Industrial Ecology is essentially a discourse which involves various disciplines, is system based and studies integrated natural or human systems and their resultant behaviours. By examining facets of economy, technology, environment and sociology, issues of sustainability are dealt with.
Industrial Ecology involves a closed loop system in which waste becomes input for new processes. Research covers the following topics: energy flow and material studies; decarbonisation and dematerialization; technological change and the environment; life cycle planning, design and assessment; eco design; product stewardship; eco efficiency and environmental policy related to products.
The basic principle in Industrial Ecology is that industrial systems should be modelled on natural ones if sustainability is to be attained. The biosphere is all important and societal and technological systems are bound within it.
