Ecological Modernization and Industrial Ecology

The chapter presents an overview of research on the way in which global companies deal with their ecological impact in relation to the theory of ecological modernization. The study of global companies and the connections they provide among national economies is presented as contributing to a deeper understanding of the extent to which national economies can be said to decrease their ecological impact in a globally interlinked economy. Adopting the systemic perspective of industrial ecology, the impact of global companies is seen in terms of the role they play in global flows of material and energy. At this global level firms are embedded in production and consumption systems that cross several national boundaries. At the same time, global companies make use of local production facilities and are consequently confronted with local demands to reduce ecological impact. Thus, global and local demands shape the way in which companies deal with their ecological impact. This edition first published 2013