Fertilizer production has become one of the manufacturing sectors on which modern lifestyles depend in order to produce sufficient food for our growing populations. At the same time, the pollution and other environmental impacts arising from the production operations can also cause substantial local damage, and contribute to global environmental impacts. The need to balance these two aspects of production and pollution has come to be the core of the sustainability debate, and has resulted, within the UN family, in the adoption of Cleaner Production as an approach to be followed by all parties. Within the business community, the term eco-efficiency has been used to describe the same approach.With modem technology, good management and effective regulations a balance can be reached. It does however require that this be deliberately managed, as it will not happen by itself. This is the purpose of this report, which is thus an integral part of UNEP’s Cleaner Production programme.Cleaner production addresses the efficient use of raw materials, energy and water, the avoidance of pollution by use of appropriate technologies and procedures, and ultimately the rethinking of the design of products and services to allow these to reduce the ecological "footprint" .they produce.The report is intended to raise the awareness of the environmental issues inherent in the fertilizer manufacturing industry, and to highlight the approaches that industry and government, preferably in concert, may take to avoid or minimize the associated impacts.It is intended for readers with the following responsibilities:

• day to day operations in the plant, who will benefit from the advice on materials handling, health and safety, and emergency procedures;
• general managers who in many countries may be ultimately responsible for environmental damage of any kind, whether knowingly or unwittingly caused; They will find useful advice on planning, design, and preventive rather than remedial action on environment;
• government regulators, and secretariats of standards bodies and industry associations, who will see better the management approach that leads to cost-effective environmental action.

Where appropriate, the advice given is supported by case studies drawn from actual practice.UNEP, UNIDO and IFA hope that with the help of this report, further development of the fertilizer industry along sustainable lines can be facilitated.