The application of Industrial Ecology to community development can provide an awareness of the community as a living system. It provides the basis for understanding the systemic impacts of a community's industry, commerce, infrastructure, and household behavior, as opposed to looking at things issues in isolation. Issues of community cohesiveness, environmental condition, public health and business vitality are interrelated and cannot be treated separately if an effective long-term sustainability strategy is to be implemented.

The benefits to communities include:

• Creation of common ground for all community stakeholders to plan   effective change;
• Increased efficiency of energy and material resource use within the   whole community;
• Increased competitiveness for businesses;
• Ability to target highest risks and opportunities for greatest   improvement;
• Decreased pollution and damage to the health of citizens and the   environment;
• Opening of new local business and job development opportunities;
• Revitalization of existing industries;
• Improvements in the efficiency and extension of the life of municipal   infrastructure systems; and
• Restoration of the vitality of local ecosystems.