Principles and practice of ecological design

The history of development of the concept of ecological design (or eco-design) is described, and key influences and antecedents are introduced. Seven principles of ecological design are advanced: (1) the need to meet the inherent needs of humans and their economy; (2) the requirement to sustain the integrity of the structure and function of both natural and managed ecosystems; (3) the appropriateness of emulating the inherent designs of nature in anthropogenic management systems; (4) the need to make progress to a sustainable economy through greater reliance on renewable resources and more focus on recycling, reusing, and efficient use of materials and energy; (5) the use of ecological economics (or full-cost accounting) to comprehensively take resource depletion and environmental damage into consideration and thereby address issues of natural debt; (6) the need to conserve natural ecosystems and indigenous biodiversity at viable levels; and (7) the desirability of increasing environmental literacy to build social support for sustainable development, resource conservation, and protection of the natural world. Examples are presented of the recent application of the principles of eco-design to the planning and management of human communities, industrial parks and networks, architectural practice, and products. The principles and practices of eco-design have much to contribute to the urgent need to make rapid and tangible progress towards a sustainable human economy.