Product Life Extension Industrial Ecology Methods and Tools for Analysis and Design Introduction Design is a resonant word. It suggests the innovation of artistic conception merged with the rigor of engineering design.
Some managers speak of designing their organizations.
A new breed of local politicians seek to lead us in the design of solutions rather than the solving of problems. The power of this word suggests that design for environment may be seen as a response to a nested set of challenges from individual product development to global policies. This is the realm of design and decision where industrial ecology functions. It can help guide decision-making across all the levels. We describe here some of the industrial ecology methods and tools that seek to begin answering these questions.