Sustainable Development and Industrial Ecology - Essay Example

Sustainable Development and Industrial Ecology Sustainability has its root in environmental science, which in turn relates to environmentalism. As per the views of environmentalism, natural resources are products of the natural environment and will be limited by the regenerative abilities of the natural environment (Nebel & Wright, 1993, p.2). Moreover, how far the limited resources are available depends on how much the natural environment is protected and maintained. Over-exploitation of resources causes major adverse effects on nature and humanity. Burning fossil fuels result in emissions of carbon dioxide and other pollutants, which lead to global warming. Chlorofluorocarbon emissions cause depletion of the protective ozone layer. Deforestation and destruction of natural habitats have caused several plant and animal species to become extinct. Overuse of water resources is leading to their exhaustion (Nebel & Wright, 1993, p.3). Chemical wastes and other toxic refuse are contaminating the air, water and soil of the earth to such an extent that life on earth is being threatened. The prospects for survival, let alone development, would be bleak in a world where resources are depleted, air and water are polluted, and life is difficult due to ozone depletion and greenhouse warming, not to speak of the fatal threats to health posed by the toxic wastes. Environmental science studies how human activities affect the regenerative capacity of the natural resources (Nebel & Wright, 1993, p.5). These studies have led to the evolution of several concepts, a major one being sustainability, which in turn has led to the study of sustainable engineering and design, and industrial ecology. All these disciplines work towards the same objective, and that is, the protection and maintenance of the natural environment. Sustainability Sustainability relates to whether or not a process can be continued indefinitely. According to Brundtland Report, 1987, “sustainable development is that which meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs” (“Sustainable issues,” 2004). Sustainability is the ability of the ecosystem to maintain ecological processes into the future. For sustainable living, human beings should consume the earth’s natural resources at a rate at which they will be replenished. Now, with the threats posed to the survival of life on earth by the accumulation of toxic wastes, deforestation and over-exploitation of earth’s natural resources, it is high time that human beings began following a sustainable lifestyle. Ironically, the unsustainable lifestyle of human beings is a result of economic, technological and other advancements. Several activities of modern life include extremely unsustainable activities like deforestation for developmental activities like roads, residential areas, commercial complexes, townships, industries, etc. Mining sand from beaches for resorts and other tourist activities cause depletion of sand, and drainage activities over-exploit peat lands. The effects of such activities are irreversible leaving no scope for replenishment. According to Brundtland report, growth and environmental maintenance are simultaneously possible and need not exclude each other (“Brundtland report,” n.d.). Each country is capable of reaching its full economic potential while at the same time augmenting its resources. However, achieving sustainable growth necessitates technological and social change. Sustainable Engineering Almost all developmental activities involve engineers and almost all developmental activities undertaken in the past have led to numerous environmental issues. Structural engineers build buildings and other structures that sometimes upset the ecosystem, drainage engineers exploit peat lands leading to peat wastage, road engineers build roads through forests, and drilling engineers drill the earth for oil and water (“Sustainable issues,” 2004). Since development is essentially connected with engineering, sustainable development also essentially depends on sustainable engineering. Plants, processes and products depend on engineering for design and operation as well as transportation. Hence it becomes absolutely necessary to involve engineers from the outset to the completion of any project for development. Several strategies have been evolved by which engineers can modify their designs and adapt their operations so as to ensure more sustainability, which is referred to as sustainable engineering. It is possible to even reverse the unsustainable projects set up during the earlier developmental activities. River engineering is a pioneering example, whereby modern engineers have devised methods for restoring wetlands and re-excavating the meanders of previously straightened rivers (“Sustainable issues,” 2004). According to the concepts and views held during the earlier times of industrial and technological evolution, unlimited advancement was possible only through unsustainable methods and approaches. This is because traditional industrial technology, as Hartley (1993) puts it, relied on sheer volume of resources to overwhelm problems. In other words, unlimited growth required unlimited consumption of limited natural resources along with unlimited environmental capacity to take in externalities. Today sustainable engineering is a branch of knowledge that has evolved umpteen sustainable solutions like energy conservation along with renewable energy technologies, sustainable food processing, waste minimization and recycling, sustainable packaging and transportation solutions, sustainable construction, etc. Industrial Ecology Industrial ecology provides a conceptual framework for understanding and gauging the impact of industrial systems on the environment with a view to identifying, devising and implementing strategies to minimize the negative environmental impacts of the products and processes of industrial systems, with the ultimate aim of achieving sustainable development. Industrial ecology is the study of physical, chemical and biological reactions, interactions and interrelationships within and between industrial and ecological systems (Garner & Keoleian, 1995, p.2). Industrial ecology essentially involves tracing movement of materials, energy flows, transformation and dissipation within the industrial system as well as into the natural systems (Garner & Keoleian, 1995, p.2). This flow of material and energy, their transformation and then finally their dissipation into wastes is called industrial metabolism. By studying industrial metabolism and weighing the adverse effects it has on the environment, strategies can be devised to minimize negative environmental impact, to optimize resource efficiency and to maximize benefits to the stakeholders. Inefficient products and processes that result in wastes and pollution can be identified and reduced, if not eliminated. Another objective of industrial ecology is to change the linear nature of the industrial system, where raw materials are used up, producing products, by-products and wastes, to a closed system where the wastes of one product or process form the raw materials or energy for another product or process. In an industrial ecosystem, the wastes produced by one company may become the resources for another, thus ensuring that no waste would negatively impact the natural ecosystem. Though engineering is a key factor for development, political, social, and economic factors also need to be considered in order to ensure maximum benefits to the stakeholders. Hence, industrial ecology involves coordination of not only technological factors, but also political, social, environmental and economic aspects while designing products and processes as well as energy systems, with a view to minimizing the negative impact on the environment and maximizing the benefits to the stakeholders. Design for Sustainability Design for sustainability is the process of designing products and processes taking into account all aspects of sustainable development, particularly the environmental, economic and social factors (“Design for sustainability,” n.d., p.2). Design is the glue that holds together many essential aspects underlying sustainable consumption and production. To achieve sustainability, the society and its sub-components, such as products and processes, and the flow of material and energy between these sub-components and the natural environment will have to be redesigned. The redesigned products and processes will reduce consumption of resources in such a way that it minimizes damage to the biological system. The aim of sustainable design is to replace poorly designed products and processes with these redesigned ones. To ensure sustainable design for products and processes, the producers can be made accountable so that they will have to take up responsibility for products they manufacture and services they provide. Interestingly, it has been discovered that sustainable designs are more economical in that they are easier to market and cheaper to produce (“Design for sustainability,” n.d., p.2). Conclusion Sustainability and its various aspects such as sustainable engineering and design, and industrial ecology, all work with the same goal, and that is, protection and maintenance of the natural environment. Sustainability relates to whether or not a process can be continued indefinitely, and sustainable development is that which meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Engineers devise strategies whereby they modify their designs and operations so as to ensure more sustainability, which is referred to as sustainable engineering. Design for sustainability is the process of designing products and processes taking into account all aspects of sustainable development. Industrial ecology involves sustainable engineering that integrates technological, political, social, environmental and economic aspects while designing products and processes, with a view to minimizing negative environmental impact, optimizing resource efficiency and maximizing benefits to the stakeholders. References Brundtland report (n.d.). Retrieved February 7, 2009, from http://www.ace.mmu.ac.uk/eae/Sustainability/Older/Brundtland_Report.html Design for sustainability (n.d.). Retrieved February 9, 2009, from http://indeco.com/Files.nsf/Lookup/dfs/$file/Dfs.pdf Garner, A. & Keoleian, G. A. (1995). Industrial ecology: An introduction. Retrieved February 9, 2009, from http://www.umich.edu/~nppcpub/resources/compendia/INDEpdfs/INDEintro.pdf Hartley, P. (1993). Sustainable engineering: Resource load carrying capacity and Kphase technology. Retrieved February 9, 2009, from http://dieoff.org/page74.htm Nebel, B. J. & Wright, R. T. (1993). The aim of environmental science. In Environmental science: The way the world works (Chapter 1). Retrieved February 6, 2009, from http://books.google.co.in/books?hl=en&lr=&id=4wjxeUeaRnMC&oi=fnd&pg=PA15&dq=environmental+science+sustainability&ots=YiZmiZwvhX&sig=73H4PHrHQT8EzGAixoUz562GlVs#PPA2,M1 Sustainability issues: Notes (2004). Retrieved February 6, 2009, from http://www7.caret.cam.ac.uk/sustainability.htm Read More