Chapter 3 - Sustainable Development and Industrial Ecology

Abstract

This chapter focuses on sustainable development and industrial ecology. It discusses the principles of industrial ecology and integrates the industrial activities within a natural ecosystem. The concept of sustainable development is a methodology that encompasses social, Thus, focus is on the interactions and impacts of these four factors on each other rather than the fallacy that they are independent of one another. technological, economic, and environmental aspects. The main tools that are necessary for implementing sustainable development are cleaner production (CP), environmental management system (EMS), 7Rs Golden Rule, industrial ecology (IE), environmental impact assessment (EIA), and information technologies (IT). Industrial ecology is the net resultant of interactions among zero pollution, cleaner production, and life cycle analysis, according to the cradle-to-cradle concept. Barriers to industrial ecology are also discussed in all their dimensions: (1) technical, (2) marketing and awareness, (3) financial, and (4) barriers involving regional strategy and regulations. Eco-industrial parks (EIP) are discussed in detail with case studies that are implemented in different parts of the world, demonstrating EIP applications by using a top-down scheme, bottom-up scheme, or combinations of both. These case studies are intended to guide the readers in developing their own EIP implementation schemes in their own country or community. It also hopes to equip the readers with the methodologies for converting existing industrial estates into environmentally friendly ones—that is, eco-industrial parks.