CLEAN PRODUCTION

What is Clean Production?

Clean Production is not just about producing things in factories in a cleaner way. Instead it is a holistic way of looking at how design and consumption of products is causing severe ecological problems. Clean Production offers ways to reverse our current non sustainable use of materials and energy. Clean production promotes renewable energy and materials and sustainable product design, whcih means non-toxic products and processes. More importantly, it protects biological and cultural diversity whiel encouraging an apporach to production and consumption that is precautionary, preventive, and democratic.

Clean production is rroted within circular concepts of product life cycle. It:

• questions the need for products in the first place
• takes a precautionary approach to material selection and system and product design
• designs products for durability and reuse
• minimizes the use of renewable energy, water and raw materials
• uses safer or non-toxic inputs in production processes
• recirculates ecologically safe materials
• reduces consumption in current material- intensive economies while maintaining quality of life and materials
• assures sustainable work
• protects biological and social diversity

Clean Production begins with a comprehensive look at the way material flows in society. In particular it looks at the product chain: where raw materials come from, how and where they are processed, what waste are generated along the product chain, what products are made from the materials, and what happens to these products during their use and at the end of their commerical life.

It also questions the need for the product itself. Often the service that the product provides can be supplied by other means, that are cleaner, safer, and consume less materials and energy.

Beverly Thorpe, Citizen's Guide to Clean Production. January 2000.