Cleaner Production Opportunities for Small to Medium Sized Enterprises

Cleaner Production is a comparatively new approach to dealing with environmental concerns and grasping the opportunities arising from those challenges. It aims at avoiding the generation of waste and emissions, by making more efficient use of materials and energy, through modifications in the production processes, input materials, operating practices and/or products and services. Although Cleaner Production was pioneered by large processing industries, it has become evident that it is likewise applicable to small and medium sized enterprises in manufacturing, construction and service industries. The paper reviews how selected Australian small to medium enterprises implemented Cleaner Production and profited from both the environmental as well as the financial benefits achieved. Moreover, the Centre of Excellence in Cleaner Production in small to medium sized enterprises is introduced along with a summary of its planned activities and initial achievements.