Purpose – To describe a way of teaching industrial ecology (IE) and to show some tools that may help for the IE teaching. Design/methodology/approach – In the paper, the development of lectures, practical lessons and projects on real industrial ecosystems are described. Also the teaching materials used are described. Findings – The presented methodology for teaching IE has been a good means for...

Industrial processes are known to have different levels of impact on the environment and, as a result, there is a need to foster knowledge of the environmental consequences of industrial activities and check those against their benefits. One of the ways of achieving this is by applying the concepts of industrial ecology to industry’s day-to-day life. Another possible way of pursuing this goal i...

Although industrial ecology represents a captivating metaphor and rich repertoire of analytical tools, its impact on environmental policy has been marginal at best. This article examines the insights provided by the studies of three common materials in the U.S. economy—lead, arsenic, and silver—and the ability of such studies to illuminate some larger and looming challenges for future environme...

The declining availability of natural resources and the environmental impacts of continued extraction of primary resources for production activities have forced greater focus on waste streams and recycling activities. Industrial ecology as a field of practice and theory has been closely related to sustainability issues, yet despite the development of much theory and specific tools and methodolo...