiosis engages traditionally separated industries in a collective approach to competitive advantage that involves physical exchange of materials, energy, water, and/or by-products. The keys to industrial symbiosis are collaboration and the synergistic possibilities offered by geographic proximity. The goal of the project was to use IS methodology to enable regional development to occur with minimal environmental impact, by conserving and developing industrial, natural, human, leisure and cultural potential. Among the project’s specific objectives was a reduction in the amount of natural resources used as raw materials. Results The methodology to set up an Industrial Symbiosis (IS) network was transferred to Romania from the UK with the collaboration of Industrial Synergies Limited (ISL), who also provided training in the Suceava region. The Romanian research institute ECOind helped link local businesses and measured the material flows in the synergies. The other associated beneficiary, GEC Bucovina, a Romanian NGO, assessed the balance between economic development and natural resources. During the LIFE ECOREG project, a total of 241 companies and institutions from various sectors participated in four Industrial Synergy Workshops (May and December 2009, and June and July 2010). This led to the formation of a regional symbiotic network. The workshop helped identify how resources could be reused, and by-products utilised, through the creation of mutually beneficial partnerships. By getting all participants to fill in ‘have’ and ‘want’ IS forms, the project identified 246 potential synergies and 638 resource flows. Out of these, a total of 194 synergies were finalised, whereas 52 were tested but failed at the commercial negotiation stage. The workshops also facilitated a valuable exchange of experience and knowledge between all the involved partners. The managerial approach adopted was to first concentrate on synergies that involved a single ‘want’ company and multiple ‘have’ companies, because multiple synergies have the potential of producing higher outputs. IS methodology was successfully adapted to the specifics of the focal region, with more than 537 000 t of waste recirculated in other production cycles. In addition, the equivalent of more than 3 000 ha of forest were preserved, following the replacement of raw wood materials with different types of waste; especially valuable in an area where the most valuable resource is timber. These results were achieved at a cost significantly under the original project budget. The 246 synergies identified were assessed in terms of 13 waste categories. They involved over 530 000 t of waste, including 30 000 t of construction and demolition waste, 500 000 t of wood waste, 2 891 t of animal and food waste, 254 t of plastic waste, and 20 t of Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE). All the synergies were entered into the SYNERGie data management system, from which queries were used to generate reports and synergy sheets were obtained for all the finalised synergies. The ECOREG project demonstrated major environmental benefits, as a result of developing a sustainable approach to waste and resource management. This will help Romania to recycle more of its waste, in line with EU policy. ECOREG recycled 530 000 t of waste, which would otherwise have gone to landfill, using less than €500 000 (€0.88/t). In addition, the project demonstrated less tangible outcomes such as raised awareness, training, capacity building and the creation of partnerships. The project also estimated reductions in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to be more than 139 037 t of CO2, as a result of replacing raw materials with alternative resources. Improved landscaping aesthetics due to the removal of uncontrolled waste deposits, especially on river banks, benefited natural habitats and raised the tourist potential of the region. Among the socio-economic benefits are reduced production costs, through processing wastes that are cheaper than raw materials; reduced waste disposal costs, of around 20 to 30% on average per company; reduced penalties for environmental non-compliance; and increased revenues from the sale of waste. The project also helped create 28 jobs and safeguarded 10 more. ECOREG proved that Industrial Symbiosis can deliver environmental, economic and social benefits in one of the poorest regions in Romania. Further information on the project can be found in the project's layman report and After-LIFE Communication Plan (see "Read more" section).