Towards a green industry through cleaner production development

• Published in: Environmental science and pollution research international Vol. 29; no. 1; pp. 349 - 370
• Main Authors: de Mello Santos, Vitor Homem, Campos, Thalita Laua Reis, Espuny, Maximilian, de Oliveira, Otávio José
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 2022; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Aquatic Pollution; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; Best practice; Business competition; Clean technology; Commerce; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecotoxicology; Environment; Environmental Chemistry; Environmental Health; Environmental impact; Environmental Pollution; Environmental science; Hazardous areas; Hazardous materials; Incentives; Industrial development; Industrial pollution; Industry; Legislation; Management systems; Manufacturing industry; Policies; Pollution; R&D; Raw materials; Research & development; Review Article; Sustainable development; Technology; Waste Water Technology; Water Management; Water Pollution Control; Development framework; Technical-scientific scenario; Triple helix; Cleaner production
• ISSN: 0944-1344; 1614-7499
• DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-16615-2

The growth in global production and consumption rates has resulted in increased pollution generation by industrial companies. To this end, cleaner production is one of the most widely used strategies to reduce the environmental impacts of industry and gain competitive advantage. However, it is still adopted slowly in many places. Therefore, the objective of this study is to propose a framework composed of governmental, scientific, and industrial strategies, policies, initiatives, and research opportunities for the development of cleaner production. The best practices of the top countries in the cleaner production technical-scientific scenario and the main implementation challenges and opportunities for its scientific development were identified and were the reference for the framework proposals. In the government sector, the framework suggests actions to encourage the adoption of cleaner production practices through national policies, legislation, tax incentives, and educational campaigns. In the scientific sector, it suggested the development of studies about the factors that motivate its adoption, studies about clean technologies, and studies about the cleaner production implementation difficulties. In the industrial sector, it highlighted the importance of the engagement of upper management to focus on efforts to increase the efficiency of manufacturing processes with the adoption of clean technologies, management systems, strengthening of the research and development areas, and replacement of hazardous raw materials. Thus, this study contributes with initiatives that will help the implementation of cleaner production practices, reducing the generation of pollution in industry, increasing the efficiency of its processes, and aligning countries and societies to sustainable development.