I own, but have yet to read The Ecology of Commerce - a book that puts forth the notion that the material economy must eventually take the form of the natural economy if it is to be sustainable. It is supposed to be a positive book that promises that with ecological commerce comes increased efficiency and reduced costs as an incentive to those folks who are immune to ethical pressures alone.

I mention this because this week I learned something that might fit into an ecology of commerce. I was told that police cars (in my community the cops drive Ford Crown Victorias) are incredibly souped up machines - very powerful and very durable. I asked what happened to used cop cars and was informed that many cabs are actually old police cruisers and as such then are driven to the ground.

And I thought, what other products are reused in other niches?