A Brief Introduction to Industrial Ecology

What Is Industrial Ecology (IE)?

       Industrial ecology is a new and innovative strategy for a sustainable industry. Achieving a sustainable industry means meeting a firm’s financial bottom line without compromising the state of its surrounding physical environment. Industrial ecology focuses on the interaction of industrial systems and the ecological systems. In the industrial setting, the process involves designing industrial systems to minimize waste and maximize cycling of materials and energy. As far as possible, production systems, instead of the conventional linear fashion, are closed. This is to prevent the loss of energy or useful materials. Industrial ecology seeks to optimize the total materials cycle from virgin materials to finished material product, and to ultimate disposal

          -- Excerpt from IE FAST FACTS, The Philippines' Portal on Industrial Ecology

     Referring to the above excerpt about Industrial Ecology, the most striking phrases for me are the following: “minimize waste”, “maximize cycling of materials and energy” and “optimize the total materials cycle”. As an Industrial Engineering student, those three words at the beginning of each phrase which are “minimize”, “maximize” and “optimize” are often used in most of our major subjects.

      Industrial Ecology is a good, strategic visualization of sustainability. Though they say that it is hard to imagine how Engineers work when it comes to Environment, I think with regards to Industrial Ecology they will be a perfect pair. They can work hand-in-hand. And I think this could be a good opportunity for Industrial Engineers to take part and practice Industrial Ecology in their chosen field of work. If Industrial Engineers are considered as "jack of all trades" then maybe they could easily understand, relate, adapt, explain and teach others about  Industrial Ecology's concept. If this is successfully accomplished, IEs will be a big help to the growing number of industries that practice and will practice Industrial Ecology (IE) especially here in the Philippines.

SOURCE/S:
     http://ieprime.tripod.com
PHOTO SOURCE:
     http://ie.leidendelft.nl/typo3temp/pics/52c063b134.jpg

Thanks for Reading! :)