Manufacturing industry

The world's manufacturing industry encompasses a vast range of sectors, and of problems. Many industries produce a broad range of toxins, greenhouse gases, nutrients and even solid waste. Three, highly polluting industries are considered separately. Other than these there are several others worth mentioning:

The chemicals industry clearly encompasses a very broad sector. Over 100,000 chemicals are produced commercially, with over 1000 in quantities of over one thousand tonnes a year. This industry is responsible for production of pesticides and many fertilisers used in agriculture, and also some of the chemicals used in the paper and pulp industry and textile industry . There are many others including manufacture of detergents and cleansers, plastics, paints, pharmaceuticals, solvents, propellants, refrigerants. Within this list are many toxic compounds. Others, such as plastic products and packaging, may form a substantial element of solid waste.

The cement industry, so important for the urbanisation and industrialisation process, is the third largest producer of CO2 (after burning fossil fuels and deforestation), contributing 2.5-3% of all CO2 emissions.