This textbook and reference fills a critical gap in literature on the comprehensive environmental impacts of industrial organizations. Nineteen chapters examine individual industrial sectors inherent "potential to pollute." The text goes on to analyze new technologies and practices for transforming environmentally degrading effects of industry, and shows how managers can navigate these changes and move their organizations towards long-term environmental sustainability.

From its inception, the field of industrial ecology has taken a distinctly technological approach to understanding and improving ecological consequences of industrial activities. Increasingly however, scholars and practitioners are developing perspectives on the social embeddedness of industrial ecology: the ways in which material and energy flows in regions and product chains are shaped by the social context in which they occur. This book presents empirical work addressing how cognitive, cultural, political and structural mechanisms condition the emergence and operation of industrial ecology. Further exploring such mechanisms holds promise for understanding both the barriers to, and opportunities for, altering the ecological impacts of industrial practice.Through contemplative chapters and 'intermezzos', authors with different disciplinary backgrounds reflect on the contribution of work from various social sciences to industrial ecology. Unique to the volume, the authors of the commentaries bring in their personal and professional experiences, reflecting on how they have engaged in or have seen the value in cross-disciplinary work. They also include discussion explicitly on the dialogue and its value to the evolution of the field. In these ways, the book develops the dialogue between social science contributors and researchers from other disciplines within the field of industrial ecology. Scholars and students involved in the study of industrial ecology and related fields as well as practising managers and those involved in facilitating industrial ecology projects around the world will find this engaging and comprehensive volume indispensable.

This innovative book explores from an insider's perspective a company's environmental decisions and actions. Based on close observation at a major semiconductor manufacturer, Jennifer Howard-Grenville details how the company's culture - revealed through its internal practices, decisions, and norms - guided action on environmental issues. While demonstrating gaps between the mainstream work of the company and the demands placed by environmental considerations, the author's analysis demonstrates how differences were negotiated over time, offering important insights into the processes of change that can advance environmental issues within a company. Her unique viewpoint offers an important addition to current research, which often explains companies' environmental actions solely as responses to external pressures. Scholars of organizational culture and those at the intersection of business and environmental issues will find this study of great value. The challenges and opportunities surrounding the 'greening' of corporations will also interest members of companies at all levels, as well as consultants and members of non-governmental organizations. The book is written to be accessible and engaging to managers interested in making changes around environmental issues and offers a realistic assessment of the challenges and prospects for such change.

This textbook and reference fills a critical gap in literature on the comprehensive environmental impacts of industrial organizations. Nineteen chapters examine individual industrial sectors inherent "potential to pollute." The text goes on to analyze new technologies and practices for transforming environmentally degrading effects of industry, and shows how managers can navigate these changes and move their organizations towards long-term environmental sustainability.

From its inception, the field of industrial ecology has taken a distinctly technological approach to understanding and improving ecological consequences of industrial activities. Increasingly however, scholars and practitioners are developing perspectives on the social embeddedness of industrial ecology: the ways in which material and energy flows in regions and product chains are shaped by the social context in which they occur. This book presents empirical work addressing how cognitive, cultural, political and structural mechanisms condition the emergence and operation of industrial ecology. Further exploring such mechanisms holds promise for understanding both the barriers to, and opportunities for, altering the ecological impacts of industrial practice.Through contemplative chapters and 'intermezzos', authors with different disciplinary backgrounds reflect on the contribution of work from various social sciences to industrial ecology. Unique to the volume, the authors of the commentaries bring in their personal and professional experiences, reflecting on how they have engaged in or have seen the value in cross-disciplinary work. They also include discussion explicitly on the dialogue and its value to the evolution of the field. In these ways, the book develops the dialogue between social science contributors and researchers from other disciplines within the field of industrial ecology. Scholars and students involved in the study of industrial ecology and related fields as well as practising managers and those involved in facilitating industrial ecology projects around the world will find this engaging and comprehensive volume indispensable.

This innovative book explores from an insider's perspective a company's environmental decisions and actions. Based on close observation at a major semiconductor manufacturer, Jennifer Howard-Grenville details how the company's culture - revealed through its internal practices, decisions, and norms - guided action on environmental issues. While demonstrating gaps between the mainstream work of the company and the demands placed by environmental considerations, the author's analysis demonstrates how differences were negotiated over time, offering important insights into the processes of change that can advance environmental issues within a company. Her unique viewpoint offers an important addition to current research, which often explains companies' environmental actions solely as responses to external pressures. Scholars of organizational culture and those at the intersection of business and environmental issues will find this study of great value. The challenges and opportunities surrounding the 'greening' of corporations will also interest members of companies at all levels, as well as consultants and members of non-governmental organizations. The book is written to be accessible and engaging to managers interested in making changes around environmental issues and offers a realistic assessment of the challenges and prospects for such change.