Cleaner production: beyond projects

Empirical research has revealed that, despite the positive results of many Cleaner Production case studies, in practice relatively little spontaneous spreading of the application of Cleaner Production approaches occurs. A new paradigm must replace the one used over the past 25 years of environmental protection activities, which focused upon carrying on the ‘normal’ ways of production and adding ‘cleaning’ technologies later, as needed. In many companies, this ‘normal’ practice still goes on today, while the new Cleaner Production awareness, which demands new practices and a new paradigm, has not been accepted by them or by most government officials. This paper reflects on the developments in Cleaner Production and Products research within the past few years.