Obstacles in Application of Cleaner Production in the Polish Industry

Abstract

Cleaner production (CP) and waste minimization (WM) which is strictly related to it, are the notions determining reduction or elimination of wastes produced by industry. The idea of cleaner production has become an integral part of environmental management and occupies one of the main positions in the ecological policy of many countries in the world. In these countries of highly developed industries, which were pioneers in this field, the propagation of the idea was not spontaneous. As we read in the definition proposed by UNEP, “cleaner production is the conceptual and procedural approach to production”, it is necessary to formulate a different approach to production processes. Production is understood as an elimination or reduction of wastes at the source instead of a costly processing of wastes. Hence, we should change the way of thinking and proceeding. This, however, is never an easy task.