Page 31 - Materials Chemistry, Second Edition

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1.4.1 GREEN CHEMISTRY
Green chemistry is the use of chemistry for PP2. In more detail, it is aimed at
designing chemical substances and, at the same time, production processes respectful
of the environment. This includes reducing or eliminating use and production of
dangerous substances. The concept of green chemistry was coined in 1995 and
encompasses all aspects and types of chemical processes such as synthesis, catalysis,
analysis, monitoring, reaction separators and conditions; PP2 minimizes their neg-
ative impact on human health and the environment. Therefore, this concept empha-
sizes the U.S. law concerning chemical substances (US EPA, 2000b).

1.4.2 CLEANER PRODUCTION
The concept of cleaner production (CP) was first introduced by UNEP-IE (United
Nations Environment Program, Division of Industry and Environment) in 1989. CP
means continuous use of a preventive and integrated environmental strategy. This
concept is applied to processes, products and services to increase eco-efficiency and
reduce risks to population and the environment. It is intended to preserve energy
and raw materials, as well as to eliminate toxic wastes and reduce the amount and
toxicity of all emissions and wastes generated in every process. CP demands attitudes
different from current ones in order to undertake responsible environmental man-
agement in the creation of adequate national policies and assessment of technology
options. Currently, administrations tend to demand the use of best available tech-
nologies (BAT). This strategy helps reduce costs as much as it does risks, as well
as to identify new opportunities. The aim of CP is to avoid pollution before it is
produced in every process or in the corresponding process chains (UNEP-IE, 2000).
Although eco-efficiency is based on aspects of economic efficiency that have
environmental benefits, cleaner production is based on aspects of environmental
efficiency with economical benefits. Therefore, UNEP and the WBCSD are fostering
similar concepts and have decided to join efforts. This new initiative combines UNEP
interests within the public sector with participation of the industrial sector at the
WBCSD. Their first joint action took place at the annual meeting of UNCSD (United
Nations Commission on Sustainable Development) in April and May, 1996, in New
York, under the title of Eco-Efficiency and Cleaner Production: Charting the Course
to Sustainability (UNEP and WBCSD, 2000).

1.4.3 TOTAL QUALITY ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
Total quality environmental management (TQEM) derives from quality activities
and describes processes following ISO 9000 and other standards. A few of the many
businesses that have implemented total quality management (TQM) include Ford
Motor Company, Phillips Semiconductor, SGL Carbon, Motorola, and Toyota Motor
Company. The following information helps to understand the key elements in the
TQM process:

• Total = each single person and activity within a business is involved.
• Quality = satisfying client demands.

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