Current industrial production systems are not compatible with the earth's ecosystem. Resources are consumed unsustainably, processed inefficiently into often superfluous, disposable products and then dumped as waste. The use of toxic and hazardous materials in production processes results in dangerous emissions, by-products and ingredients in final products. Hazardous waste treatment technologies, such as incineration, cause air pollution as well as soil and groundwater pollution when incinerator ash is dumped. The transition to Clean Production will rely increasingly on smaller and cleaner material, water and energy flows. The speed and volume of resources flowing through production-consumption cycles can be reduced by improved product design that allows for reuse of components and materials recycling. A better choice of materials that favours the use of non-hazardous substances in production processes will result in cleaner and safer products.