ABSTRACT
In this chapter, I discuss the area of industrial ecology, which is based on the metaphor that compares industrial systems to ecosystems. According to the concept of industrial ecology, industrial systems should strive to follow the same principles that govern natural systems in order to imitate their higher overall efficiency. Like ecological economists, industrial ecologists perceive the economy as embedded in the Earth’s ecosystem, which is another reason for the economy to follow natural principles. Indeed, as we shall see in this chapter, industrial ecology is closely related to ecological economics, but more focused on industry and products. To continue this line of thought, the following chapter takes a closer look at two specific tools usually associated with industrial ecology – life-cycle assessment (LCA) and eco-design. These indicate how the principles of industrial ecology reviewed in this chapter apply directly to products.
