Industrial Ecology is of very great relevance to developing countries as it integrates environmental issues with the planning process. It affords an opportunity for developing countries to build development plans on the basis of an understanding of the “flows” of material and energy resources, with a view to optimizing their use.

Most developing countries are short of material and energy resources and many sections of the population do not have easy access to them. Such a planning process would be ideal and desirable in the long run.

Equally importantly, in most developing countries, resources (particularly land, water and energy) are not priced based on their value to society or at fair market prices. Often, these resources are priced at levels that would be affordable to the local populations.