Cleaner Production (CP) encourages a preventative approach to pollution control that considers it better to deal with hazards or impacts at source.

Sometimes the term Pollution Prevention or P2 is used (usually in USA) in the same way as Cleaner Production. Both avoid generating pollution in the first place. This cuts costs, reduces risks and identifies new opportunities.

Cleaner production according to UNEP is:
"the continuous use of industrial processes and products to increase efficiency, to prevent pollution of the air, water and land, to reduce wastes at source and to minimise risks to the human population and the environment".

CP develops the principles of industrial hygiene. This spells out the heirachy of improvements:

1. Substitute
2. Suppress
3. Enclose
4. Ventilate.