Industrial ecology aims to reduce the environmental impact of industry by examining material and energy flows in products, processes, industrial sectors, and economies. Industrial ecology provides a long-term perspective, encouraging consideration of the overall development of both technologies and policies for sustainable resource utilization and environmental protection into the future. It emphasizes opportunities for new technologies and new processes, and those for economically beneficial efficiencies. Industrial ecology draws on and extends a variety of related approaches including systems analysis, industrial metabolism, materials flow analysis, life cycle analysis, pollution prevention, design for environment, product stewardship, energy technology assessment, and eco-industrial parks.

Greater material efficiency, the use of better materials, and the growth of the service economy can contribute to the "dematerialization" of the economy. Resources that are cheap, abundant, and environmentally benign may be used to replace those that are expensive, scarce, or environmentally harmful. Such a...