UNEP’s Cleaner Production activities began in response to UNEP Governing Council decision 15/37 in 1989.

Cleaner Production is the continuous application of an integrated preventive environmental strategy applied to processes, products, and services to increase overall efficiency and reduce risks to humans and the environment.

Current UNEP Cleaner Production activities include:

• Promoting Cleaner Production Investment in Developing Countries;
• National Cleaner Production Centres (NCPCs);
• Cleaner Production Working Groups;
• International Cleaner Production Information Clearinghouse (ICPIC);
• Cleaner Production Assessment Guides;
• International Declaration on Cleaner Production; and
• High-level Seminars on Cleaner Production.

Recent publications include: Cleaner Production Assessment Guides on dairy processing, meat processing and fish processing.