The vision is sustainability such that "Development today must not undermine the development and environment needs of present and future generations.” United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, 1992

Industrial Ecology (IE) provides a framework to restore ecosystems through the design, redesign, and manage eco-efficient industrial systems that take advantage of the cyclic patterns of materials and energy flow found in natural ecosystems.  Sustainability is promoted through IE such that we can restore, as opposed to maintain, global, regional, and local systems through our products, services, and businesses.

IE is operationalized through Design for Environment (DFE).  DFE is the consideration of pollution prevention and resource conservation within the design process.  Materials Flow Analysis (MFA) and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) are tools used to evaluate products and product systems as part of DFE or other types of decision-making.

For more information, contact Associate Professor Joyce Smith Cooper at cooper@me.washington.edu