Definition

Cleaner Production (CP)

“The continuous application of an integrated preventive environmental strategy applied to processes, products, and services to increase eco-efficiency and reduce risks to humans and the environment”. CP can be applied to the processes used in any industry, to the product themselves and to various services provided in society.

For production processes, CP results from one or a combination of conserving raw materials, water and energy; eliminating toxic and dangerous raw materials, and reduction of all emissions and wastes at the source.

For products, the CP strategy focuses on reducing the environmental, health and safety impacts along the entire life cycle of a product from raw materials extraction to the ultimate disposal of the products.

For services, CP reduces the environmental impacts of the service provided over the entire life cycle, from system design and use to the entire consumption of resources required to provide the services.

Reference: United Nation Environment Programme (UNEP)