The goal
of cleaner production is to avoid pollution by utilising resources and
raw materials to the utmost possible. This means that a higher percentage
of the raw materials are turned into valuable products instead of being
wasted. To identify such improvements requires a systematic and detailed
analysis of work procedures and production equipment – it requires
a Cleaner Production Assessment.
Other concepts similar to cleaner production are:
- Waste minimization;
- Pollution prevention; and
- Green productivity.
These are fundamentally the same as cleaner production;
with the basic idea to make companies more efficient and less polluting.
Some examples of cleaner production options are:
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To avoid leaks and spillage during transport, production
and cleaning, so-called good housekeeping;
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To ensure optimal process conditions with respect
to product quality, production capacity, resource consumption and
waste generation;
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To avoid using hazardous materials through material
substitution;
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To modify equipment to improve the production
processes;
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To install efficient production equipment; and
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To re-design the product to minimise the resource
consumption.
Cleaner production is different from end-of-pipe treatment,
i.e. treatment of air emissions, wastewater and solid waste. With end-of-pipe
treatment you reduce the pollution load, but you do not recover the lost
raw materials. Therefore, end-of-pipe treatment is always expenditure,
whereas cleaner production brings economic benefit in addition to the
reduced pollution load. Cleaner production is the same as waste minimisation
and pollution prevention. Cleaner production is also a useful step towards
environmental management, e.g. ISO 14001. Read more about the benefits
of cleaner production.
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....the continuous application of an integrated
preventive environmental strategy applied to processes, products,
and services in order to increase efficiency and reduce risks to
humans and the environment.
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For production processes cleaner production
includes conserving raw materials and energy, eliminating toxic
raw materials, and reducing the quantity and toxicity of all
emissions and wastes
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For products cleaner production includes
the reduction of negative impacts along the life cycle of a
product, from raw material extraction to its ultimate disposal;
and
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For services cleaner production is to incorporate
environmental concerns into designing and delivering services.
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