UK industry spent over £4 billion on environmental protection during 2000. This represents £1000 per industry employee. Income and savings resulting from environmental protection measures are estimated to have been £0.4 billion.

Check out the DEFRA report on environmental spend

There are different forms of environmental protection, some more technical, some more organisational.

'Environmental Protection' includes a variety of ways and measures to deal with improving the way work impacts with the environment. We have identified nine principles used commonly in industry, although you will may hear other terms.

The principles spell out how environmental improvements can be made at each stage of the In/On/Out work process. Some principles reflect the resource input, some concentrate on the process itself, some are more concerned with the product and some focus on the waste.

The first principle questions the process itself. The Precautionary Principle asks the question: "Should this substance or process be used at all?".

The second principle, Cleaner Production, looks to improving the environment by cleaning up the process.

Good Resource Use studies what comes in (and goes out) and how the overall process can be improved.