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Cleaner productionWhat does it mean for industry
in Finland and EU?
Dr. Eva PongráczUniversity of Oulu
Department of Process and Environmental Engineering
Why cleaner production? During the last decades, there was a clear evolution in the
general attitude of governments and industry regarding protection of the environment in a positive sense
This is also due to the development of win-win strategies, such as Cleaner Production
Cleaner Production describes a preventative approach to environmental management
It is a broad term that encompasses what some countries/institutions call eco-efficiency, waste minimisation, pollution prevention, or green productivity, but it also includes something extra:
Cleaner Production refers to a mentality of how goods and services are produced with the minimum environmental impact under present technological and economic limits
Defining cleaner production
The United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) definition of "Cleaner Production” is:
”Cleaner Production is the continuous application of an integrated preventive environmental strategy to processes, products, and services to increase overall efficiency, and reduce risks to humans and the environment. Cleaner Production can be applied to the processes used in any industry, to products themselves and to various services provided in society.”
For production processes, Cleaner Production results from one or a combination of conserving raw materials, water and energy eliminating toxic and dangerous raw materials reducing the quantity and toxicity of all emissions and
wastes at source during the production process
For products, Cleaner Production aims to reduce the environmental, health and safety impacts of products over their entire life cycles, from raw materials extraction, through manufacturing and use, to the 'ultimate' disposal of the product
For services, Cleaner Production implies incorporating environmental concerns into designing and delivering services
EU thematic strategies There are 7 thematic strategies, which are part of the 6th
Environmental Action Plan Thematic strategy on the prevention and recycling of waste
COM(2005)666 As a first step, the Commission proposes revising the 1975
Waste Framework Directive to set recycling standards and to include a waste prevention strategy. This revision will also merge, streamline and clarify legislation, contributing to better regulation
Thematic Strategy on the Sustainable Use of Natural Resources COM(2005)670 The objective of the Thematic Strategy on the sustainable use of
natural resources is to reduce the environmental impacts associated with resource use and to do so in a growing economy.
Waste prevention strategy
Influencing practical decisions taken at various stages of the life cycle: design, manufacture, use phase
This strategy does not prescribe EU waste prevention targets as this would not be the most effective way to foster waste prevention Such targets fail to address the complexity of environmental
impact The weight of waste could be reduced yet the environmental
impact could increase, whereas small weight reductions can bring large reductions in environmental impact
Prevention measures will have to be taken at national, regional or local level
Waste strategies in Finland
Since Finland joined the EU in 1995, environmental legislation follows European Community legislation
The Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and the Council on Waste (COM(2005) 667 of 21.12.2005) places great attention on preventive measures: Obligation for Member States to develop publicly available
waste prevention programmes, in the context of sustainable production and consumption
“The promotion of research and development into the area of achieving cleaner and less wasteful products and technologies and the dissemination and use of the results of such research and development”
The work on Finland’s new waste plan (VALTSU) is in progress, and it shall include measures on waste prevention and (hopefully) promoting cleaner production
Passive environmental strategy
Strategy of dilute and spread or concentrate and store Dilution of waste streams, large smokestacks dispersing
emission to larger areas Heavy burden on the environment
Damage to human health for present and future generations Damage to aquatic environment Potential long-term consequences
Environmental non-compliance Surpassing emission limits
Ultimately the problems are not solved only postponed
Reactive environmental strategy
End-of-pipe solutions in essence Water purification systems Thermal destruction of hazardous waste Air-pollution control – scrubbers Wastes segregation and treated later
Heavy on investment and costly to maintain
Provides only temporary solution
Cleaner production – a proactive strategy
UNEP/DTIE
A preventive approach Addresses pollution at its source Waste avoidance
Not only temporary solution: needs top-level commitment, monitoring and continuous improvements
Numerous positive effects No need for external waste treatment Regulatory compliance Improved profits through better utilization
of raw materials and energy Savings in money, time, space
and other resources
Evolution of attitudes toward environmental issues
Passive environmental protection
Negative environmental impacts
Regulatory non-compliance
Active environmental protection
Costly end-of-pipe solutions
Inefficient
Cleaner production
Cost-effective
Regulatory compliance
More efficient use of
raw materials and energy
Ref.: Lanteigne et al. 2004
Cleaner Production is more than technology
The most common types of changes that are demonstrated by environmental improvements in industry are: changes to the type, quality or quantity of resources
used; improved maintenance or “housekeeping”; equipment modification or substitution; changes to processes; and, more recently, changes to
products and services. While these technical types of changes are
indispensable, it is not enough by itself to bring cleaner production in organisations. This is because of the human dimensions of
organisational change
The human dimension
Cleaner production is not only about changing raw materials, processes and products.
It is also about changing corporate culture and the attitudes of people.
An understanding of the dynamics of change within organisations undertaking cleaner production can help educators, consultants and other actors to improve the potential for success. Great role of teachers and researchers!
Conclusions
What does cleaner production mean for industry? Cost reduction Compliance with environmental regulation Greener image Improving competitiveness Better working conditions for employees A new corporate attitude Commitment for future
In sum: ecological, economical and social benefits Cleaner production should be the No.1. option in
solving pollution related problems!
References United Nations Environmental Programme Division of Technology
Industry and Economics (UNEP/DTIE): Cleaner Production. URL: http://www.uneptie.org/cp
UNEP/DTIE: Financing Cleaner Production. URL: http://www.financingcp.org/
United Nations Environmental Programme Division of Technology Industry and Economics (2002) Profiting from Cleaner Production. Towards Efficient Resource Management. URL: http://www.financingcp.org/training/Booklet.pdf
R. Lanteigne, V. Laforest, F. Breuil (2004) Clean Technologies and Best Available Techniques (BATs): An Overview. PRODEST project. Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Mines, Saint-Etienne, France. URL: http://www.emse.fr/site/entreprises/prodests/menu.html Chapter 1: The evolution of environmental strategies: Toward Cleaner
Production Chapter 5: How can Cleaner Production help reduce waste and make
profit: Case study