Chao explains that creating an "industrial ecosystem" means planning and organizing an industry's activities in such a way as to fully utilize its waste products and by-products by transforming them into resources or energy which can be used by the industry itself or by other industries. Such a system can reduce wastage, reduce the burden on the environment and allow energy and resources to be shared in a system of mutual reliance.
巢志成指出，生態化體系就是有效規劃並組織產業活動，以充分利用產業產生的廢棄物或副產品，轉換成本身或其他產業可用的資源與能源，以減少浪費，減輕環境負荷，並達到資源與能源共享、共生互利的效果。