The principal objective of Industrial Ecology is to reorganize the industrial system (including all aspects of human activity) so that it evolves towards a mode of operation that is compatible with the biosphere and is sustainable over the long-term. Industrial Ecology, also known as the science of sustainability, is the discipline that measures and recommends ways to manage resources in a sustainable manner. The strategy for implementing the concepts of Industrial Ecology is often referred to as eco-restructuring and can be described in terms of four main elements:

•  Optimizing the use of resources
•  Closing material loops and minimizing emissions
•  Dematerializing activities
•  Reducing and eliminating the dependence on non-renewable sources of energy