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A World of Abundance

Author

Listed:
  • William McDonough

    (School of Architecture, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22903)

  • Michael Braungart

    (University of Applied Sciences of Northeast Lower Saxony, Herbert-Meyer Strasse 7, 29556 Suderberg, Germany)

Abstract

Industry and the environment appear to be at odds because current methods of production, extraction, and disposal are destructive to the natural world. Conventional responses, such as eco-efficiency, focus on doing more with less, restricting industry, and curtailing growth. We view the conflict between industry and the environment as a design problem. Instead of simply reducing industry's negative effects, we suggest companies redesign products and processes for healthy, long-term prosperity. We present a new paradigm for industry, eco-effectiveness; three new design principles: waste equals food, use current solar income, and respect diversity; new decision criteria that integrate ecology, economy, and equity; and beginning steps businesses can take towards a world of abundance, rather than one of limits and constraints.

Suggested Citation

  • William McDonough & Michael Braungart, 2000. "A World of Abundance," Interfaces, INFORMS, vol. 30(3), pages 55-65, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:inm:orinte:v:30:y:2000:i:3:p:55-65
    DOI: 10.1287/inte.30.3.55.11668
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Simonis, Udo E., 1993. "Industrial restructuring for sustainable development," Discussion Papers, Research Professorship Environmental Policy FS II 93-404, WZB Berlin Social Science Center.
    2. Ayres, Robert U & Kneese, Allen V, 1969. "Production , Consumption, and Externalities," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 59(3), pages 282-297, June.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    Cited by:

    1. Myriam Ertz & Fabien Durif & Manon Arcand, 2019. "A conceptual perspective on collaborative consumption," AMS Review, Springer;Academy of Marketing Science, vol. 9(1), pages 27-41, June.
    2. David F. Drake & Stefan Spinler, 2013. "OM Forum —Sustainable Operations Management: An Enduring Stream or a Passing Fancy?," Manufacturing & Service Operations Management, INFORMS, vol. 15(4), pages 689-700, October.
    3. Genovese, Andrea & Acquaye, Adolf A. & Figueroa, Alejandro & Koh, S.C. Lenny, 2017. "Sustainable supply chain management and the transition towards a circular economy: Evidence and some applications," Omega, Elsevier, vol. 66(PB), pages 344-357.
    4. Xing Liu & Xu Xiao, 2015. "The Optimization of Cyclic Links of Live Pig-Industry Chain Based on Circular Economics," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(1), pages 1-15, December.
    5. Kerstens, S.M. & Priyanka, A. & van Dijk, K.C. & De Ruijter, F.J. & Leusbrock, I. & Zeeman, G., 2016. "Potential demand for recoverable resources from Indonesian wastewater and solid waste," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 110(C), pages 16-29.
    6. Piero Morseletto, 2020. "Restorative and regenerative: Exploring the concepts in the circular economy," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 24(4), pages 763-773, August.

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    Keywords

    ENVIRONMENT; PLANNING—CORPORATE;

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