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

Waste costs

Treatment and disposal are only the tip of the waste iceberg…

(Source: UNEP-DTIE)

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