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Would Industrial Ecology Exist without Sustainability in the Background?

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  • John R. Ehrenfeld

Abstract

Industrial ecology rests historically—even in a short lifetime of 15 years or so—on the metaphorical power of natural ecosystems. Its evolution parallels the rise of concerns over unsustainability, that is, the threats to our world's ability to support human life the emergence of sustainability as a normative goal on a global scale. This article examines the relationships between industrial ecology and sustainability and argues that, in its historical relationship to classical ecology models, the field lacks power to address the full range of goals of sustainability, however defined. The classical ecosystem analogy omits aspects of human social and cultural life central to sustainability. But by moving beyond this model to more recent ecosystem models based on complexity theory, the field can expand its purview to address sustainability more broadly and powerfully. Complexity models of living systems can also ground alternative normative models for sustainability as an emergent property rather than the output of a mechanistic economic model for society's workings.

Suggested Citation

  • John R. Ehrenfeld, 2007. "Would Industrial Ecology Exist without Sustainability in the Background?," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 11(1), pages 73-84, January.
  • Handle: RePEc:bla:inecol:v:11:y:2007:i:1:p:73-84
    DOI: 10.1162/jiec.2007.1177
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    Cited by:

    1. Ilkka Ratinen & Lassi Linnanen, 2022. "Exploring Systems Thinking Competence of Finns in Fostering Sustainable Transformation," World, MDPI, vol. 3(2), pages 1-12, April.
    2. Ilkka Ratinen & Lassi Linnanen & Anna Claudelin & Vilma Halonen, 2023. "Toward sustainable development: Connecting systems thinking competency and carbon footprint knowledge," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 31(3), pages 1593-1605, June.
    3. Stefan Gold & Thomas Chesney & Tim Gruchmann & Alexander Trautrims, 2020. "Diffusion of labor standards through supplier–subcontractor networks: An agent‐based model," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 24(6), pages 1274-1286, December.
    4. Liao, Wenjie & Heijungs, Reinout & Huppes, Gjalt, 2012. "Thermodynamic analysis of human–environment systems: A review focused on industrial ecology," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 228(C), pages 76-88.
    5. C. Oughton & B. Kurup & M. Anda & G. Ho, 2022. "Industrial Symbiosis to Circular Economy: What Does the Literature Reveal for a Successful Complex Industrial Area?," Circular Economy and Sustainability, Springer, vol. 2(4), pages 1317-1344, December.
    6. Jonathan Levie & Benyamin B. Lichtenstein, 2010. "A Terminal Assessment of Stages Theory: Introducing a Dynamic States Approach to Entrepreneurship," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 34(2), pages 317-350, March.
    7. Sara Meerow & Joshua P. Newell, 2015. "Resilience and Complexity: A Bibliometric Review and Prospects for Industrial Ecology," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 19(2), pages 236-251, April.
    8. Alfred Posch & Abhishek Agarwal & Peter Strachan, 2011. "Editorial: Managing Industrial Symbiosis (IS) Networks," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 20(7), pages 421-427, November.
    9. Rizos, Vasileios & Tuokko, Katja & Behrens, Arno, 2017. "The Circular Economy: A review of definitions, processes and impacts," CEPS Papers 12440, Centre for European Policy Studies.
    10. Pauliuk, Stefan & Hertwich, Edgar G., 2015. "Socioeconomic metabolism as paradigm for studying the biophysical basis of human societies," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 119(C), pages 83-93.
    11. Pakarinen, Suvi & Mattila, Tuomas & Melanen, Matti & Nissinen, Ari & Sokka, Laura, 2010. "Sustainability and industrial symbiosis—The evolution of a Finnish forest industry complex," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 54(12), pages 1393-1404.
    12. Haitao Yu & Pratima Bansal & Diane-Laure Arjaliès, 2023. "International business is contributing to environmental crises," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 54(6), pages 1151-1169, August.
    13. Ghodeswar, Archana & Oliver, Matthew E., 2022. "Trading one waste for another? Unintended consequences of fly ash reuse in the Indian electric power sector," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 165(C).
    14. Angela Neves & Radu Godina & Susana G. Azevedo & João C. O. Matias, 2019. "Current Status, Emerging Challenges, and Future Prospects of Industrial Symbiosis in Portugal," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(19), pages 1-23, October.

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