Introduction

Abstract

This chapter gives the aim of the book, and an outline of its contents as well. With its explicit consideration of the physical flows of waste and the activity of waste management (including the recycling of waste materials), the Waste Input-Output model (WIO) has made it possible to take into account the entire life cycle phases of a product within the framework of (hybrid) IOA. This is a book on the concepts and application of WIO for students and practitioners of IE. In order to make it a self-contained textbook on IOA, the first part is devoted to the standard IOA, while the second part is reserved for issues which are closely related to WIO including the environmental extensions of IOA.