4R’s

Definition - Cleaner Production

1. CP is the continuous application of an

integrated preventive environmental strategy
applied to processes, products and services to
increase overall efficiency, and reduce risks to
humans and the environment.
Source: United Nations Environment
Programme (UNEP/IEO), 1990

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4R’s

Definition - Cleaner Production

2. CP is the conceptual and procedural approach to
production that demands that all phases of the
life cycle of a product or of a process should be
addressed with the objective of prevention or the
minimization of short and long-term risks to humans
and the environment. A total societal commitment is
required for effecting this comprehensive approach
achieving the goal of a sustainable society.
Source: European Commission, 1st European
Roundtable on Cleaner Production Programmes,
1994.
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Definition - Cleaner Production

3. CP is the continuous application of an

integrated, preventive strategy applied to
processes, products and services in pursuit of
economic, social, health, safety and
environmental benefits.
Source: UNEP, International declaration on
cleaner production, 1998

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Definition - Cleaner Production

4. CP is a preventive strategy to minimise the

impact of production and products on the
environment. The principal actors are the
companies, which control the production
processes.
They are influenced strongly by their customers
and politics.
Source: Fresner, 1998

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4R’s

Definition - Cleaner Production

5. CP is a systematically organized approach to
production activities, which has positive effects on
the environment. These activities encompass
resource use minimization, improved eco-efficiency
and source reduction, in order to improve the
environmental protection and to reduce risks to
living organisms. It can be applied to processes used
in any industrial sector and to products themselves
(cleaner products).
Source: Glavic and Lukman, 2007

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4R’s

Definition - Cleaner Production

6. CP is a preventative approach to managing the
environmental impacts of business processes and
products. CP uses changes in technology,
processes, resources or practices to reduce waste,
environmental and health risks; minimise
environmental damage; use energy and resources
more efficiently; increase business profitability
and competitiveness; and increase the efficiency
Source: SD Features, 2017

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4R’s

Definition - Cleaner Production

7. CP is manufacturing in which waste

minimization and prevention practices are
continuously
applied. These practices include (1) conservation
of raw materials and energy, (2) elimination of
toxic inputs, and (3) reduction in toxic outputs
Source: Business Directory, accessed 2017

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4R’s

Definition - Cleaner Production

8. CP is a preventive, company- specific

environmental protection initiative. It is intended
to minimise waste and emissions and maximize
product output.
Source: Yaacoub and Fresner, 2006

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4R’s

Definition - Cleaner Production

9. CP is a preventive, integrated continuous

strategy applied to products, processes, and
services, to enhance efficiency, which improves
environmental performance and reduces costs
Source: Kaunas University of Technology
Lithuania

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4R’s

Definition - Cleaner Production

10. Cleaner technologies are technologies that
extract and use natural resources as efficiently as
possible in all stages of their lives; that generate
products with reduced or no potentially harmful
components; that minimise releases to air, water and
soil during fabrication and use of the product; and
that produce durable products which can be
recovered or recycled as far as possible; output is
achieved with as little energy input as is possible
Source: European Commission, Review of cleaner
production, 2017
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Definition - Cleaner Production

Exercise:
Based on the above ten definitions of CP
or from any other scientific literature,
frame your own definition of CP.

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4R’s

References
1. On the evolution of “Cleaner Production” as a
concept and a practice Hens, L Block, C;
Cabello-Eras, JJ; Sagastume-Gutierez, A; Garcia-
Lorenzo, D; Chamorro, C; Herrera Mendoza, K;
Haeseldonckx, D; Vandecasteele, C, Journal of
Cleaner Production, Vol: 172 Pg: 3323 – 3333,
2018-01.
2. Cleaner Production Toward a Better Future by
Francisco José Gomes da Silva Ronny Miguel
Gouveia, Springer, 2020.
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