Series: Environmental Science, Engineering and Technology
BISAC: SCI026000

Cleaner production is defined as the continuous application of an integrated preventive strategy for environmental protection in the developmental processes applied to products and services in industries & business organizations to increase overall efficiency and reduce risks to humans (consumers and industrial workers) and the environment from the hazardous chemicals and materials used in the production process. Cleaner production requires applying know-how, improving technology and changing attitudes.

Since 1950, there has been a tremendous increase in the production of diverse chemicals to satisfy our demands for consumer goods. According to the UNEP, worldwide nearly 80,000 chemicals are used every day and about 1500 new chemicals are added every year. A green chemistry movement is going on to develop environmentally benign chemicals and chemical processes to be applied in chemical industries and industries depending on chemicals such as paper, plastic, textile, dyeing, printing, photography, agriculture, and electronics.
Clean air, water and food are the basis of life on earth. Combustion of fossil fuels in industries, for power generation and in automobiles is the major source (90-95 %) of chemical air pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions. Promotion of solar, wind, and hydrogen fuel technology will completely eliminate them.

Chemically grown foods by agrochemicals are badly affecting human health. Some 25 million farmers are poisoned by pesticides, and some 10 to 20 thousand die every year from this. US scientists predict up to 20,000 Americans may die of cancer every year, due to low levels of residual pesticides in chemically grown foods. Hence, producing chemical-free foods by organic farming using biofertilizers and biopesticides is the only hope for civilization. Earthworms (Charles Darwin’s ‘friends of farmers’) & its vermicompost (produced from Organic wastes) promote high crop growth and also protect from pests and diseases. Earthworms can also clean (detoxify and disinfect) polluted lands and wastewater.

Potable water is a vanishing resource on Earth. Since 1950, global water use has more than tripled. Out of total water available on Earth, 97.5 % is saline. Nearly 2 % is frozen in polar icecaps & mountains. Only less than 1 % of groundwater and surface water is usable as potable water. Desalination technology to clean seawater into drinkable water is the only hope for civilization.
Eco-efficiency in use of raw materials, water and energy resources is also important because the natural resources of Earth are finite, and their demand is getting infinite with an increasing population and growing consumerism all over world. Eco-efficiency will also reduce waste and pollution, and GHG emissions with economic gains for the industries.
UNEP has pioneered the promotion of cleaner production philosophy. It called for all national governments for a long-term action plan to incorporate environmental concerns and problems, focusing on cleaner production into their educational curricula, especially in engineering and business management courses. Additionally, it called for the incorporation of developmental policies enacted for industries and business organizations. A joint Indo-Australian bilateral meeting on a clean development mechanism was organized in New Delhi in 2001.
(Imprint: Nova)