The Greening of Industrial Ecosystems (1994) / Chapter Skim
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Industrial Ecology: The Role of Government
Industrial Ecology: The Role of Government
Pages 123-134
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From page 123... ...
While some believe that humanity's capacity for technical and economic progress is virtually boundless, the fact that human activities are now resulting in materials flows commensurate with those of nature should give one pause. Human activities are estimated to release several times as much mercury, nickel, arsenic, and vanadium to the environment as do natural processes, and more than 300 times as much lead (Galloway, 1982; see also Ayres, 1992~.
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From page 124... ...
Interdependence is the dominant phenomenon of our age. With elaborate webs of production now stretching across the globe, the economic destinies of nations are closely intertwined.3 Since these production networks draw on the natural resource endowments of countries around the world, our economic activities, regardless of how localized they appear, are becoming more closely tied to global ecological disruptions (Wyckoff and Roop, 19921.
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From page 125... ...
Design decisions directly and indirectly determine levels of resource use, types of manufacturing processes, and the composition of waste streams. By giving designersS the proper signals about the environmental impacts of their decisions, policymakers can address environmental concerns that arise throughout the product life cycle, from the extraction of raw materials to final disposal.
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From page 126... ...
In general, policymakers can achieve internalization in two ways: by regulation or by economic instruments. Each approach has advantages and disadvantages: regulations, if properly designed, can produce swift and relatively predictable results (e.g., the mandatory phaseout of leaded gasoline', but they can also impose unnecessary costs on industry and stifle environmentally innovative designs.
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From page 127... ...
As a consequence, new relationships are emerging. Automakers will encourage their material suppliers to accept recovered materials from dismantlers and will specify the use of recovered materials in new car parts, thus "closing the loop." This approach though, may be more appropriate for high-value, durable products with complex material composition than for nondurable or disposable products.~3 An alternative to take-back regulations involves measures to encourage corporate decision makers indirectly to take a systems approach by using economic instruments to internalize the costs of environmental services (examples include taxes on emissions or virgin materials use; tradable emissions or recycling credits; tax credits; or deposit refund schemes on packaging or hazardous products)
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From page 128... ...
For instance, pesticide use has declined dramatically where farmers have adopted integrated pest management schemes involving crop rotation and the use of natural predators (U.S. Congress, Office of Technology Assessment, 1990~.
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From page 129... ...
And in general, this cannot be done in the context of a single federal agency. A greener transportation sector, for example, may involve not only improved vehicle fuel efficiency but better management of materials used in automotive, rail, and aviation applications, as well as changes in urban design.
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From page 130... ...
While it would not make sense to create a separate institution within govemment to promote industrial ecology concepts, greater coordination between agencies would certainly be desirable. Industrial ecology concepts could be integrated into new interagency initiatives, such as the Manufacturing Technology Initiative and the Advanced Matenals and Processing Program announced by the White House in early 1992.
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From page 131... ...
For instance, the new classes of high-temperature superconductors, which potentially offer vast improvements in power transmission efficiency and have other promising new applications, are quite toxic; the best of them is based on thallium, a highly toxic heavy metal. The fact that products that use toxic materials can perform socially useful functions, or even have comparative environmental benefits, underscores the need for a flexible approach to environmental questions.
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From page 132... ...
It simultaneously results in product life extension and promotes reuse of subcomponents and materials. Apart from the economic benefits that can accrue to a manufacturer, the reuse of high value-added components takes advantage of the original manufacturing investment in energy and materials.
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From page 133... ...
1992. The Embodiment of Carbon in Imports of Manufactured Products: Implications for International Agreements on Greenhouse Gas Emissions.
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