Response to Indicators of Dematerialization and the Material Intensity of Use

The "state-of-the-debate" article on dematerialization and materials intensity by Cleveland & Ruth (IE 2(3)) was wide-ranging and excellent. However many readers of IE may also regard it as a literature review. In this context, I hope it is not too immodest to suggest that the following should also be noted. As regards the fundamental link between material flows and the economy, which lies behind all the work in IU, see Ayres & Kneese (1968, 1969) and, for the regional applications, Ayres & Rod (1986), Ayres (1986), Ayres & Tarr (1990), Ayres & Ayres (1994). At the process material-product level, see Ayres & Cummings-Saxton (1975) and Ayres (1978); as well as Ayres et al. (1989), Ayres (1992 & 1995 b), Ayres, Tarr & Ayres (1994), Ayres (1997 a, 1998 a) and Ayres & Ayres (1998 a) the latter three in this journal. Regarding metals recycling, see Ayres (1997 b). Regarding indicators as such, see Ayres (1996 a, b). Regarding materials flow analysis in LCA, see Ayres (1995 a). For relevant handbook & encyclopaedia articles, see Ayres (1986, 1998 b, c). Finally, I would call attention to our book Industrial Ecology: Toward Closing the Material Cycle (1996) as well as two newer ones Accounting for Resources 1 (1998) and Accounting for Resources 2 (1999). The latter two books were not yet in print when Cleveland-Ruth was published, although the first volume appeared in fall 1998 and the second may be out by the time this letter appears.
 

Respectfully,
 
 

Robert U. Ayres
 
Ayres, R.U. & A.V. Kneese (1968) "Pollution & Environmental Quality". in: H. Perloff (ed), The Quality of Urban Development, Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore.

Ayres, R.U. & A.V. Kneese (1969) "Production, Consumption & Externalities", American Economic Review LIX(3): 282-296.

Ayres, R.U. & J. Cummings-Saxton (1975) "The Materials-Process-Product Model –Theory & Applications". in G. Vogeley (ed), Mineral Materials Modeling – A State-of-the-art Review: 178-244, John Hopkins University Press, Baltimore.

Ayres, R.U. (1978) Resources, Environment & Economics: Applications of the Materials/Energy Balance Principle, John Wiley & Sons, New York.

Ayres, R.U. (1986) "Materials & the Environment", in: W. Bever (ed), Encyclopedia of Materials Science & Engineering: 2765-2772, Pergamon Press, Oxford, UK.

Ayres, R.U. & S. R. Rod (1986) "Patterns of Pollution in the Hudson-Raritan Basin", Environment 28 (4), 14-43.

Ayres, R.U., F. C. McMichael & S.R. Rod (1987) "Measuring Toxic Chemicals in the Environment: A Materials Balance Approach". in: Lave, L. & A. Upton (eds), Toxic Chemicals, Health & the Environment: 38-70, Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore.

Ayres, R.U., V. Norberg-Bohm, J. Prince, W. M. Stigliani & J. Yanowitz (1989) Industrial Metabolism, the Environment, & Application of Materials-Balance Principles for Selected Chemicals, Research Report (RR-89-11), International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, Laxenburg, Austria.

Ayres, R.U. & J.A. Tarr (1990) "Environmental Change in the Hudson River Basin & the Hudson-Raritan Estuary". in: Turner, B. H. II, William C. Clark, Robert W. Cates, John F. Richards, Jessica T. Matthews & William B. Meyer (eds), The Earth as Transformed by Human Action, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge UK.

Ayres, R.U. (1992) "Optimizing Industrial Use of Heavy Metals", Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 89: 815-820.

Ayres, R.U. & L.W. Ayres (1994) "Consumptive Uses & Losses of Toxic Heavy Metals in the United States, 1880-1980". in: Ayres, R.U. & U. Simonis (eds), Industrial Metabolism; Restructuring for Sustainable Development, Chapter 11: 259-298, United Nations University Press, Tokyo.

Ayres, R.U., L.W. Ayres & J.A. Tarr. "An Historical Reconstruction of Carbon Monoxide & Methane Emissions in the United States, 1880-1980". in: Ayres, R.U. & U. Simonis (eds), Industrial Metabolism; Restructuring for Sustainable Development, Chapter 9: 194-238, United Nations University Press, Tokyo.

Ayres, R.U. (1995 a) "Life Cycle Analysis: A Critique", Resources, Conservation & Recycling 14: 199-223.

Ayres, R.U. (1995 b) "Thermodynamics & Process Analysis for Future Economic Scenarios", Journal of Environmental & Resource Economics 6: 207-230.

Ayres, R.U. (1996 a) "Industrial Metabolism", in: Eblen R.A. & W.R. Eblen (eds), The Encyclopedia for the Environment, Houghton Mifflin, N.Y.

Ayres, R.U. (1996 b) "Materials Balance", in: R. A. Eblen, W. R. Eblen (eds.), The Encyclopedia for the Environment, Houghton Mifflin, N.Y.

Ayres, R.U. (1997 a) "The Life Cycle of Chlorine: Part I; Chlorine Production & the Chlorine-Mercury Connection", Journal of Industrial Ecology I (1): 81-94.

Ayres, R.U. (1997 b) "Metals Recycling: Economic & Environmental Implications", Resource, Conservation and Recycling, 21: 145-173.

Ayres, R.U. & L.W. Ayres (1997 c) "The Life Cycle of Chlorine: Part II; Conversion Processes & Use in the European Chemical Industry". Journal of Industrial Ecology I (2): 93-115.

Ayres, R.U. (1998 a) "The Life Cycle of Chlorine: Part III: Accounting for Final Use", Journal of Industrial Ecology II (2): 65-89.

Ayres, R.U. (1998 b) "Industrial Metabolism: Work in Progress", in Van den Bergh Jeroen C.J.M. & M. W. Hofkes (ed), Theory & Implementation of Economics Models for Sustainable Development, Kluwer Academic Publishers, Netherlands.

Ayres, R.U. (1998 c) "The Rationale for a Physical Account of Economic Activities", in Managing a Material World, P. Vellinga, F. Berkhout & J. Gupta (eds), Kluwer Academic Publishers, Netherlands.

R. U. Ayres & L. W Ayres (1996) Industrial Ecology: Towards Closing the Materials Cycle, Edward Elgar, Cheltenham UK.

R. U. Ayres & L. W Ayres (1998), Accounting for Resources: 1. Economy-wide Applications of Mass-Balance Principles to Materials and Waste, Edward Elgar, Cheltenham UK.

R. U. Ayres & L. W Ayres (1999) Accounting for Resources: 2. The Life Cycle of Materials, Edward Elgar, Cheltenham UK.

Ayres, R.U. and L.W. Ayres (1999) "Use of Material Balance to Estimate Aggregate Waste Generation in the United States". In P.C. Schulze & R.A. Frosch (eds) Measures of Environmental Performance and Ecosystem Condition, NAE. Press, Washington D.C.: 96-156.

Received June 8, 1999
 
 

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