Gujarat has become a torchbearer of development. From its dependence on agriculture and textile industries, Gujarat has changed significantly in the last three decades, to emerge as an industrial base for diverse industries. Today, Gujarat state is leader in the field of textiles, Chemicals and petrochemicals, pharmaceuticals and is progressing rapidly in the field of engineering, fertilizers and more.

Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC) as organization for industrial development has so for established 300 industrial estates, out of which 13 estates have been developed to accommodate chemical industries. Due to rapid industrialization, pollution problems are being critical. As a part of End Of Pipe (EoP) solutions effluent collection systems, common effluent treatment plants, secure landfill sites have been also implemented in the various industrial estates of the state.

These End of Pipe(EoP) approach demands high operational and maintenance cost. The concept of End of Pipe treatment, which considered the industrial process as a "black box" and looked at waste alone after it is generated. The experiences from industrialized countries have shown that the EOP control is not a solution to the problem but only a short-term strategy for environmental management. This notion often leads to poor implementation of environmental regulations due to lack of conviction amongst the implementing authorities.

Cleaner Production(CP) offers an alternative to the conventional EOP strategies practiced by the industries. While the aim of the EOP approach is to control/treat the waste and emissions when they are already created,

CP aims to prevent waste and emission to be generated in the first place. This reduces the need to install and operate, often expensive end-of-pipe control facilities like wastewater treatment plants, gaseous emission treatment and disposal of solid & hazardous wastes and saves input resources (water, raw materials, chemicals & energy) from being lost in the form of waste and emissions.
Realizing then potential of CP in the state of Gujarat , Gujarat Cleaner Production Center(GCPC) has been established in August 1998 with the technical support of National Cleaner Prouction Centre(NCPC), New Delhi and United Nations Industrial Development Organization(UNIDO) and with the financial support of GIDC. GCPC is one of the four regional Cleaner Production Centers of India. There are about 29 CP centres established in all over the world with the support of UNIDO/UNEP.

GUJARAT CLEANER PRODUCTION CENTRE plays an important role in education, permeating and providing knowledge as well as expertise to tackle with various environmental issues that the various sectors of the industry shall need to address in the current scenario or in the near future. GCPC believes in "Prevention is better than Cure". Hence, the germination of the concept of CLEANER PRODUCTION or CP.

GCPC is actively engaged in the promotion of Cleaner Production (CP)/Clean Technology (CT) through its various activities like Orientation Programme, CP Assessment Projects, C.T. Assessment Projects etc. It has taken up demonstration projects in many industries of various sectors i.e. Dyes & Dye Intermediates, Pharmaceuticals, Textile, Fish Processing, Petrochemicals etc. Results of these projects are very encouraging and industries are getting tremendous Economical as well as Environmental Benefits. In the era, where competition is maximum, if a spirit for adopting CP techniques is achieved , then probably half the battle will be won. We can then perhaps, with pride give our coming generation a better world to live.

Apart from its Main Objectives GCPC is also working on some National as well as International Projects. Since January 2003 GCPC is functioning as an ENVIS (Environmental Information System) Node for the world bank assisted "Environmental management Capacity building technical assistance" (EMCBTA) project of MoEf, Government of India. GCPC is also one of the service provider for the Dyes and Dye Intermediate sector of Gujarat for Clean Technology (CT) Promotion in India” Project of UNIDO and State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), Switzerland. CT is an extension of CP & the main focus of CT projects would be to identify environment & sound technologies suitable to SMEs of India.

The State being one of the most progressive one, as far as industrial development is concerned, adoption of CP techniques helps in sustainable growth of the industries , makes industries cost–competitive and benefits the society by means of reducing ecologic and environment impacts and strengthens the State through economical development.