From cleaner production to sustainable industrial production modes

The Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) is currently financing 11 Cleaner Production Centers (CPCs) in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Center design has evolved over time shifting the focus from traditional cleaner production centers (CPCs) focusing on awareness raising, training, information and “good housekeeping” measures towards centers with a stronger focus on transfer of environmentally sound technologies (ESTs) combined with financial services such as those offered by international environmental treaties. A concentration on good housekeeping measures in particular has proven to be commercially non-viable, meeting only partially the needs of enterprises and generating impacts with limited dissemination potential. The more successful centers are business oriented ones working best as independent entities directed by national and international stakeholders.