Environmental sustainability and pollution prevention

Boubaker Elleuch, Farah Bouhamed, Mabrouk Elloussaief and Madi Jaghbir

SYNOPSIS
Environmental sustainability is the ability to protect the resources of the earth and maintain
ecological balance in our planet's environment for the benefit of present and future generations.
The environment is the surroundings in which we live. However, pollution of our environment is
defined as environmental pollution. Environmental pollution has both direct and indirect effects
on the lives of mankind and other species. For decades, these living beings coexisted with
humans on earth. Opportunities should be identified and established to minimize the production
of waste and the use of dangerous materials, to prevent soil, water, and air pollution, and to
save and reuse resources to the greatest extent possible.
As the human population grows, pollution has become a major issue. Human-caused pollution
is an issue, but it does not have to be unavoidable. The majority of pollutants can be avoided,
reduced, or reused with a well-rounded pollution control program. Although many factors cause
environmental pollution and damage, the most important and basic factor is a rapidly increasing
population. Therefore, a balanced development of the population and environment is essential.
However, preventing pollution is a crucial concern for sustainability. Waste contributes to
pollution. Therefore, preventing pollution from occurring in the first place is the best strategy to
handle the problem. This calls for developing new efficiencies, acting wiser, and appreciating all
resources. The first step to reducing trash and preserving our environment is understanding
how waste is produced and how it can be minimized or even prevented.
Prevention is the first priority within an environmental management hierarchy. Our obligation is
to use our knowledge to take actions that protect the environment and the well-being of people.

CRITICAL POINTS
This paper highlights that pollution prevention is a key issue for sustainability; it protects the
environment by conserving natural resources and boosting economic growth through more
efficient production and less waste handling, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.
Due to the increasing human population, pollution is a main problem in our society today, but
through a pollution prevention approach, we can reduce, reuse, and prevent the pollution that is
happening in our generation by finding new efficiencies, doing things smarter, and valuing every
resource. Let's not abuse it. With that, we can achieve development that meets the needs of the
present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs by
Brundtland Commission in 1987. Knowing and practicing pollution prevention strategies
promotes innovation in the fields of waste minimization and resource conservation to more
effectively ensure a clean and sustainable environment, which also protects the health of
humans.
RELEVANCE TO SOCIETY
As the earth’s human population has increased, natural ecosystems have declined, and a
change in the balance of natural cycles has had a negative impact on the environment, humans,
and other living systems. We can minimize this impact by practicing pollution prevention and
control strategies that seek to manage a pollutant after it is emitted and reduce its impact on the
environment and humans. One of the strategies is the waste/environmental management
hierarchy; knowing that is a big help to us humans in reducing, reusing, recycling, and
composting our waste to lessen the pollution in our environment and conserve natural resources
for the next generation.

REFERENCES
Boubaker, E., Farah,B., Mabrouk, E., & Madi, J. (2018). Environmental sustainability and
pollution prevention. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11356-017-0619-5
Environmental Protection Agency (2023). Pollution Prevention (P2).
https://www.epa.gov/p2/learn-about-pollution-prevention
Brundtland Commission (1987). ‘Our Common Future’.