The influence of classical ‘green’ theories on contemporary industrial planning practices: A review study

Abstract

There is growing evidence that green industrial planning approaches have become the sensible alternative in the modern era, emphasising sustainability. This article reviews the influence of classical ‘green’ theories on contemporary industrial planning practices (eco-industrialisation in the age of climate change). The article adopts a qualitative methodological approach in the form of a desktop study. A total of 45 articles were finally selected for review after retrieval from internet databases. The study demonstrates that classical ‘green’ theories remain relevant in inspiring sustainable approaches to industrialisation, notably the Eco-Industrial Parks (EIPs) approach. While some of the classical ‘green’ theories such as the garden city theory date back to the 1900s, they are still relevant in contemporary industrial planning practices. The garden city theory provides a foundation for industrial location and regenerative theories that strongly influence the planning of eco-industrial parks. There is also a positive link between EIPs and the industrial location theory, as EIPs focus on the interaction and spatial distribution of different industries in the given geographic area, while emphasising the social and economic environment aspects. The EIPs approach also follows the ideas of a closed environment, industrial symbiosis, the regenerative theory, and the green political theory, both promoting sustainable industrial systems. The article concludes that, while planning for eco-industrial parks is still in its infancy in Africa, understanding the link between the classical ‘green’ theories and EIPs can help African urban planners and industrialists design and implement futuristic eco-industrial parks that ensure industrial park management performance, environmental performance, social performance, and economic performance.