Notes on the IFC Performance Standard 3: Resources Efficiency and Pollution Prevention

1. Performance Standard 3
Resources Efficiency and
Pollution Prevention
Date

2. • The IFC Performance Standards (PS) helps to improve the
environmental and social performance of a project through
an outcomes-based approach.
• It also provides a solid foundation from which project
developers may increase the sustainability and productivity
of their operation.
• IFC Performance Standards provide international
benchmark for identifying and managing environmental
and social risk.

3. Increased economic activity and
urbanization often generate increased
levels of pollution to air, water, and
land, and consume finite resources in a
manner that may threaten people and
the environment at the local, regional,
and global levels.

4. Also, a growing global consensus that
the current and projected
atmospheric concentration of
greenhouse gases (GHG) threatens
the public health and welfare of
current and future generations.

5. This Performance Standard outlines a project-level approach to
resource efficiency and pollution prevention with internationally
disseminated technologies and practices. In addition, it promotes
the ability of private sector companies to adopt such technologies
and practices as far as their use is feasible in the context of a
project that relies on commercially available skills and resources.

6. UNEP defines cleaner production as the continuous application of an integrated
preventive environmental strategy to products, processes, and services in order to
increase overall efficiency and reduce risks to humans and the environment.
Cleaner production

7. Available
Resources
Alternatives
Equipment
Resources
Efficiency
Water
Energy
Raw
Materials

9. The client will consider alternatives and implement technically and financially
feasible and cost-effective options to reduce project-related GHG emissions
during the design and operation of the project.
Reduction of fugitive emissions
Reduction of gas flaring
Adoption of renewable or low carbon energy sources
GHG leakage avoidance or minimization
Use of low global warming potential (GWP) chemicals
Multiple energy efficiency and renewable energy measures.

10. Clients should include monitoring processes and indicators within their ESMS
to alert them to significant increases in pollutant emissions or impacts on
ambient conditions that may be an indicator of problems with manufacturing
processes or pollution control equipment that could require corrective action