Discovering Industrial Ecology: an executive briefing and sourcebook by Ernest A. Lowe, John L. Warren, and Stephen R. Moran. 1997. Battelle Press, Columbus OH
ISBN 1-57477-034-9

Overview

Indigo prepared this introduction to industrial ecology (IE) addressed to  public and private sector organizations for for US-EPA's Futures Unit. (Now a thing of the past.) Our executive briefing and sourcebook focuses on the potential benefits of applying IE to management and design at different levels of industry and government (including local economic development and municipal infrastructure). It is the first industrial ecology book to project a broad vision for applying IE in all sectors of the local and global economies.

Discovering IE explores the implications of industrial ecology for sustainable development and examines a wide range of business opportunities opened by IE. It includes a survey of IE methods and tools, discusses  policy changes required, and proposes a strategy for evolution of the field.

A number of scenarios in Discovering offer visions of full-blown application of IE at company, city, and developing country levels. Lists of organizations, online information sources, and bibliographies provide access to sources of information.

In this project Indigo was under sub-contract to Battelle Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, working in collaboration with PNNL's John Warren.

Table of Contents

1. An executive briefing on industrial ecology

The challenge

The vision

Defining industrial ecology

Five things to remember about industrial ecology

A conversation after the briefing

2. Industry as living systems within living systems

Industrial ecology and sustainable development

Learning from nature

Applying some ecological principles

Learning from the dynamics of ecosystems

Guidance from nature in setting objectives

3. Industrial ecology methods and tools

Industrial metabolism

Dynamic input-output modeling

Life-cycle assessment

Design for environment (DFE)

Pollution prevention (P2)

Energy efficiency

Design of organizations

Information systems

The dialogue between IE as research and IE as context for action

Levels of applying IE in transportation: three cases

Automobile re-design within the current product concept

The RMI Hypercar

An integrated transportation system

4. Product life-extension and the service economy

Gambit Ltd. markets integrated household service systems a future scenario

5. Emerging business opportunities suggested by IE

Cost savings and new revenues in existing operations;

Entering new markets for existing goods and services;

Marketing emerging technologies, materials, and processes;

Supporting the organizational change, technical, and information needs of an IE-based economy;

Integrating technologies and methods into innovative new systems.

An insurance company assesses its portfolio - a future scenario

6. Government and industrial ecology

Policy and regulations

Research and technology policy

Procurement

Local government

Green plans

Hometown uses industrial ecology to form its economic development strategy - a future scenario

7. Industrial ecosystems and eco-industrial parks

Industrial ecosystems

Examples: Kalundborg, the Houston Ship Channel, and Styria

Greening industrial ecosystems

Challenges and risks

Eco-industrial parks

The EIP -- a menu of opportunities

Building the community of companies

Benefits and risks

Eco-industrial park projects

8. Strategies for creating and implementing IE

Emphasize a decentralized process

Engage the points of social and economic control

Design policy through public/private dialogue

Link action and research

Develop industry's leadership role in changing consumer behavior

9. Developing country leapfrog - a future scenario

Strategy for applying IE in national and regional economic development

Energy

Manufacturing

Agriculture

Transportation

Telecommunications

Policy and regulations

The basic guidance system

10. General resources

References

Organizations
Electronic addresses