Industrial Ecology
Throughout history we have used the Earth's resources to fulfill our needs without thinking of the implications of this abuse. As a result, we are left with few resources and enormous amounts of waste. In order to stop this shortage of materials and this excess of garbage, numerous recycling ideas have been proposed. However, a new idea known as Industrial Ecology could revolutionize the awareness of recycling by placing human activities in a full-life cycle in which reuse can be profitable. The concept of industrial ecology should be considered as a change in the way industries manufacture products by thinking of the product's life span as much larger and more profitable. This major change can be integrated effectively into many industries; the auto industry is a significant example. The supply of metals used in cars is running out, and their disposal results in hazardous materials, not to mention excess garbage that goes into landfills. The reusing and recycling of auto parts can cause a significant decrease in the industry's expenses. This idea seems very appealing. However, experts point out that there are several obstacles that stop the process and make it very difficult to implement. These obstacles include organi
Another example is the single-use cameras from Kodak. Kodak environmental spokesman James Blamphin described this process as "a financial success" (Moscowitz, 13). There are deposits that give money in exchange for glass, plastic or aluminum containers. In this way, at the end of the process, manufacturers wouldn't be left with the question of what to do with waste which will not bring any profit to the company and would have to be disposed of, creating more garbage. Because of this incentive, about 50% of these cameras are recycled, and 85% of the camera's parts are either reused or recycled into different parts. However, there are ways of overcoming this obstacles and in fact, there is much to be gained in implementing these ecological policies in industrial settings, as proven by several examples such as containers and one-use cameras. If consumers are given the choice of buying new or recycled motor or body parts, they are usually likely to consider the new one as more reliable (67). . The service products wouldn't actually belong to the consumer, but to the manufacturer. When a product was not used anymore, reaching what has been considered the end of its useful life, Industrial Ecology would seek to bring the manufactured item to its foundation in order to use it for a different thing. As Robert Frosch mentions in one of his article on the subject, this implies analyzing production in a kind of loop, in which products are generated thinking of their life span as almost endless (Industrial Ecology, 68). What may be seen as a meaningless and profitable short-term innovation in a production scenario can end up contributing to the conservation of our environment. Producers should take consideration of the long-term gain involved in enforcing Industrial Ecology and not only the short-term profit gains. The process of acquiring permits that enable legal disposing of products can end up being extremely troublesome and expensive. Even if designers are aware of the advantages, there is also a lack of communication among companies, which makes finding buyers for certain scrap materials almost impossible (67).
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