2.4 Clean Technology

Question 1

What is clean technology?

Answer 1

products and processes that reduce waste and use as little non-renewable materials and energy as possible

Question 2

What are the reasons for cleaning up manufacturing (implementing clean technology)?

Answer 2

• Promoting positive impacts of the company’s products or services.
• ensuring neutral impact or minimizing negative impacts through conserving natural resources
• reducing pollution and use of energy
• reducing wastage of energy and resources

Question 3

Drivers for Clean Technology

Answer 3

Social: consumers, public pressure groups
Political: to conform with legislation + avoid penalties

Question 4

What are end-of-pipe technologies?

Answer 4

technologies are focused on reducing or eliminating pollutants at the last step of the manufacturing phase (not eliminate the production, minimize the release)

Question 5

Are end-of-pipe technologies the best approach?

Answer 5

from a sustainability point of view they may not be the best choice, they should focus on a more holistic approach to design which eliminates the need for the production of hazardous or harmful substances in the first place

Question 6

What are system-level solutions?

Answer 6

solutions that address the whole system, not just the components (eg. cradle-to-cradle design and circular economy solutions)

Question 7

What are the advantages of incremental solutions to manufacturers?

Answer 7

use existing and trusted technology
Minimal changes to manufacturing processes and technologies
Respond to some aspects of legislation quickly and efficiently
Low risk
Improvement to competitiveness

Question 8

What are the disadvantages of incremental solutions to manufacturers?

Answer 8

Small changes need to be made frequently in order to comply with new or evolving regulations
Low potential for market growth as the marketplace is crowded with competitors offering similar solutions

Question 9

What are the advantages of radical solutions to manufacturers?

Answer 9

Opportunity to innovate with associated benefits (patents, first to market, fewer competitors)
High potential for market growth
Innovative approaches can develop new technologies

Question 10

What are the disadvantages of radical solutions to manufacturers?

Answer 10

Research and development (R&D) can be costly and lengthy
High level of risk