Zero emissions: The ultimate goal of cleaner production

Abstract Industry needs to respond to the needs and the preferences of the market. This implies that industry cannot generate pollution and cause health hazards—no consumer wants that. Zero is the only feasible target. Industry aims to produce more with the same or less inputs. Ideally, all material, liquid, gaseous and energy inputs should be found in the final product. However, if an industry tries to find this solution within its own processes, it can never succeed in reaching zero. Clusters of industries, where the waste of one is input for the other, will emerge as the solution. The ultimate goal of cleaner production is thus zero waste. This moves industry from pollution prevention and control into the new paradigm that is to become the industry standard.