 |
Find out more about DTIE's work with Cleaner Production issues at the Cleaner Production Programme |
Order Information
Volume 21 No. 4
October - December 1998
Pages: 55 pages
Price: USD 15.00
View abstracts of selected articles from
this issue
Purchase this issue online
through EarthPrint
Purchase this issue by emailing
the order form (Word -174KB) to Earthprint
Purchase this issue by mailing
or faxing the order form (PDF - 121KB) to
Earthprint
Cleaner Production
- Editorials
- Presentations
- Keynote speeches on cleaner production
- Fifth International High-level Cleaner Production Seminar - Summary
Report
- Regional implementation and monitoring of cleaner production
- Future implementation of cleaner production
- Sustainable consumption and production - by Kenneth J.Ruffing
- Parallel sessions
- Pre-meetings
- Promoting cleaner production investments in developing countries
- Progress, conclusions and recommendations
- Launch of the International Declaration on Cleaner Production
- Reflections on cleaner production terminology – by Leo Baas
- Promoting cleaner production in China: overview and outlook – by Ruihe Tu
Other Topics
- Proactive partnerships between the oil industry and government to establish environmental guidelines: a New Zealand case study – by Trevor Bielski and Delyse Springett
- Recycling of plastics in Japan - Kotaro Masaki
- US EPA proposes collaboration with business on clean technologies – by William H. Mansfield III
Newsletters
- Tourism Focus (PDF)
News
- World News
- Industry Updates
- UNEP focus
- Books and reports
- Web site highlight
Sections
- Feedback
Editorial
Klaus Töpfer
United Nations Under Secretary General and Executive Director, UNEP
The Fifth International High-level Seminar on Cleaner Production marked the tenth anniversary of UNEP's Cleaner Production (CP) Programme. This seminar was the occasion for a biennial review of cleaner production initiatives worldwide, and of UNEP's CP activities in particular. It also saw the launch of the International Declaration on Cleaner Production.
Ten years on, cleaner production has built a record of successes. Among these are the adoption of the cleaner production philosophy by international agencies, the development of international and regional strategies, and the establishment of over 150 National Cleaner Production Centres (NCPCs). Universities now offer courses that allow students at all levels, as well as post-graduates, to study cleaner production. Many companies have implemented cleaner production measures and are making efforts to share their experiences with others in and across their industries. All these successes are the work of a large number of dedicated individuals who promote or practise cleaner production.
The state of the world's environment shows clearly, however, that despite this progress there is no room for complacency. The challenges for the future of cleaner production can only be met through innovation on the part of its promoters and practitioners alike. Cleaner production must move beyond demonstration projects to create an ongoing demand for cleaner production services that will spur continued progress and make this progress financially feasible.
UNEP is working to promote greater awareness of, and demand for, the benefits that cleaner production can bring to both business and the environment. Cleaner production is a strategy that can cut costs, identify new opportunities and reduce liabilities, bringing economic, health, safety and social (as well as environmental) benefits. This is good business language as much as good environmental language, and is a key component of responsible entrepreneurship. Nevertheless, despite its potential for economic benefits, cleaner production innovation has too often been stopped short by lack of financing, especially for small and medium enterprises. The problem is not a shortage of available funds, but a lack of mechanisms by which funds can be accessed and directed to appropriate initiatives. To help overcome this problem, UNEP will focus during the coming years on encouraging the financing of programmes for investment in cleaner production. It will also work to build greater understanding between the financial community and those seeking to innovate.
A key UNEP initiative for creating greater commitment to cleaner production is the International Declaration on Cleaner Production, introduced at the seminar. We believe it will gain the support of many societal leaders and generate demand for cleaner production. With the backing of these leaders, the Declaration can have a multiplier effect in attracting new partners to promote cleaner production. Technology suppliers, the financial community, and business and engineering schools can all make important contributions in this area. More attention also needs to be given to those areas of the world where there has been less progress.
The consumption side of cleaner production is another new focus for UNEP. Influencing consumption will clearly be critical if we are to achieve the goal of sustainable production and consumption. We do not underestimate the difficulties of meeting this challenge. It will be particularly important for us to work with the marketing and advertising sectors, in view of their great potential to influence consumers at all levels.
Economic instruments that levy charges on excessive pollution and use of resources have considerable potential to shift the focus to cleaner production. The aim of such instruments should be to make the cost of pollution greater than the cost of preventing it, thus providing a strong incentive to change. Cleaner production implicitly encourages this internalization of externalities, while allowing industry to bring its creative and financial might to bear on pollution problems.
Cleaner production strategies can contribute significantly to reaching
the goals of international conventions and protocols. The Framework Convention
on Climate Change (with the Kyoto Protocol and the Clean Development Mechanism),
as well as the Basel Convention and the emerging Chemicals Convention,
offer opportunities to establish cleaner production as the preferred strategy
to reach these goals, in the same way that it already contributes to the
international effort to phase out persistent organic pollutants (POPs).
This was the first cleaner production seminar to be held outside Europe,
a fitting symbol of cleaner production's growing global reach. Asia has
had its share of catastrophes recently - drought, flooding, forest fires.
The economic crisis has cast a further cloud over the region. In such
circumstances, one might expect enthusiasm for cleaner production to wane.
The fact that it hasn't demonstrates that there has been a realization
that cleaner production serves long-term financial and environmental goals.
The reality is that cleaner production, by encouraging wiser and more efficient use of resources, serves these goals in all regions. It addresses long-term visions and sustainable development, rather than short-term growth. There can be no sustained economic growth without wise resource management.
Choi Jae- Wook
Minister of Environment of the Republic of Korea
It is an honour for the Republic of Korea to host the Fifth International High-level Seminar on Cleaner Production, especially as this closes the chapter on the first ten formative years of the UNEP Cleaner Production Programme. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to everyone who has made dedicated efforts towards achieving concrete and constructive results through their active participation in the various elements of UNEP's cleaner production activities over that period. This seminar paves the way for a new direction in the 21st century, and thus it is extremely important.
As we enter the coming millennium, the historical and cultural turning point of the century, it is opportune to look back over the past. Humankind has achieved profound advances in knowledge, science and technology, while at the same time experiencing exceptional material growth.
However, as we enjoy the benefits of social development, wealth and prosperity, we are faced with the great challenge of overcoming the worsening global environmental problems - global warming, stratospheric ozone depletion, loss of biodiversity and water pollution - which will cause irreparable damage unless all nations make a concerted effort to resolve them. As His Excellency President Kim Dae-Jung said in his opening remarks, "we are witnessing various detrimental natural disasters around the world with causes that are hidden behind our remarkable scientific and technological civilization."
I personally feel that readily recognizable environmental problems such as water pollution, increased volumes of waste, and climate change are fundamentally linked to our educational systems, our production and consumption patterns, our outlook on the world, and our value systems. Therefore, environmental problems are not problems that can be tackled by simply establishing a couple of environmental policies, but can only ultimately be solved by changing our way of thinking and our awareness of environmental problems - which will, in turn, fundamentally alter the entire social structure.
Of course the term "fundamentally alter" does not imply that we should ignore the advances of civilization or the acceleration of the economic development that has improved our standard of living. It calls for an eclectic approach. "Fundamentally alter" means that economic prosperity and environmental protection must be harmonized, thus creating what we call an "eco-revolution" through which a safe and environmentally friendly society can be realized.
We all remember that the spirit of the Rio Declaration directed us to work towards more environmentally friendly production and consumption patterns and a better lifestyle, one more closely harmonized with global environmental capacity.
I consider cleaner production as a necessary alternative strategy that
promises sustainable development. It is my understanding that cleaner
production achieves both economic development and environmental conservation
by limiting the use of resources and energy and by preventing pollution
at source, from the beginning, at the product design and production stages.
This is a prudent strategy.
However, the cleaner production strategy cannot be established effectively
by only a few countries. We should gather together and make concerted
efforts to share and search for better ideas on a continuous basis.
In this regard, I feel that the Fifth International High-level Seminar on Cleaner Production succeeded in opening a new chapter in regard to cleaner production activities, promising a cleaner and more pleasant future for coming generations that will contribute to solving the problems of environmental deterioration which directly challenge the future of humanity.
"A crisis for mankind is gradually approaching, as a result of the destruction of nature under the pretext of improving the quality of life. We must understand that if we do not abstain from our arrogant belief that we can create material wealth through the conquest and domination of nature, it will no longer be possible for us to develop a prosperous civilization at all to that end we must hold life more precious than anything else and gather up wisdom so that cleaner production technology and production processes that preserve nature will spread around the world.
I wholeheartedly hope that all the issues discussed and policies adopted at this meeting will be translated into practical action by all nations and become a beacon of light for all mankind in the next millennium."
Kim Dae-Jung President of the Republic of Korea
Presentation
UNEP's Fifth High-level Seminar on Cleaner Production
Presentation
This special issue of Industry and Environment covers the Fifth International High-level Seminar on Cleaner Production, which was held on 29 September-1 October 1998 at Phoenix Park in the Republic of Korea. The seminar was organized by UNEP's Division of Technology, Industry and Economics and the Korea Environment Institute. It was hosted by the Government of Korea and President Kim Dae-Jung. More than 200 participants from over 50 countries - representing government, industry, research and education institutions, and NGOs - took part. The objectives of the seminar were:
- to review and evaluate cleaner production initiatives world-wide in the 1990s, with a special focus on the last two years;
- to assess the potential for further development in cleaner production, as well as barriers and ways to overcome them;
- to exchange advice and guidance in order to encourage synergies among the various cleaner production activities underway throughout the world; and
- to introduce the UNEP International Declaration on Cleaner Production.
The highlight of the seminar was the launch of the International Declaration on Cleaner Production, which had been identified as a strategic goal at the last high-level seminar in 1996. The Declaration commits signatories to adopt a preventive strategy and environmental performance targets, and to report on their progress towards cleaner production goals. It was signed by ministers and senior government representatives from countries including China, Indonesia, Norway, the Republic of Korea, Thailand and the United Kingdom, and by major corporations and representatives of chambers of commerce.
The seminar provided an opportunity to discuss such topics as the financing of cleaner production investments, technology development and co-operation, and technology innovation in specific industry sectors - such as food, textiles and chemical industries. Sustainable consumption was also one of the important components of the discussion. Twelve parallel sessions covered the food industry, technology development and cooperation, marketing and media, small and medium-sized enterprises, regional cleaner production initiatives, cleaner production initiatives in different industrial sectors, cleaner production and environmental management systems, supply chain management, eco-design, information exchange, cleaner production financing, and the International Declaration on Cleaner Production. The parallel sessions allowed participants to exchange information and ideas in smaller, more focused settings.
The seminar concluded with recommendations for actions by UNEP, the UNIDO/UNEP
National Cleaner Production Centres, and all other cleaner production
stakeholders. The recommendations highlight UNEP's role in leading and
coordinating the cleaner production effort.
We at UNEP hope this number of Industry and Environment will provide a
better understanding of issues and developments in the world of cleaner
production, and of its potential to contribute to both environmental protection
and economic benefits.
Cinquième séminaire international sur la production plus propre
Présentation
Ce numéro spécial de la revue Industry and Environment est consacré au Cinquième séminaire international sur la production plus propre qui s'est déroulé du 29 septembre au 1er octobre 1998 à Phoenix Park, en République de Corée. Organisé par la Division Technologie, Industrie et Economie du PNUE et l'Institut coréen de l'environnement, le séminaire était l'hôte du gouvernement coréen et du président Kim Dae-Jung. Il a vu la participation de plus de 200 délégués issus d'une cinquantaine de pays et représentant les administrations publiques, les milieux de l'industrie, de la recherche et de l'enseignement. Les objectifs étaient les suivants :
- passer en revue et évaluer les initiatives de production plus propre dans le monde au cours des années 1990, en particulier ces deux dernières années;
- évaluer le potentiel de développement futur de la production plus propre, ainsi que les obstacles et les moyens de les surmonter;
- échanger des avis et des conseils pour encourager les synergies entre les diverses activités de production plus propre actuellement engagées dans le monde;
- mettre en oeuvre la Déclaration internationale pour une production plus propre élaborée par le PNUE.
Le moment fort du séminaire a été le lancement de la Déclaration internationale pour une production plus propre, définie comme objectif stratégique lors du dernier séminaire en 1996. La Déclaration invite les signataires à adopter une stratégie préventive et des objectifs de performances environnementales, ainsi qu'à rendre compte régulièrement des progrès accomplis. Elle a été signée par des ministres et hauts représentants de plusieurs pays tels que la Chine, l'Indonésie, la Norvège, la République de Corée, la Thaïlande et le Royaume-Uni, ainsi que par de grandes firmes et des représentants de chambres de commerce.
Le séminaire a été l'occasion d'aborder des sujets tels que le financement des investissements dans la production plus propre, le développement et la coopération technologiques, l'innovation technologique dans certains secteurs industriels, notamment l'agroalimentaire, les textiles et les produits chimiques. Les débats ont également fait une large place à la consommation durable. Douze sessions parallèles abordaient les thèmes suivants : l'agroalimentaire, le développement et la coopération technologiques, la commercialisation et les médias, les PME, les initiatives régionales de production plus propre, les initiatives de production plus propre dans différents secteurs industriels, la production plus propre et les systèmes de management environnemental, la gestion de la chaîne d'approvisionnement, l'écodesign, les échanges d'informations, le financement de la production plus propre et la Déclaration internationale pour une production plus propre. Ces sessions ont permis aux participants d'échanger des informations et des idées dans un cadre plus restreint et plus spécialisé.
Pour clore le séminaire, le PNUE, les Centres nationaux de production plus propre créés par le PNUE et l'ONUDI, et toutes les autres parties prenantes ont formulé un certain nombre de recommandations sur les actions à mener. Celles-ci soulignent le rôle du PNUE en tant qu'instigateur et coordinateur des efforts de production plus propre.
Nous espérons que cette édition de Industry and Environment favorisera une meilleure compréhension des problèmes et des événements qui touchent la production plus propre, et du rôle que peut jouer le PNUE pour contribuer à la protection de l'environnement et au progrès économique.
V Seminario de Alto Nivel del PNUMA sobre Producción Más Limpia
Presentación
Esta edición especial de la revista Industry and Environment está consagrada al V Seminario de Alto Nivel del PNUMA sobre Producción Más Limpia, que se celebró del 29 de septiembre al 1 de octubre de 1998, en el Phoenix Park de la República de Corea. La organización del Seminario corrió a cargo de la División de Tecnología, Industria y Economía del PNUMA y el Instituto Coreano de Medio Ambiente. Se ofició bajo los auspicios del Gobierno de Corea, cuyo anfitrión fue Su Excelencia el Presidente Kim Dae-Jung. Asistieron más de 200 personas de 50 países, en representación de instituciones gubernamentales, industriales, de investigación y educativas, además de ONG. Los objetivos del seminario fueron los siguientes:
- revisar y evaluar las iniciativas de producción más limpia de todo el mundo durante la década de los 90, centrándose sobre todo en el último bienio;
- estudiar el potencial de desarrollo ulterior en materia de producción más limpia, así como los obstáculos a los que se enfrenta y las soluciones plausibles;
- favorecer el intercambio de asesoramiento y ayuda, para promover así la interacción entre las actividades de producción más limpia vigentes en el mundo, y
- presentar la Declaración Internacional sobre Producción Más Limpia del PNUMA.
El principal foco de interés del seminario fue el lanzamiento de la Declaración, considerada ya en el seminario de 1996 como una las metas estratégicas más importantes. Dicha Declaración implica el compromiso formal de sus signatarios a adoptar una estrategia preventiva y a fijarse una serie de objetivos en pro del entorno, además de informar puntualmente sobre sus avances en la consecución de los objetivos de producción más limpia. Lo ratificaron mediante su firma ministros y representantes gubernamentales de alto rango de países tales como China, Indonesia, Noruega, la República de Corea, Tailandia y el Reino Unido, así como grandes multinacionales y representantes de diversas cámaras de comercio.
El seminario constituyó una gran oportunidad para debatir sobre temas como la financiación de las inversiones en producción más limpia, el desarrollo y la cooperación tecnológica, y las innovaciones tecnológicas en sectores industriales específicos (como el alimentario, el textil y la industria química). Otra de las cuestiones que imperó en las conversaciones fue el consumo sostenible. Se organizaron doce sesiones paralelas, relativas a la industria alimentaria, el desarrollo y la cooperación tecnológicas, el marketing y los medios de comunicación, las pequeñas y medianas empresas, las iniciativas regionales de producción más limpia, las iniciativas en la misma materia aplicadas a distintos sectores industriales, la producción más limpia y los sistemas de gestión ambiental, la gestión de la cadena de proveedores, el diseño ecológico, el intercambio de información, la financiación de la producción más limpia y la Declaración Internacional sobre Producción Más Limpia. Las sesiones paralelas permitieron a los participantes intercambiar información y puntos de vista en un marco más reducido y específico.
Entre las conclusiones cabe mencionar las recomendaciones del PNUMA, los Centros Nacionales de Producción Más Limpia de ONUDI y el PNUMA sobre las actividades futuras, así como las de otros representantes inscritos en el programa de Producción Más Limpia. Todos subrayaron el papel fundamental que el PNUMA desempeña en la coordinación y el liderato de la labor en pro de una producción más limpia.
Todos los componentes del PNUMA confiamos en que el presente número de la revista Industry and Environment contribuya a dar a conocer con más nitidez el ámbito y la evolución de la producción más limpia, así como su influencia beneficiosa, tanto en los aspectos económicos como en favor de la protección del entorno.
Progress, conclusions and recommendations
UNEP's Cleaner Production Programme was initiated at the request of the
UNEP Governing Council in 1989. At the CP Programme's launch in Canterbury
in 1990, it was decided that progress would be reviewed every two years.
Seminars have been held in Paris (1992), Warsaw (1994) and Oxford (1996).
On each occasion the cleaner production network has been seen to grow and diversify. Cleaner production promoters and practitioners from around the world have been invited to share their experiences, good and bad, and to help plan priorities for the following two years and beyond. New advocates and allies in the promotion and implementation of cleaner production are also invited.
The success of these seminars can therefore be attributed to what takes place informally in the corridors as well as to the more formal events.
At Oxford in 1996, a set of recommendations was adopted:
- to produce an international protocol on cleaner production;
- to ensure a better balance of attention to sustainable consumption, as well as to production issues;
- to work more closely with the financial sector;
- to establish a benchmarking demonstration project for cleaner production;
- to ensure that all the UNIDO/UNEP National Cleaner Production Centres have Business Plans to which they adhere.
The Fifth Seminar, held in Phoenix Park, was the first outside Europe. Progress in implementing those recommendations was reported:
- The International Declaration on Cleaner Production, after a two-year participative and iterative process, was ready for launching in Korea;
- In addition to the agenda in Korea reflecting more attention to "demand" side issues (life cycle assessment, supply chain management, marketing and eco-design, etc.), UNEP has established new capacity in consumption issues in its Paris office with the assistance of the Dutch government;
- The Norwegian government has assisted UNEP to establish a three-year study addressing "strategies and mechanisms to promote cleaner production investments in developing countries," with initial attention to Vietnam, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Tanzania and Zimbabwe. The project is closely linked with the UNEP Financial Services Initiative (FSI).
- Progress on the pilot study to evaluate benchmarking as a cleaner production tool in the metal finishing industry was reported by a UNEP Working Group from Australia.
- All UNIDO/UNEP National Cleaner Production Centres now have operational Business Plans, after several training exercises in their preparation, and new centres have been created.
Approximately 250 people from 50 countries participated in the Korean seminar. Opening the seminar in a video message, President Kim Dae-Jung praised the success of the Cleaner Production Programme. Klaus Töpfer (UNEP's Executive Director) referred to the unrealized potential of economic instruments to shift the focus to cleaner production by making the cost of pollution more expensive than that of preventing it. He also referred to the need to better relate the goals of the Cleaner Production Programme to those of existing and emerging international conventions and protocols. The Korean Minister of Environment (Choe Jae-Wook) referred to the futility of expecting environmental problems to be solved by a few environmental policies rather than a fundamental shift in our value systems and beliefs.
The seminar concluded with ten key recommendations:
1. A need was identified for a systematic approach to the development of regional initiatives. In the previous two years, regional coordination activities for cleaner production have expanded the pioneering work of the US and Canadian Pollution Prevention Roundtable. Most recently, the Cleaner Production Roundtable of the Americas, the Cleaner Production Regional Consultative Group for Africa and the Asia-Pacific Cleaner Production Roundtable have complemented the European Roundtable and the Regional Environmental Centre based in Hungary. Participants considered this a very positive development.
The general opinion was expressed that regional "roundtables" had an important role in coordinating the many cleaner production initiatives developing world-wide. However, these "roundtables" in turn need coordination themselves. Without their integration in a structured programme, the potential exists for duplication and conflict.
Clear goals and strategies need to be established in a coordinated way. UNEP, as an impartial intergovernmental agency, was recommended as the appropriate body to develop these. The work of the OECD in developing "basic capacity level" in regard to cleaner production in the Central and Eastern European countries and Newly Independent States was cited as a good example to build upon. In measuring the progress of these regional institutions, participants recommended that the six most important success criteria were: engagement of local industry, leadership by local "champions", action rather than a conference and seminar orientation, exhibiting a strategic and integrative focus, recognition of local or regional priorities, and management by objective setting.
UNEP should also act as facilitator of inter-regional communication. One suggestion for achieving this was to expand the National Centres for Cleaner Production to serve the regional network as well.
It was further recommended that UNEP'S next cleaner production review seminar incorporate a "roundtable of roundtables" meeting as a central element. Currently, the regional review sessions of the cleaner production seminars only partially meet this need.
It was strongly recommended that the UNIDO/UNEP National Cleaner Production Centres and Working Groups, as well as UNEP's regional offices, play a more active role in these regional initiatives where they exist.
2. In recognition of the continuing challenge of getting the cleaner production message to more small and medium-sized enterprises, it was recommended that UNEP attempt to improve its influence on multinational companies. There is a need to encourage them to share their experiences with their suppliers and customers. The potential of making cleaner production benefits better understood through supply chain relations has only recently started to be effective. It was recognized that SMEs were too numerous to reach effectively in any way other than via "gatekeepers".
The customer-supplier relations between multinationals and small-scale operators was an area of largely unrealized potential when it came to spreading the cleaner production message.
3. An area of important development where cleaner production is still missing is that of Technical Committee 207 of the International Organization for Standardization. Given the review of the ISO 14000 series on environmental management systems currently underway, it is important for UNEP to be actively involved. It was recommended that UNEP lobby to have cleaner production defined explicitly in the revision of the series and to promote it as a recommended requirement of "continual improvement". Cleaner production could provide more substantive content to the concept of continual improvement and give more strategic direction to an environmental management system overall.
ISO 14001 and the cleaner production strategy are widely recognized as being mutually reinforcing, yet this remains largely unrealized potential.
4. If sustainable development is to be effectively addressed, more attention
to consumption and demand side issues is required alongside the predominant
attention currently given to production and supply side issues. In the
shift of focus from processes to products and services, a need was recognized
to be mindful of the social and ethical dimensions of such a programme
as well as the more technical ones. A need exists to ensure that local
relevance, local solutions, and cultural diversity are key elements of
the developing consumption programme.
It was recommended that UNEP pay particular attention to the marketing
and advertising sectors and ensure that they are involved in the cleaner
production movement. It was suggested that this was not only because of
their influence on consumption behaviour, but also because of the expertise
that they can bring to improving the marketing of cleaner production as
a concept per se.
It was recommended that UNEP set up a network of interested parties on sustainable consumption and that consumption related case studies be collated. It was recommended that a working group be established on cleaner production and marketing.
5. It was generally agreed that the contribution that cleaner production can make to the implementation of existing and emerging initiatives is not being fulfilled. UNEP was urged to better promote the role that cleaner production can play in achieving the goals of, for example, the Framework Convention on Climate Change, the embryonic Chemicals Convention, the Montreal Protocol and the Basel Convention.
6. It was recommended that UNEP establish a new working group on cleaner production information collection and dissemination. The Canadian Roundtable on Pollution Prevention was recommend as an excellent host and lead agency to develop this.
7. With regard to the International Declaration on Cleaner Production, UNEPs Regional Offices and the UNIDO/UNEP National Cleaner Production Centres were encouraged to set up promotional signing ceremonies. The example of the Philippines Business for the Environment Group was used as a model for such ceremonies. UNEP was requested to develop general guidelines on these events and for the monitoring of the Declaration implementation. The NCPCs should use the Declaration as a tool in better performing the policy recommendation dimensions of their work.
8. A need for a closer relationship between the Working Groups and the NCPCs was again recommended. The NCPCs were requested to make better use of the services of the Working Groups.
9. It was recommended that UNEP concentrate on consolidating existing successes rather than embarking on any major new initiatives. Cleaner production has now moved out of its early growth phase, and the need is to ensure that initiatives that have been put in place are supported and sustained rather than that new initiatives be established which may dilute the support services available to the status quo.
10. Canada informally noted that it was investigating the possibility of hosting the next cleaner production seminar in 2000 and holding the "roundtable of regional roundtables".
Reflections on cleaner production terminology
Leo Baas, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Erasmus Centre for Environmental Studies, P.O. Box 1738, 3000 DR Rotterdam, the Netherlands
Abstract
Governments and industry now generally favour the preventive approach represented by cleaner production. However, new concepts and new terminology often create confusion. This article is intended to help unravel the "tangled web of terminology".
Résumé
A l'heure actuelle, les gouvernements et l'industrie choisissent généralement la démarche préventive de production plus propre. Mais les nouveaux concepts et la nouvelle terminologie créent souvent des confusions. Cet article s'efforce de démêler la " toile inextricable de la terminologie ".
Resumen
Tanto los gobiernos como el sector industrial se inclinan por el carácter preventivo que distingue a la producción más limpia. Sin embargo, los nuevos conceptos y los neologismos que los expresan suelen crear confusión. Mediante este artículo, se pretende desenredar esa "maraña terminológica".
Promoting cleaner production in China: overview and outlook
Ruihe Tu,* Department of International Cooperation, State Environmental
Protection Administration (SEPA), 115 Xizhimennei Nanxiaojie, Beijing,
100035, China
Abstract
This article reviews China's cleaner production practices; summarizes the policies and activities of the central and local governments and of international cooperative activities; analyses progress already made in regard to promoting cleaner production; and discusses the challenges that remain. Ten recommendations are made for achieving wider adoption of cleaner production in China.
Résumé
L'article passe en revue les pratiques de production plus propre adoptées en Chine ; résume les politiques et activités des autorités centrales et des collectivités locales, ainsi que les activités de coopération internationale ; analyse les progrès accomplis en matière de promotion de la production plus propre ; examine les obstacles qui restent à surmonter. Dix recommandations sont faites pour généraliser l'adoption de la production plus propre en Chine.
Resumen
Este artículo estudia las prácticas de producción más limpia en China. Ofrece un compendio de las líneas directrices y las actividades del gobierno central y las jurisdicciones locales, así como de las actividades internacionales de cooperación, además de analizar los progresos logrados en la promoción de la producción más limpia y los obstáculos que quedan por salvar. Incluye diez recomendaciones para difundir la puesta en práctica de la producción más limpia en China.
Proactive partnerships between the oil industry and government to establish environmental guidelines: a New Zealand case study
Trevor Bielski,* Procurement Manager, BP Australia Limited, PO
Box 5222, Melbourne, Victoria 3000, Australia
Delyse Springett, Lecturer, Business and Sustainability; Leader,
Programme for Business and Sustainable Development, College of Business,
Massey University, Box 11-222, Palmerston North, New Zealand * Former
Chairperson, Oil Industry Environmental Working Group (NZ)
Abstract
In New Zealand, regulatory agencies and the country's four major oil marketing companies have been working together to ensure that discharges and emissions from petrol and diesel storage and handling facilities meet legal requirements. A process has been developed to identify issues, share knowledge, and develop appropriate standards and operating guidelines. This case study is presented as a model of proactive government-industry cooperation which others might be able to adapt to their particular circumstances.
Résumé
En Nouvelle Zélande, les agences de réglementation et les quatre principales compagnies pétrolières du pays se sont associées pour ramener aux normes légales les déversements accidentels et les émissions des installations de stockage et de manutention de l'essence et du gazole. Un processus permettant d'identifier les problèmes, de partager les connaissances et de définir des normes adéquates et des principes d'exploitation a été élaboré. Cette étude de cas est présentée comme un modèle de coopération dynamique entre le gouvernement et l'industrie, modèle que d'autres pays peuvent adapter à leur contexte spécifique.
Resumen
Las agencias neozelandesas de regulación y las cuatro principales compañías de comercialización del petróleo están colaborando para garantizar que las emisiones y el vertido de petróleo y diesel derivados de su manipulación y almacenamiento se desarrollan de acuerdo con la normativa legal estipuladas. Se han establecido dispositivos de búsqueda de soluciones, intercambio de conocimientos y elaboración de pautas normalizadas y líneas directrices de actuación. Este caso constituye un modelo de cooperación entre el gobierno y la industria, que podría aplicarse en otros contextos, una vez adaptado a sus circunstancias concretas.
Recycling of plastics in Japan
Kotaro Masaki, PET Bottle Recycling Project Department, Clean Japan Center,* Daini-Akiyama Building, 3-6-2 Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 105, Japan
Abstract
The Clean Japan Center is an NGO concerned with recycling. This article presents an overview of methods for recycling products made of various types of plastic. A number of such methods are in use or being studied. Emphasis is given to the state of plastics recycling in Japan.
Résumé
The Clean Japan Center est une ONG spécialisée dans le recyclage. Le présent article dresse un panorama des méthodes de recyclage des produits en divers types de matière plastique. Plusieurs d'entre elles sont déjà en usage ou à l'étude. L'article met l'accent sur la situation au Japon en matière de recyclage des matières plastiques.
Resumen
El Clean Japan Centre (Centro Limpio de Japón) es una ONG consagrada al reciclado. El presente artículo expone a grandes rasgos los métodos de reciclado de productos derivados de diversos tipos de plástico. Algunos de esos métodos se están utilizando ya o están siendo estudiados. Se hace hincapié en el grado de desarrollo del reciclado de plásticos en Japón.
