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Industrial ecology: shedding more light on its perspective of understanding nature as model

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  • Ralf Isenmann

    (University of Kaiserslautern, Germany)

Abstract

Industrial ecology represents an emerging interdisciplinary field of studying industrial systems in combination with their fundamental linkage with nature. An eye-catching characteristic at the basis of industrial ecology's scientific profile is its refreshingly unorthodox perspective of understanding nature as model, compared with other disciplines of understanding nature, e.g. in terms of 'sack of resources' or 'biophysical limit' as opposed to industrial systems. The idea of industrial ecology's appealing perspective is to balance the development of industrial systems with the constraints of natural ecosystems, analogous to an 'industrial symbiosis'. On the basis of initial efforts to conceptualize industrial ecology's underlying assumptions concerning nature, a philosophically focused approach of its characteristic perspective of understanding nature as model is presented. The contribution may provide industrial ecologists as well as other economists, engineers, scientists and policy-makers involved in the field of sustainability with an opportunity for accessible philosophical reflection, perhaps bringing to the surface their tacit frames regarding nature. Consequently, the goal is to gain greater conceptual clarity and to contribute to laying a solid foundation for industrial ecology's stimulating role when initiating change towards sustainability at large. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment.

Suggested Citation

  • Ralf Isenmann, 2003. "Industrial ecology: shedding more light on its perspective of understanding nature as model," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 11(3), pages 143-158.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:sustdv:v:11:y:2003:i:3:p:143-158
    DOI: 10.1002/sd.213
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Ruijgrok, E. & Vellinga, P. & Goosen, H., 1999. "Dealing with nature," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 28(3), pages 347-362, March.
    2. Ring, Irene, 1997. "Evolutionary strategies in environmental policy," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 23(3), pages 237-249, December.
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    2. Núria Bautista-Puig & Rodrigo Lozano & Maria Barreiro-Gen, 2023. "Developing a sustainability implementation framework: insights from academic research on tools, initiatives and approaches," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 25(10), pages 11011-11031, October.
    3. Klara Helene Stumpf & Stefan Baumgärtner & Christian U. Becker & Stefanie Sievers-Glotzbach, 2015. "The Justice Dimension of Sustainability: A Systematic and General Conceptual Framework," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 7(6), pages 1-35, June.
    4. Mert Bilgin, 2012. "The PEARL Model of Sustainable Development," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 107(1), pages 19-35, May.
    5. Dhaoui, Elwardi, 2014. "Écologie Politique vs Écologie Industrielle : Synergie des Fonctionnalités et Altérité des Stratégies Utiles à leurs Pilotages [Political Ecology vs Industrial Ecology: Features' Synergy and Othern," MPRA Paper 61380, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    6. Ingrid Kajzer Mitchell & Michael Saren, 2008. "The living product – using the creative nature of metaphors in the search for sustainable marketing," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 17(6), pages 398-410, September.
    7. Van V. Miller & Charles T. Crespy & Kurt H. Loess & José A. Renau, 2010. "Western hemispheric trade agreements and sustainability: Lesson from butterflies, hummingbirds, and salty anchovies," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 18(4), pages 220-228.
    8. Chedrak Chembessi & Christophe Beaurain, 2019. "Technological and Organizational Innovations into industrial and territorial ecology projects [Dynamiques d’écologie industrielle et territoriale : Trajectoires d’innovations technologiques et orga," Post-Print hal-01952455, HAL.
    9. Rodrigo Lozano, 2020. "Analysing the use of tools, initiatives, and approaches to promote sustainability in corporations," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 27(2), pages 982-998, March.
    10. Jean Kabongo & Olivier Boiral, 2011. "Creating Value with Wastes: A Model and Typology of Sustainability Within Firms," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 20(7), pages 441-455, November.
    11. Fabiana Liar Agudo & Barbara Stolte Bezerra & José Alcides Gobbo & Luis Alberto Bertolucci Paes, 2022. "Unfolding research themes for industrial symbiosis and underlying theories," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 30(6), pages 1682-1702, December.
    12. Mert Bilgin, 2009. "The PEARL Model: Gaining Competitive Advantage Through Sustainable Development," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 85(3), pages 545-554, April.

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