Industrial Ecosystems (industrial + ecosystem)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Dynamic Modeling of Industrial Ecosystems

JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL ECOLOGY, Issue 6 2009
Matthias Ruth
First page of article [source]


Regional industrial recycling network in energy supply,the case of Joensuu city, Finland

CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT, Issue 3 2002
Jouni Korhonen
Industrial recycling networks offer an example of the practical application of some of the industrial ecology (IE) principles. In the industrial ecosystem and eco-industrial park approaches the material cycles and energy cascades in a natural ecosystem serve as the metaphoric vision for a local/regional industrial system in which waste material and waste (residual) energy are utilized through cooperation between the actors in the system. In this paper, a local/regional recycling network scenario is presented with the energy supply system of the city of Joensuu in Finland. The conditions of success include the co-production of heat and electricity (heat and power, CHP), waste energy utilization for industrial steam and renewable flow use as fuel. Some difficulties in the industrial ecosystem-type development of the system are discussed. Methodological suggestions for industrial ecosystem and eco-industrial park case studies are considered and the experience from this Finnish case is discussed in terms of wider application of IE in local/regional economic energy systems. For future research on the theme, it is suggested that regional industrial ecology may benefit from regional economics theory and, vice versa, regional economics theory may find a new area of application in regional industrial ecology. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. and ERP Environment. [source]


Networking for knowledge transfer: towards an understanding of local authority roles in regional industrial ecosystem management

BUSINESS STRATEGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT, Issue 5 2004
Fredrik von Malmborg
Knowledge of the changing roles of local authorities (LAs) in relation to industry would provide an important insight for development and management of industrial ecology at the regional level. Drawing on empirical studies in Sweden, this paper develops a theoretical understanding of the roles of LAs in knowledge transfer in regional environmental management networks. It is suggested that LAs, besides initiating networks and being network brokers and managers, can act as ,knowledge banks' or ,knowledge brokers'. As a ,knowledge bank', officers in the LA hold the knowledge transferred to companies and engage closely with the companies in small active networks. As ,knowledge brokers', LA officers are less active and mainly help companies to get in contact with consultants and technical experts who hold the knowledge needed for developing environmental management in the companies. In all, the roles identified could be seen as more specific approaches to be taken by the LA when playing the overall role of an institutional anchor tenant, facilitating development and management of regional industrial ecosystems. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment. [source]


Changing economies of scale , synergies between implementation of an ecological tax reform and development of industrial ecosystems

BUSINESS STRATEGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT, Issue 6 2001
Christoph Bey
In this paper an investigation is presented into the long-term effects of an ecological tax reform. Exploring time frames of different length, the paper considers the reform's effects on manufacturing systems, especially on economies of scale. Industrial ecology, a framework for restructuring into industrial ecosystems, is one attempt at transforming the socio-economic system for sustainability. The paper points out the synergetic effects an ecological tax reform has with those restructuring efforts for sustainable industry and society. For that purpose, the economies of scale in the current linear production system and those found in the closed-loop circular structures of industrial ecosystems are compared, and the paper is concluded by a discussion of opportunity costs of implementation of an ecological tax reform and industrial ecological restructuring. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment [source]