Industrial ecology aspires to manage material and energy flows in the same way that an ecosystem performs, with the aims of ultimately decreasing environmental stress and improving resource efficiency.  This can be done by considering industrial processes as a closed loop as much as possible creating the opportunity to decrease inputs through the reuse of outputs either within a facility or between different organization.  By viewing waste as a resource – by closing these material and energy loops - waste and resource depletion caused by industry can be minimized.  Industrial ecology helps to find solutions to environmental problems by identifying problem areas in business and industry and can aid in improved sustainability practices.