WHAT IS CLEANER PRODUCTION?

INTRODUCTION

Different approaches are used to deal with environmental degradation problems since over long time industrialization was started in different nations. The approaches such as to avoid the problem; to dilute the pollutants so that to reduce the impacts of pollutants; treat the pollution after it happens (end of pipe solution); prevent the pollution at source by cleaner production techniques were used. It is clear from the approaches that from over long time shift has been taken place from avoid to prevent that would enhance the economic investments, and improve the environment. This is the primary goal of cleaner production.

"Cleaner production is defined as the adoption of integrated preventive environmental strategies applied to processes, products and services in order to reduce the impacts, risk and harm to the environment and humans." 

Cleaner Production in terms of Production Processes

Cleaner Production in terms of production includes the care taken during the production processes such as preservation of raw materials, prohibition of toxic raw materials use and declining the amounts of waste production and toxicity.

Cleaner Production in terms of Product Processes

Cleaner Production in terms of product involves the care taken in product development and design e.g. reduction of harmful impacts in the whole life cycle of product development from raw materials mining to disposal of wastes. 

Cleaner Production in terms of Services Processes

During the delivery of services environmental parameters should be taken into account.

Difference between Pollution Control and Cleaner production

The basic difference between pollution control and cleaner production is of time. Pollution control is done after the pollution occurs means end of pipe treatment, react and than treat. While cleaner production deals with prevention, prevention of pollution at source by using cleaner production techniques. It is said that prevention is better than cure. Cleaner production reduce or can completely eliminate the pollution control strategy. Cleaner production is applied already in fisheries, agriculture, tourism, transportation, hospitals, energy systems etc.

CLEANER PRODUCTION PRINCIPLES

• Aim is to reduce the environmental and social impacts
• Reduce the raw materials use and energy inputs
• Reduce the toxicity of emissions and waste production
• Use of system analysis approach
• Production process is divided into inputs, activities and outputs
• It use the waste management hierarchy that is:
• Avoidance is better than reduction, reduction is better than reuse, disposal is on least priority. 

CLEANER PRODUCTION TECHNIQUES

Techniques used are:

Technological Advances

New equipments or new technologies are used such as heat exchangers used to capture heat from refrigerators.

Design Specifications

It is applied in the planning stage of development process

Housekeeping

Proper maintenance and proper workplace practices is one of better practice in clean production.

Process Optimization

Existing process could be optimized in order to reduce resource consumption patterns.

Raw material Substitution

Hazardous raw materials could be replaced with efficient raw materials.

BENEFITS OF CLEANER PRODUCTION

• Reduction of environmental impacts and risks.
• Improvement in production efficiencies
• Decline in energy use and production of waste
• Decrease in operating cost

RISKS AND BARRIERS OF CLEANER PRODUCTION

• Hinderence by management to introduce change
• High upfront cost with long paybacks
• Some measures are not applicable to short buisness