Integrated pollution prevention and control is a set of physical and chemical methods with the aim of reducing or emitting polluting discharges in a controlled manner in order to minimize their environmental and human health impacts. 

An Organization can always improve its environmental performance by preventing pollution, including:

• Atmospheric emissions: People will be affected by an Organization’s air emissions of pollutants such as mercury, lead, Sulphur oxides (SOx), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), nitrogen oxides (NOx), dioxins, substances and particulates which, by destroying the ozone layer, will impact on the environment and health. These emissions may be caused by the handling or end-of-life use of its products and services, derived directly from the Organization’s facilities and activities, or from the production of the energy it consumes;

• Discharge to water: through direct discharges to surface waters, whether intentional or accidental, an Organization can cause water pollution, even in the marine environment, as well as through unintentional runoff to surface waters and infiltration into groundwater. Such discharges may result indirectly from the use of its services and products, or may originate directly from the Organization's own facilities;

• Waste management: the activities of an organization may contaminate land, water, soil and outdoor space if they lead to the generation of improperly managed solid or liquid waste;

• Responsible waste management should be used to prevent waste generation. The waste reduction hierarchy should always be followed: recycling and reprocessing, reduction at source, reuse, treatment and final disposal (or disposal). Based on the life-cycle approach, the waste reduction hierarchy should be used as a flexible form. All hazardous waste, including radioactive waste, should be managed in a transparent and appropriate manner;

• Use and final disposal (disposal) of toxic and hazardous chemicals: in the use or production of toxic and hazardous chemicals (both natural and produced) an organization may adversely affect ecosystems and human health by chronic (long-term) or acute (immediate) impacts from releases or resulting from emissions. depending on age and gender they may affect people in different ways;

• Other identifiable forms of pollution: people and communities may be affected in different ways by the activities, products or services of an Organisation, causing other forms of pollution that adversely affect their health and well-being. These include visual effect, noise, odour, electromagnetic emissions, vibrations, light pollution, radiation, infectious agents (e.g. bacterial or viral), dispersed emissions or emissions from diffuse sources and hazardous biological materials such as invasive species.

External links:

EPA - US Environmental Protection Agency

Portuguese Environment Agency

ISO 14000