Industrial Ecosystems and Food Webs: An Expansion and Update of Existing Data for Eco‐Industrial Parks and Understanding the Ecological Food Webs They Wish to Mimic

Abstract

Cyclical industrial networks are becoming highly desirable for their efficient use of resources and capital. Progress toward this ideal can be enhanced by mimicking the structure of naturally sustainable ecological food webs (FWs). The structures of cyclic industrial networks, sometimes known as eco-industrial parks (EIPs), are compared to FWs using a variety of important structural ecological parameters. This comparison uses a comprehensive data set of 144 FWs that provides a more ecologically correct understanding of how FWs are organized than previous efforts. In conjunction, an expanded data set of 48 EIPs gives new insights into similarities and differences between the two network types. The new information shows that, at best, current EIPs are most similar to those FWs that lack the components that create a biologically desirable cyclical structure. We propose that FWs collected from 1993 onward should be used in comparisons with EIPs, given that these networks are much more likely to include important network functions that directly affect the structure. We also propose that the metrics used in an ecological analysis of EIPs be calculated from an FW matrix, as opposed to a community matrix, which, to this point, has been widely used. These new insights into the design of ecologically inspired industrial networks clarify the path toward superior material and energy cycling for environmental and financial success.

Information Content, Complexity, and Uncertainty in Material Flow Analysis

“…As reviewed in Schiller and colleagues (2014), graph-theoretical network measures have been applied for describing system structures in IE and for comparing different systems to one another (for a recent application, see Nuss et al [2016]). Despite the increasing use for analysis of nontrivial structures, graph-theoretical network measures, such as "connectedness," "clustering," or "cyclicity," have, in few studies, been specifically interpreted as relative complexity measures in IE, for example, regarding life cycle inventories (LCIs) (Navarrete-Gutiérrez et al 2016) or industrial ecosystems (Layton et al 2016). In MFA, complexity measures have not been specifically addressed so far, although graph-theoretical complexity measures are also applicable in MFA.…”

“…) or industrial ecosystems (Layton et al. ). In MFA, complexity measures have not been specifically addressed so far, although graph‐theoretical complexity measures are also applicable in MFA.…”

A Framework for Modeling Local Production Systems with Techno‐Ecological Interactions

“…This not only creates an interesting symbiosis between technological components (Layton et al. ; Jacobsen ), but also indirectly benefits the ecosystem component by saving freshwater extracted from local aquifers. To analyze the effect on water requirements and supply, water state could be also modeled, although, for the purpose of illustrating the modeling framework, this work has focused only on nitrogen, the main limiting resource for the heathland ecosystem.…”

Winners of the 2016 Graedel Prizes: The Journal of Industrial Ecology Best Paper Prizes

“…The two prize‐winning papers successfully competed among 12 nominated papers, out of which four were written by a junior author or junior first author. The paper by Ivanova and colleagues (), the winner in the junior author category, with a study on household consumption, was in a close race with the paper by Layton and colleagues () offering a study on data and organization of eco‐industrial parks (EIPs) and food webs (FWs). The two other papers nominated for the junior prize was a study by Prado‐Lopez and colleagues () on the use of trade‐off evaluation to improve comparative life cycle assessment (LCA), and one by Hamilton and colleagues () on the use of material flow analysis for investigating cross‐sectoral synergies through integrated aquaculture, fisheries, and agriculture phosphorus management.…”

“…The second best paper in the junior author category by Layton and colleagues () is an excellent paper with original and novel contributions to research methods for more fundamental understanding of the characteristics of EIPs and FW mimicry. In particular, the study offers significant improvements in systematic analysis of metrics and data processing for a large data set of EIPs and FWs.…”