Commentary
The two definitions above can be considered about the most authoritative ones available simply
because there are not very many publications on the subject. Industrial ecology is still a very
new concept and phrase, and is not recognized by most industry executives. It requires an
understanding of the basic principle of ecology, which is dynamic feedback systems. Most
executives (and most people) do not think that way, and will not intuitively understand what the
phrase industrial ecology is trying to say. Other phrases that might be more easily understood
yet mean somewhat of the same thing are cross-industry partnerships, vertical AND horizontal
integration, or waste exchange. It is still too early for industrial ecology to be widely used in
promoting behavior changes to industry or even in getting their attention, but the principles of
zero waste and maximum efficiency through materials exchanges will interest any executives
once we have their attention through other terms.
The chemical industry has tremendous opportunities for applied industrial ecology. The unavoidable
wastes of many chemical companies could be turned into new chemical products by
others if enough willpower is focused. Designing chemicals to do more with less increases the
industrial system’s metabolic efficiency, as does using inputs derived from natural renewable
sources such as plant stocks instead of non-renewable petroleum. Increased vertical and horizontal
integration can create significant competitive advantages as well as increasing management
and product efficiencies.