Cleaner Production and Industrial Ecology: A Dire Need for 21st Century Manufacturing

Abstract

The chapter discusses the dissemination of the concepts of cleaner production and industrial ecology as an operationalization within the framework of sustainability systems in the industrial practice. Experiences in cleaner production and industrial ecology projects show that an open, reflective and ongoing dialogue must be designed to develop trust, transparency and confidence to ensure real involvement of diverse stakeholders in charting the future of their organizations and regions as part of the transition to sustainable societies. The integration of ecological, economic, social and cultural dimensions of corporate activities become a dire need for a sound use of scarce resources in the 21st century.