Definition of Pollution

Undesirable change in the physical,

chemical or biological characteristics of air,
water or land
(1) that may or will harmfully affect human
life or that of other desirable species, our
industrial processes, living conditions or
cultural assets,
or (2) that may or will waste or deteriorate
raw material resources
 Multi-media Transfer of Pollution

Business Definition of Waste

“Anything other than the minimum amount
of equipment, materials, parts, space, and
workers’ time which are absolutely essential
to add value to the product”
 Applying CLEANER PRODUCTION to MULTILATERAL ENVIRONMENTAL AGREEMENTS
ACME

Basics of
Cleaner Production

United Nations Environment Program

Division of Technology Industry and Economy

Swedish International Development Agency

 BACKGROUND
Responses of businesses to pollution
PASSIVE REACTIVE
Ignore pollution Dilution and dispersion

1 2

CONSTRUCTIVE PROACTIVE
End-of-pipe treatment Cleaner Production

3 4

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 CLEANER PRODUCTION
Definition by UNEP
“ Cleaner Production is the continuous application of
an integrated, preventive environmental strategy
towards processes, products and services in order
to increase overall efficiency and reduce damage
and risks for humans and the environment.”

Continuous Processes Humans

Preventive ENVIRONMENTAL Products RISK

STRATEGY REDUCTION

Integrated Services Environment

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• In Production Processes:
– Results from one or a combination of:
• Conserving raw materials, water, energy
• Eliminating toxic raw materials
• Reducing the quantity and toxicity of all
emissions and wastes at source
• In Products:
– Reducing the environmental, health, and
safety impacts of products over their entire
life cycles (from raw materials extraction,
through manufacturing and use, to its
’ultimate’ disposal)
• In Services:
– Incorporating environmental concerns into
designing and delivering services
Related Terms
•Waste minimization
•Pollution prevention
•Eco-profitability
•Low/non-waste technologies
•Zero waste emission
•Green productivity
 CLEANER PRODUCTION
CP is…

In other words, CP is a tool to answer 3 questions:

CP is a method and tool to identify where and why a

company are losing resources in the form of waste and
pollution, and how these losses can be minimized.

CP assessment CP options

CP options Less waste

Less waste Improved productivity

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 CLEANER PRODUCTION
Economics of Cleaner Production

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 CLEANER PRODUCTION
Operational improvements to business
What are the benefits for industrials ?
> CP improves products and services
> CP lowers risks (liability)
> CP improves company image
> CP improves worker’s health and safety conditions
> CP reduces waste treatment and disposal costs
> CP can be integrated with the business EMS
> CP saves costs on raw material, energy and water
> CP makes companies more profitable and competitive
> CP can help implementing MEAs
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Waste Management Hierarchy

SOURCE REDUCTION

RECYCLING

Treatment

Disposal
 IMPLEMENTING CP
Cleaner Production categories
OPERATION

TECHNOLOGY

PRODUCTION PROCESS

INPUT MATERIALS PRODUCTS

Relationship with MEAs:

1- UNFCCC/Kyoto – Green House Gas emissions
2- Basel Convention – Waste minimisation
3- Stockholm Convention – Avoid unintentionally WASTE &
produced POP’s (PCB’s, dioxins and furans) EMISSIONS

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 IMPLEMENTING CP
Option 1: Input material substitution
OPERATION

TECHNOLOGY

PRODUCTION PROCESS

Change INPUT MATERIALS PRODUCTS

1/ Change inputs materials, water and energy:

> Replacing toxic or harmful materials with less toxic
> Use of renewable materials
> Use materials with longer lifetime WASTES &
> Material purification EMISSIONS

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 IMPLEMENTING CP
Option 2: Technology change
Improve New technology OPERATION
equipment and
process control
TECHNOLOGY

PRODUCTION PROCESS

Change INPUT MATERIALS PRODUCTS

2/ Technology > Replacing

change: > Equipment modification
> Optimal process conditions
> Increased automation
> Improved process control WASTES &
> Improved equipment lay-out EMISSIONS

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 IMPLEMENTING CP
Option 3: Good operation practices
Improve New technology OPERATION
equipment and Improved
process control management
TECHNOLOGY
Workers skills &
process control

PRODUCTION PROCESS

Change INPUT MATERIALS PRODUCTS

3/ Improved > Production scheduling

operation > Energy management (peak shaving)
practices: > Maintenance programmes
> Working instructions and procedures
> Training and incentives program WASTES &
> Adequate process control operations EMISSIONS
> Proper maintenance and cleaning
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 IMPLEMENTING CP
Option 4: Product modification
Improve New technology OPERATION
equipment and Improved
process control management
TECHNOLOGY
Workers skills &
process control

PRODUCTION PROCESS

Change INPUT MATERIALS PRODUCTS

modification
4/ Product modification:
> Recycling friendly design
> Product Life Extension
> More efficient, less material intensive packaging WASTES &
> Reduction of harmful substances. EMISSIONS

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 IMPLEMENTING CP
Option 5: reuse and recycling
Improve New technology OPERATION
equipment and Improved
process control management
TECHNOLOGY
Workers skills &
process control

PRODUCTION PROCESS

Change INPUT MATERIALS PRODUCTS

modification
5/ On-site reuse and recycling:
> On site recovery and re-use of raw materials in the
process, waste water, waste heat and cooling water
> Transforming waste into useful by-products WASTES &
> Waste segregation and storage EMISSIONS
Re-use and recycling
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 METHODOLOGY
Barriers to CP implementation
INTERNAL BARRIERS
> Traditional philosophy of CEOs (low awareness)
> Internal organization and communication (initial constraints)
> Limited information, data and expertise on waste and emissions
> Focus on end of pipe solutions and short term profits
> Inadequate cost/profit calculations CP options
> Missing, outdated or unreliable process instrumentation
> No or limited support of middle management
> No EMS to achieve continual improvement

EXTERNAL BARRIERS To be solved by

an organized approach
> Availability of investment capital
> Availability of CP technologies
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 METHODOLOGY
CP methodology
> Obtain management commitment The recognized need
> Organise project team for Cleaner Production
> Identify barriers & solutions
> Set objectives 1.Planning and
> Pre-assess Organization

> Identify sources (WHERE) Sustain

> Analyse causes (WHY)
2.Assessment
&
> Generate possible options (HOW) Continue
3.Feasibility (EMS)
> Evaluate options on: Analysis
Technical, environmental
and economic feasibility
> Select best options
4.Implementation

> Option implementation

> Monitoring and evaluation Successfully implemented
> Sustain and continue
Cleaner Production projects

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