205
© The Author(s) 2016
R. Clift, A. Druckman (eds.), Taking Stock of Industrial Ecology,
DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-20571-7_10
Chapter 10
The Social and Solidarity Economy: Why
Is It Relevant to Industrial Ecology?
Marlyne Sahakian
Abstract The goal of this contribution is to illustrate the linkages between industrial
ecology (IE) and the social and solidarity economy (SSE), an economic paradigm
that is robust in terms of conceptual and historical developments, and active around
the world as a social movement. The SSE includes a range of activities, such as fair
trade, community currencies and some forms of peer-to-peer sharing, to name but a
few. The links and tensions between SSE and IE are considered fi rst conceptually, by
uncovering the theoretical frameworks attached to each fi eld. Three ‘solidarity’ practices are then discussed in relation to industrial ecology activities, namely: aspects of
the sharing economy, community currencies and forms of crowd-funding. A main
fi nding is that the two fi elds of research and practice are compatible, as neither focus
on economic growth and specifi cally profi t as an ultimate aim; yet IE prioritizes
biophysical considerations, whereas the SSE places more emphasis on people and
power systems, as expected. One insight gleaned through this process is that more
attention could be placed on labour conditions, power relations and governance systems in industrial ecology, building on previous and ongoing work in this area.
Four main fi elds of inquiry emerge: understanding whether ‘solidaristic’ cooperatives and enterprises could be more receptive to industrial ecology approaches
and more adept at embracing resource exchanges such as in industrial symbiosis;
ascertaining to what extent companies already involved in symbiotic relations might
M. Sahakian (*)
Industrial Ecology Group, Faculty of Geosciences and the Environment ,
University of Lausanne , Batiment Geopolis , CH-1015 Lausanne , Switzerland
e-mail: marlyne.sahakian@unil.ch
One can no longer even imagine that there could be a single
standard of value by which to measure things. The neoliberals
(…) are singing the praises of a global market that is, in fact,
the single greatest and most monolithic system of measurement
ever created, a totalizing system that would subordinate
everything – every object, every piece of land, every human
capacity or relationship – on the planet to a single standard of
value. – David Graeber ( 2001 ).
Toward an Anthropological Theory of Value:
The false coin of our own dreams, p. xi .
© The Author(s) 2016
R. Clift, A. Druckman (eds.), Taking Stock of Industrial Ecology,
DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-20571-7_10
Chapter 10
The Social and Solidarity Economy: Why
Is It Relevant to Industrial Ecology?
Marlyne Sahakian
Abstract The goal of this contribution is to illustrate the linkages between industrial
ecology (IE) and the social and solidarity economy (SSE), an economic paradigm
that is robust in terms of conceptual and historical developments, and active around
the world as a social movement. The SSE includes a range of activities, such as fair
trade, community currencies and some forms of peer-to-peer sharing, to name but a
few. The links and tensions between SSE and IE are considered fi rst conceptually, by
uncovering the theoretical frameworks attached to each fi eld. Three ‘solidarity’ practices are then discussed in relation to industrial ecology activities, namely: aspects of
the sharing economy, community currencies and forms of crowd-funding. A main
fi nding is that the two fi elds of research and practice are compatible, as neither focus
on economic growth and specifi cally profi t as an ultimate aim; yet IE prioritizes
biophysical considerations, whereas the SSE places more emphasis on people and
power systems, as expected. One insight gleaned through this process is that more
attention could be placed on labour conditions, power relations and governance systems in industrial ecology, building on previous and ongoing work in this area.
Four main fi elds of inquiry emerge: understanding whether ‘solidaristic’ cooperatives and enterprises could be more receptive to industrial ecology approaches
and more adept at embracing resource exchanges such as in industrial symbiosis;
ascertaining to what extent companies already involved in symbiotic relations might
M. Sahakian (*)
Industrial Ecology Group, Faculty of Geosciences and the Environment ,
University of Lausanne , Batiment Geopolis , CH-1015 Lausanne , Switzerland
e-mail: marlyne.sahakian@unil.ch
One can no longer even imagine that there could be a single
standard of value by which to measure things. The neoliberals
(…) are singing the praises of a global market that is, in fact,
the single greatest and most monolithic system of measurement
ever created, a totalizing system that would subordinate
everything – every object, every piece of land, every human
capacity or relationship – on the planet to a single standard of
value. – David Graeber ( 2001 ).
Toward an Anthropological Theory of Value:
The false coin of our own dreams, p. xi .