© John Ehrenfeld 2006 1

Which Future for Industry: The Environmental Challenge

P2005 Conference

February 10, 2006

John R. EhrenfeldIndustrial Society for Industrial Ecology

© John Ehrenfeld 2006 2

Sustainable Developmentis the Current “Solution”

Sustainable development is a form of development that “meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability for future generations to meet their own needs.”

Brundtland Report 1987

Sustainable Development

Equity

Environment Economy

3© John Ehrenfeld 2006

Rebound effect

R1

Sustainable development is a quick fix with subsequent pathologies.

Reducing Unsustainability Does Not Create Sustainability

B2Delay

SystemicSolution

SustainabilityPath

Unsustainability

Eco-efficiency

B1

Sustainable Development

Path

© John Ehrenfeld 2006 4

Sustainability

is radically different

from sustainable developmen

t.

© John Ehrenfeld 2006 5

Sustainability is the possibility that human and

other forms of life will flourish on the Earth forever.

© John Ehrenfeld 2006 6

The NaturalDomai

n

TheEthicalDomai

n

The Tao of Sustainabilit

y

Sustainability

Recovering the lost domains

by design

The HumanDomai

n

7© John Ehrenfeld 2006

Sustainability Frameworks

Restoring our sense of nature

Industrial ecology

Ecodesign

Restoring our sense of Being.

“Presencing” products (products that “engage” the

actor)

8© John Ehrenfeld 2006

Sustainability Strategies Depend on

the BusinessPrimary resource manufacturers Symbiotic transfer of by-products Secondary material converters Front- and back-end involvement in symbioses

Business-to-business manufacturers Eco-efficient products Product service systems Industrial symbiosis

Consumer products manufacturers Eco-efficient products and services Presencing products

9© John Ehrenfeld 2006

Sustainability Strategies Require New Practices

Enabling/incentivizing policies

EPR/WEEE

Cooperation and communication to facilitate symbiotic partnerships

Participatory design practices

Precaution and adaptive designs/management

10

© John Ehrenfeld 2006

Sustainability Strategies Can Be Profitable

Waste represents an unutilized asset.

Symbioses enhance reputation.

PSS are win-win offers.

Sustainability products offer access to new markets.

© John Ehrenfeld 2006 11

Sustainability won’t wait

forever.