Regional initiatives on promoting cleaner production in China: a case of Liaoning

With the increasing environmental issues, now cleaner production has been implemented across all the regions of China. During this process, regional governments have played a leading role for promoting cleaner production. Main measures include coordinating the various stakeholders, providing financial support, stipulating appropriate policies and conducting capacity building programs. Such an innovative initiative is quite unique and should be further studied. This paper reflects such a perspective through a case study of Liaoning province. We first introduce the main initiatives for the promotion of cleaner production in Liaoning and then identify the key barriers. Our focus is to provide suggestions for future improvements. Finally we make our conclusions.     

液化天然气项目的清洁生产分析

清洁生产是中国实施可持续发展的主要举措,清洁生产分析评价也是环境影响评价中的重要组成部分。本文以陕北一液化天然气建设项目为例,主要从生产工艺与装备、资源与能源利用、产品、污染物产生、废物回收综合利用等五方面进行定性或定量分析,鉴于国内目前尚未制定液化天然气的清洁生产指标,本文仅通过分析得出项目是否符合清洁生产要求的明确结论,并提出项目改进清洁生产的实施方案建议,为环境影响评价中清洁生产的编写提供一些思路。     

某精细化工企业清洁生产审核实践研究

以某企业的清洁生产审核为例,阐述分析精细化工行业开展清洁生产审核的必要性及实践意义.针对该企业存在的八方面问题,提出切实可行的无低费及中高费清洁生产方案共计28项,经核算各方案的经济、环境、社会效益,指出企业开展清洁生产审核的实际价值,为企业节能减排、低碳发展指明方向.本次审核初步探讨了清洁生产在精细化工行业的具体实践,对该行业清洁生产的践行具有一定的指导意义.     

Encouraging industry to assess and implement cleaner production measures

Cleaner production stakeholders have a strong desire for industry to consider cleaner production opportunities in their facilities and once they are assessed, to follow through on their implementation. This paper examines local and international initiatives within the Canadian stakeholder community (including government, NGOs, consultants, industry) that contribute to the initiation and implementation of cleaner production in industry. Specifically, stakeholders have consciously drafted regulatory compliance, education, co-funding incentives, and development-based cleaner production programs. As illustrated by case studies from six industries, the programs work together to create a climate favorable for implementation of cleaner production concepts and approaches. Based on the cleaner production drivers and barriers identified by research, the programs are well designed. However, as with cleaner production itself, there is always room for further improvement. Specifically: (i) regulatory compliance programs and timetables should leave room for cleaner production (versus end-of-pipe) approaches; (ii) cleaner production co-funding programs should target small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) and require them to use a multimedia approach (air, water, waste); (iii) education programs should incorporate demonstration assessments, feasibility assessments of common recommendations, and follow-up communication to foster implementation and continuous improvement; and (iv) mandated cleaner production should include absolute (i.e. waste/tonne production) rather than relative standards (i.e. X% reduction from status quo) in order to avoid penalizing historically proactive corporations.     

The adoption of cleaner vehicles in the UK: exploring the consumer attitude–action gap

This paper reports the initial findings of two research projects that identify attitudinal barriers inhibiting the adoption of cleaner vehicles in the UK. The first, conducted for the Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership by Ecolane Transport Consultancy, reviews the evidence of consumer attitudes to low carbon cars. The study shows that car buyers have a poor knowledge of cleaner car technologies, the environmental impacts of road transport and car ownership costs. The second study, initiated within the Open University's Design Innovation Group, identifies key ‘hotspot’ factors that influence consumers' adoption of low carbon products. The study, which is ongoing, has concluded that identifying where and when these hotspot points of leverage occur could help inform initiatives to facilitate consumer adoption and effective use.     

The importance of assessment tools in promoting cleaner production in the metal finishing industry

Various cleaner production (CP) audits have been conducted in the South African metal finishing industry. These studies have been successful in effecting changes to the general status of the local metal finishing industry. In this paper, the initiatives undertaken by a Danish government sponsored project are detailed. The project included the conducting of in-plant assessments, using a tailor-made tool for CP benchmarking. Details on this tool's operations and typical results are presented. Typical assessments indicated potential water savings of 78%, with chemical savings of approximately 30%. The plant modifications undertaken in order to achieve the CP objectives, are described. The affects of these initiatives on local municipal wastewater treatment works are detailed with specific reference to significant reductions in incoming wastewater-borne heavy metals. The main challenge for companies has been data retrieval for the tool and overcoming social barriers for implementing the improvement options. Recommendations include redesigning the assessment tool.     

Environmental management accounting as a reflexive modernization strategy in cleaner production

Understanding the material purchase value of wastes and emissions and related processing costs is the essential contribution of an Environmental Management Accounting methodology proposed by a United Nations expert working group organised through the Division for Sustainable Development (UNDSD). Tracing costs and benefits according to this UNDSD methodology, considered as a “reflexive” modernization strategy in this article, sheds new light on cleaner production initiatives for corporate sustainability. Information on the first category of costs, waste and emission treatment, is generally the most accurate. Information on the second category, prevention and environmental management costs, is more difficult to determine because this category overlaps with, or is confused with, the first category of costs. Data for the two novel and innovative cost categories of the material purchase value of waste and emissions and related processing costs are even harder to obtain. Frequently, the costs are either hidden in overhead accounts or are not recorded because they are not required in conventional accounting systems. The outcome is that companies, even though they may profess otherwise, have very little knowledge about their full environmental costs, cost saving opportunities, or how best to achieve cleaner production initiatives to promote corporate sustainability. A more systematic application of the UNDSD EMA methodology would provide a better record of costs and act as a catalyst in promoting cleaner production processes. This application inevitably requires “reflexive institutions” including “reflexive corporations”, that is, corporations with the capacity to examine the side effects of their operations as modernization rebounds upon them.     

When case studies are not enough: the influence of corporate culture and employee attitudes on the success of cleaner production initiatives

Cleaner production is not only about changing raw materials, processes and products. It is also about changing corporate culture and the attitudes of people. An understanding of the dynamics of change within organisations undertaking cleaner production can help educators, consultants and project champions to improve the potential for success. The purpose of this paper is to provide insight into the range of key human dimensions that are potentially relevant to the success of cleaner production initiatives. The paper includes examples of the literature relevant to the subject as well as a summary of the results of research into elements of change within 22 organisations participating in a major cleaner production demonstration project in New Zealand. The research was designed to provide insight into changes in key indicators of environmental management and cleaner production, as well as elements of organisational culture and attitudes. For control purposes, a group of randomly selected organisations was also included. Organisations were surveyed before the start of the demonstration project and approximately a year later. Not surprisingly, results for the demonstration group show trends towards indicators of environmental management and cleaner production. Conversely, results for the control group indicate a trend away from environmental management and cleaner production. Trends in organisational culture and attitudes are less predictable. The paper provides a discussion of the implications of the results and suggests that organisational change theory should be incorporated into cleaner production research and programme development, implementation and evaluation.     

The Queensland food eco-efficiency project: reducing risk and improving competitiveness

For the past several years, cleaner production, or what is now commonly referred to as eco-efficiency by the business sector, has been promoted widely, but in a relatively ad-hoc manner. As a consequence, the advantages to industry and society stemming from the uptake of eco-efficiency have been difficult to quantify and assess. This paper details how the Queensland Food Processing Eco-Efficiency Project has attempted to overcome some of these barriers by implementing a two year project focused on: involving and gaining the support of as much of the industry sector as possible; using external expertise, providing the support and technical advice essential to the successful uptake of eco-efficiency by businesses; establishing the key environmental concerns for the industry; identifying realistic eco-efficiency opportunities through site assessments and visits; developing case studies based on quantifiable outcomes; developing tools and resources to enable businesses to successfully implement their own eco-efficiency initiatives; the wide and free distribution of these resources and tools to the entire Queensland industry; follow up workshops and awareness briefings together with the eventual development of a forum to allow effective industry networking to continue.     

石油化工企业的精细化清洁生产审核

以某特大型石化企业的审核工作为例,探讨了国家和中国石化对清洁生产审核要求的主要区别,并提出如何实现精细化清洁生产审核。     

辽宁省推行清洁生产的实践与认识

我国自 1992年实施推行清洁生产以来 ,在试点示范、宣传培训、机构建设、国际合作及政策研究等方面取得了较大的进展。但要在全国范围内持续有效地推行清洁生产 ,尚存在不少障碍与问题 ,急需研究与探讨。本文仅以辽宁的情况为例 ,作一简要分析。     

清洁生产技术在制革工业生产中的应用

分析了我国制革工业的污染现状 ,提出了制革工业推行清洁生产的必要性及实现清洁生产的途径。通过生产性试验研究出羊皮制革工业的清洁生产技术 ,详细分析了羊皮制革工业在生产过程中采用清洁生产技术的污染物削减情况。     

辽宁省农业清洁生产的发展现状与对策研究

农业清洁生产作为21世纪农业发展的新模式,已得到了全世界的认同并在中国各地得到了广泛推广.辽宁省是中国农业大省,传统的农业发展模式亟待向生态农业、现代农业转变.文章试从农业清洁生产的内涵入手,阐述了农业清洁生产在辽宁省的发展历史和现状,并围绕着辽宁省在农业领域推行清洁生产过程中存在的问题,如生态环境日益恶化、政策制度不够健全、农民清洁生产意识淡薄、缺少相关的人才和技术等,提出了相应的对策和建议.     

电解铝清洁生产评价及其管理系统的开发研究

通过研究电解铝清洁生产评价指标体系及其评价方法,分析了电解铝清洁生产评价工作的特点和存在的问题,开发了电解铝清洁生产评价管理系统.系统的功能结构主要包括系统管理、清洁生产评价指标管理、参评企业信息管理、清洁生产评价四个部分.通过实际运行,本系统可以对电解铝清洁生产评价指标的信息进行查询、修改和更新,能够对企业进行清洁生产评价,是有关部门和电解铝生产企业开展清洁生产评价的有效工具,能有力推动电解铝行业清洁生产的发展.     

燃煤电厂清洁生产审核应用探讨

作为国家明确要求开展清洁生产审核行业之一,某燃煤电厂依据清洁生产审核思路,从原辅料和能源、技术工艺、过程控制、设备、管理、员工、产品、废物生产过程的八个方面,按照审核准备、预审核、审核、方案产生和筛选、方案确定、方案实施、持续清洁生产七个实施阶段在企业内部开展清洁生产审核工作,实现了本轮清洁生产目标,并取得了显著的环境效益和经济效益。     

康洁生产——高技术污染下清洁生产的新视点

清洁生产自80年代末在美国等发达国家提出以后。得到国际社会的普遍响应，成为一种环保潮流，被认为是环境战略由被动反应转向主动行动的一个转折点，当今高技术污染呈现许多新的特点。对清洁生产理念提出挑战。文章从清洁生产的起源和发展出发。通过反思高技术污染对清洁生产的挑战，指出了“清洁生产”需要理论完善，提出了“康洁生产”这一环境战略的新观念。     

清洁生产标准指标体系在审核中的作用

清洁生产审核已成为企业实施清洁生产的有效手段,清洁生产标准指标体系在审核工作中具有举足轻重的作用。文章分析了清洁生产标准指标体系在审核中的作用:判断企业清洁生产潜力,确定审核重点;设置科学合理的清洁生产目标;对审核产生的绩效进行评估;建立长期持续的清洁生产计划。同时,以某制革企业为例,说明清洁生产标准体系的具体应用。     

煤炭开采行业清洁生产审核应选用指标探讨

在对铁法煤业集团所属6个煤矿的清洁生产审核工作基础上，从生产和管理的9个方面对煤炭的清洁生产指标进行了调查和分析，最后确立了38项清洁生产评估指标，并分别给出了权重和基准值。     

Advancing Towards a Hydrogen Energy Economy: Status,Opportunities and Barriers

Performance reliability advances and cost reductions have been achieved with hydrogen and fuel cell technologies in both the transportation and distributed energy sectors. This paper reviews the status of hydrogen and fuel cell technologies, identifies key business and policy drivers for the hydrogen economy, critically examines key barriers to implementing the hydrogen economy, identifies and discusses key national initiatives to advance the hydrogen economy, and identifies and discusses key intergovernmental initiatives and activities to advance the hydrogen economy. Hydrogen and fuel cell technology advances, coupled with a reduction in costs and improvements in performance reliability, present new opportunities for developed and developing countries to achieve energy, economic and environmental security. Substantial national research and development investments in hydrogen production, storage, transport, end-use technologies (e.g., fuel cells), safety and public education underscore future opportunities. Intergovernmental bodies such as Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), International Energy Agency (IEA) and the International Partnership for the Hydrogen Economy (IPHE) provide a multilateral framework for development of a global hydrogen economy. While the pathway forward for the hydrogen economy is precarious alternative energy options offer substantially fewer public benefits.     

Impact of cleaner production on business performance

Extensive research has examined the relationship between environmental management/performance and business performance but yielded no conclusive results. This paper makes two contributions to the literature. First, instead of focusing on one aspect, we try to compare using various types of cleaner production activities: low- and high-cost activities. Second, the study complements the existing literature which focuses on firms in developed countries with an analysis of firms in the Chinese manufacturing industry. In this paper, the relationship between cleaner production and business performance was analyzed using Structure Equation Model (SEM). We find an overall positive impact of cleaner production on firm's business performance. We also found that the cleaner production activities of low-cost scheme have a bigger contribution to financial performance compared to non-financial performance, while cleaner production activities of high-cost scheme have a greater contribution to non-financial performance, compared to financial performance. This study should be useful for firms that consider adopting cleaner production as well as stakeholders who aim to promote cleaner production.