3 Review(s)

Eco-industrial cluster (EIC) is an integral part of eco-industry and is characterized by geographic concentration of interconnected companies that cooperate with the local community to efficiently use and share resources such as information, materials, energy, water, infrastructure, technology, finance, etc. to achieve cost advantages as well as competitive advantage; and in the process improve environmental quality, economic gains, and equitable enhancement of human resources for both the business and local community. EIC is unique in the creation of eco-innovation opportunities and development of new business models that are eco-friendly, replicable, economically viable, and environmentally sustainable, with a huge potential for local entrepreneurship and jobs creation. Key foundations of eco-industrial clusters, as traced from various regional and country experiences of business models (viz. USA, China, Denmark, Sweden, Canada, Germany, Australia, India, Brazil, Japan, Puerto Rico, etc.), are inter-firm networks, enabling technologies, social capital and public policy support with need-based green funding. Eco-industrial clusters are now being so designed and managed that they represent and serve as integrated business development models for inclusive and sustainable economic growth. Use of sustainability indicators, measurement/ benchmarking of quality standards, and maintenance of good governance are some of the highlights of recent eco-cluster initiatives. The book showcases the recent advancement in the knowledge creation that has come about through innovation in eco-industries. It covers wide ranging areas of eco-cluster development, including principles, processes and stages of development to achieve green growth; evolution and development of new genre of business models and sharing of global experiences derived therefrom for experimenting system-based local innovations; framing business policy and implementation modalities to be globally competitive; cost-economics and sustainability dimensions of eco-industrial prospecting with focus on strategy; and governance issues and setting quality performance measurement standards of eco-industrial clusters that are at various stages of evolution and development. It will be useful for environmentalists, corporate leaders, business planners financial investors, social scientists, social workers and activists, policymakers, research scholars, and workers in the field of energy, environment, ecology, and eco-industries.