Green Technology

Introduction

Green production increases the efficiency of standard industrial practices while eliminating or minimizing wastes at their source, rather than after they have been generated. In industrial processes, green production includes conserving raw materials and energy, eliminating toxic raw materials, reducing the quantity and toxicity of emissions and wastes, and minimizing waste and emissions of the aggregate production. William and Michael (pp. 34-47) mention major changes in current industrial production and consumption systems are required to meet the needs of a growing world population while using environmental resources in a sustainable manner. To achieve a more rational and integrated use of resources, a reorientation of science and technology toward the objectives of sustainable development is necessary and achievable by incorporating green design into all facets of industry (William and Michael, pp. 34-47).

Green Technology: A Discussion

The green industry movement has challenged the notion that environmental and economic goals are mutually exclusive. Green design and clean production have historically been encouraged and become financially viable where government regulation has been first introduced. Increased efficiency in green production, however, sometimes gives a company an advantage in the market. Green-designed reduction of energy and materials is generally economically feasible, as it often represents cost savings in engineering (William and Michael, pp. 34-47). Also, many green industrial patterns are beginning to include the “triple bottom line” in their business planning, which captures a spectrum of values including environmental and social concerns in addition to simple economics. The problem of externalities, however, which make waste affordable by shedding environmental costs, can still discourage transition to green production.

Green industry and green production are growing at explosive rates. The Greening of Industry Network (GIN) has formed to coordinate this growth. The GIN is an international network of professionals focusing on issues of industrial development, environment, and society that is dedicated to building a sustainable future (World Bank, pp. 67-79). In every country, some factories already operate at world-class environmental standards, and many profitable enterprises comply with national pollution regulations. The pinnacle of green industry will be reached when all products are designed without depleting natural resources using the current solar income and all waste is converted to food for another industrial system (e.g., industrial ecology) or for the natural systems.

To date, attempts to manage technology have been complex, involving statutes, tort law, technology standards, consumer behavior, and insurance (World Bank, pp. 67-79). Most scientific efforts to manage technology have ...