Sustainable Production Defined

The Lowell Center for Sustainable Production offers the following definition: “Sustainable Production is the creation of goods and services using processes and systems that are:
non-polluting
conserving of energy and natural resources;
economically
efficient
safe and healthful for workers, communities, and consumers
socially and creatively rewarding for all working people.”

Products and services are:

safe and ecologically sound throughout their life cycle;
as appropriate, designed to be durable, repairable, readily recycled,
compostable, or easily biodegradable;
produced and packaged using the minimal amount of material and energy
possible.

Processes are designed and operated such that:

wastes and ecologically incompatible byproducts are reduced, eliminated or
recycled on-site;
chemical substances or physical agents and conditions that present hazards
to human health or the environment are eliminated;
energy and materials are conserved, and the forms of energy and materials
used are most appropriate for the desired ends;
work spaces are designed to minimize or eliminate chemical, ergonomic and
physical hazard.

Workers are valued and:

their work is organized to conserve and enhance their efficiency and
creativity;
their security and well-being is a priority;
they are encouraged and helped to continuously develop of their talents and
capacities;
their input to and participation in the decision making process is openly
accepted.

Communities related to any stage of the product lifecycle (from production of
raw materials through manufacture, use and disposal of the final product) are
respected and enhanced economically, socially, culturally and physically.
Continued economic viability does not depend on ever-increasing (i.e.,
unsustainable) consumption of materials and energy.

For more information from the The Lowell Center for Sustainable
Production click here.