The Cleaner Production Model attempts to prevent and minimize waste and pollution in industrial processes, products, and services. Waste signifies inefficiency by burdening waste streams and introducing environmental and human health risks.

Cleaner Production reduces hazardous risks posed by production wastes. An example of this would be using chlorine-free paper production methods to eliminate the emission of dioxin. Another example would be using a clean energy source such as solar power to fuel production.

Key Elements:

The United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP) defines the following key elements of Cleaner Production:

• Includes processes, products and services, and their impacts, including design, utilization and usage of raw materials and energy
  
  
• Covers all wastes including hazardous/toxic or not, and air, water, and land emissions
  
  
• Requires continual improvement in efficiency through the utilization of new technology, managerial skills, and policies.
  

Waste = negative $0

The Cleaner Production model envisions a future of ecologically sustainable growth. This model views waste as a product with negative economic value.

International Declaration

The United Nations Environmental Programme International Declaration on Cleaner Production "is a voluntary but public statement of commitment to the strategy and practice of Cleaner Production." This declares a contribution to achieving sustainable production and consumption. The number of regional and national signatories now totals over 1700 worldwide. Learn more about the UNEP CP International Declaration.

Sources of Information:

• UNEP Cleaner Production Assessment
• UNEP Cleaner Production Activities
• Inform’s Pollution Prevention Project Inform website
• Cleaner Production.Com
• Envirosense
• Centre of Excellence in Cleaner Production
• Journal of Cleaner Production