CLEANER PRODUCTION: THE UMBRELLA FOR ENVIRONMENTAL GLOBALIZATION

Rapid population growth, coupled with poverty, is firmly bonded to environmental degradation. Economic activities reinforced by globalization and current trends of consumption patterns threaten the availability of resources in the near future. Under such conditions, technological developments have the potential to reverse negative environmental changes. The idea of cleaner production playing the role of a controlling factor is multifaceted both from an economic point of view and the inherent advantage of environmental protection. Technological developments have been made, in the face of huge environmental challenges, that endeavor to change the structure of the economy to a more environmentally friendly one, spread more efficient and cleaner technologies, and provide information to increase awareness of the impact such technological changes can have on the environment. There are several system-specific alternatives for adopting and implementing the ethics of cleaner production, but each requires a set level of investment and return based on cost-benefit analysis. By adopting cleaner production, it is possible to make industrial growth more competitive, as well as making improvements to the environment. I