Cleaner Production

"We may be too busy putting out today's fire without taking time to prevent those that may occur tomorrow."

Cleaner Production (CP) is "the continuous application of an integrated preventive environmental strategy to processes, products, and services to increase efficiency and reduce risks to humans and the environment" (United Nations Enviroment Programme o UNEP). Related terms: (1) Source Reduction, (2) Pollution Prevention, (3) Zero-waste technology, (4) Eco-technology, (5) Low- and non-waste technologies, (6) Waste/pollution minimization, (7) Green productivity, (8) and Eco-profit technology

Benefits derived from practicing CP:

• Raw material consumption and costs are reduced
• Process efficiency and product quality are improved
• Waste quantities are reduced
• Waste treatment costs go down
• Working conditions are improved
• Pollution decreases

Glossary:

Clean Technology may be defined as "any technology or process that uses fewer raw materials and/or less energy, and/or generates less waste than an existing technology or process" (Kiely, 1998).

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is a process of predicting the likely environmental consequences of implementing projects or undertakings and designing appropriate, preventive, mitigating and enhancement measures. It functions both as Planning and Management Tool, and as Regulatory Tool (DENR). EIA is a process that requires consideration of the environment and public participation in the decision-making process of project development (Kiely, 1997). Such projects may include for example, building a hydroelectric dam or factory, irrigating a large valley, or developing a harbor, which may generate impacts on flora, fauna, air quality, landscape and other features of the environment (EIA manual, 1988).

Environmental Aspect is defined as element of an organization's activities, products or services that can interact with the environment.

Environmental Impact is defined as any change to the environment, whether adverse or benaficial, wholly or partially resulting from an organization's activities, products or services.

Environmental Management System (EMS)

Benefits:

1. reduced risk of liabilty
2. reduced operating costs
3. improved corporate image
4. increased productivity
5. public health and environmental benefits
6. worker health and safety
7. improved global competitiveness

Obstacles:

1. technical limitations
2. lack of information
3. consumer preferences
4. product quality decline
5. economic concerns
6. resistance to change
7. regulatory barriers
8. lack of markets
9. management apathy
10. institutional barriers
11. lack of awareness
12. confidential business information

Environmental Risk Assessment is the use of facts and assumption to estimate the probability of harm to human health or the environment that may result from exposures to specific pollutants, toxic agents, or management decisions. What risk assessment provides for environmental decision makers is an orderly, clearly stated, and consistent way to deal with scientific issues when evaluating whether a hazard exists and what the magnitude of the hazard may be. (Enger, 1992)

Hazard is defined as anything that can cause injury, disease, or death to humans, damage to personal or public property, or deterioration or destruction of environmental components.

Risk is defined as the probability of suffering injury, disease, death, or loss as a result of exposure to a hazard (Nebel and Wright, 1996).

Globalization has increased the level of competition in business. To be more competitive and productive a lot of businesses have explored and implemented new systems and technologies related to environmental management and waste reduction because of the belief that reducing waste results in reducing operational cost and to respond to the needs of those consumers in many countries who regard environmental benefit as purchasing criterion

Green Consumerism Indicators: (1) Books and magazines have appeared, advising readers on how to be a green consumer, and providing extensive and varied guidance on what to buy and what to do, (2) Environmental awareness training are now being conducted everywhere, (3) The introduction on environment-friendly products, packaging, design, selling platforms & advertising themes, (4) More businesses are adopting environmentally sound technology and management systems not just to increase productivity and for environmental compliance purposes but also to build good public image to consumers.

Recycling is a method of materials management in which discarded materials are separated from waste, processed to acceptable standards, and re-enter the economy as usable product (Bisio, 1995).

Sustainable Development meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs (Gro Harlem Brundtland, PM of Norway, 1987). The concept comes from (1) Sustain: Maintain; supply with necessities or nourishment; support (2) Develop: Expand or realize the potentialities of growth; bring gradually to a fuller, greater state (Bishop, 2000). Teh word sustainable has roots in the Latin "subtenir", meaning "to hold up" or "to support from below". A community must be supported from below -- by its inhabitants, present and future (Muscoe Martin, 1995).

Waste, by its business definition, is defined as anything other than the minimum amount of equipment, materials, parts, space, workers' time, which are absolutely essential to add value to the product (3M Corp.).