ABSTRACT

The word 'ecology' refers to the science of ecosystems. The scope of industrial ecology is the long-term evolution of the industrial system as a whole. The basic methodology of industrial ecology is called 'industrial metabolism'. It is descriptive and analytical methodology based on the principle of conservation of mass. Industrial metabolism aims at understanding the complex patterns and dynamics of flows and stocks of materials and energy within the industrial system as well as their interactions with the biosphere. One of the first practical ideas that come to mind is to mimic the food webs of natural ecosystems, where the waste of one organism can be used as a resource by others. In fact, industrial ecology aims at a radical restructuring of the whole industrial system. The principal objective of industrial ecology is to reorganise the industrial system so that it evolves towards a mode of operation that is compatible with the biosphere and is sustainable over the long term.