International Activity Reports

United Nations Environment Programme

In September 1990, in Canterbury, UK, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP/IE PAC) held the first seminar on ‘Cleaner Production’, formally launching its Cleaner Pro- duction programme. In contrast to the traditional reactive approach to environmental impacts, cleaner pro- duction is a preventive environmental strategy that lowers impacts by applying innovations in technology and manage- ment. Cleaner production has many facets. In summary it means to consume fewer resources, less energy, and less toxic raw materials, and to generate fewer and less toxic air emissions, waste water, and solid and hazardous wastes. Thus, it applies to both production processes and products and requires a thorough understanding of the full life cycle impacts of products. Cleaner pro- duction means the application of good,

Australia

The advent of cleaner production (CP) in Europe is complimentary to much of the directional push of the Victorian (State Government) EPA in Australia. The Waste Management Strategy of 1986 and the Waste Minimisation Policy of 1990 contained, in essence, many of the CP principles as expounded by UNEP and the Pollution Prevention concepts in the US. It was therefore, a natural transition from waste minimis- ation to CP.

Australian involvement commenced with activities in the Ozone Protection projects as early as 1986 and it has chaired the UNEP Technical Options Committee for Aerosols, Sterilents and Carbon tetrachloride.

Following the UNEP Canterbury Conference in September 1990, EPA Victoria cemented its involvement in the Cleaner Production Program by accepting the Chair of the Metal Fin- ishing Working Group. It then began a concentrated awareness program, coupled with a distinct switch in empha- sis towards pro-active industry assist- ance in CP programs rather than the historical, more regulatory role for EPA.

appropriate technology and attentive management and operation practices. This does not always require high investments, but when it does, returns on investments are often short.

Since 1990, although its adoption has been slow, cleaner production has spread as a viable and preferable environmental management strategy. At the UNCED Earth Summit held in Brazil in June 1992, cleaner production is indeed woven throughout Agenda 21 and one specific programme area identified is “Promoting Cleaner Pro- duction”.

UNIDOLJNEP has also launched a programme to provide national cleaner production centres (NCPCs). The 20 centres in 20 developing countries will provide technical information, advice and training for industry and govern- ment professionals.

This promotional push culminated in the first Asia Pacific Conference in CP in Melbourne, Victoria in February 1992. This event was a watershed in gaining converts to the cause, proving how CP can draw conventional opponents to the negotiating table. Industry, Academia, Unions, Conser- vationists, Governmental Regulators, all realised the “Win Win” potential in CP for both industry and the environ- ment ,

Speakers from UNEP Paris, Denmark, Finland, the Netherlands, UK, USA, India, Thailand, Australia and other Asian nations presented the conference with actual experiences, trends in other nations, industry and community expectations. Workshops were held on the concepts of “Cradle to Grave” responsibility and “Corporate Commitment” to Cleaner Production. Delegates learned how to access and use the UNEP technology transfer data- base. Field trips to 17 companies using CP, enhanced the understanding of the concepts. A Conference Communique calls on all organisations in the region to foster CP. The Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT)

In this framework, UNEP/IE PAC continues to play its catalytic role, in cooperation with governments, industry and other international organizations, to raise world wide awareness about cleaner production and to transfer infor- mation and experiences about it.

In this context, UNEP welcomes the initiative taken by Butterworth- Heinemann to launch the Journal of Cleaner Production. Certainly, cleaner production cannot be successfully implemented without changing the behaviour of the public, government and industry and adopting new manage- ment styles. This journal will provide a most important forum to exchange information and experiences, thus con- tributing to the necessary changes.

Jacqueline Aloisi de Larderel UNEPIIE PAC, Paris, France

announced the establishment of a Mas- ters Degree in Cleaner Production, which is a world first. The Conference was supplemented with an interesting exhibition. Industry sector workshops were conducted according to the UNEP global working groups, where specific industry problems and possible sol- utions were openly discussed. Interim steering groups were formed to establish a Food Industry working group and some exploratory work was done for a Minerals Extraction and Processing working group.

The host organisation, the EPA of Victoria, has extended its involvement in CP and is seeking to establish a Centre for Cleaner Production which will concentrate on education, tech- nology transfer, industry incentives and Waste Minimisation projects. Industry will play an important role. Support is expected from UNEP and from the American Institute of Pollution Preven- tion.

Other States in Australia are follow- ing this lead very quickly. New South Wales has developed an action plan for an Environmental Industries Program and will work closely with the national

56 J. Cleaner Prod. 1993 Volume 1 Number 1