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In accordance with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Cleaner Production is understood to mean:
The continual application of an integrated environmental prevention strategy in processes, products and services, with the aim of reducing risks for humans and the environment, to increase the company's competitiveness and guarantee its economic viability.
Cleaner Production allows:
- Savings to be made in raw materials, water and energy.
- The disposal, reduction and/or replacement of hazardous materials.
- The reduction in quantity and hazardousness of waste and emissions.
The reduction of impact during a product's life cycle, from the reception of raw materials to the final waste product.
The incorporation of environmental criteria in the design and distribution of services.
Cleaner production is a strategic tool of business policy, which integrates the environment in the global management of the company and enables it to maintain or improve competitiveness in a framework of sustainability of the environment. Its application requires responsible environmental management, a change of attitude and the evaluation and application of technological knowledge and options.
Cleaner production is an environmental management option which, in addition, has proved to be the stage prior to correct treatment or disposal alternatives, which with it is not incompatible.
This concept of integrated environmental prevention is known by several names of very similar meaning: minimisation, reduction at source, pollution prevention, cleaner production, ecoefficiency, etc.
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What is it? 
