The outstanding feature of the economy of the Greater Durban Metropolitan Area (GDMA) in the province of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, is the dominance of manufacturing. This sector accounts for approximately 40% of the GDMA's Gross Geographic Product, and three manufacturing groups - chemicals, textiles and paper & pulp - account for approximately half of all industrial activity in the region.

These three manufacturing groups are also responsible for the most serious (air, water and waste) pollution problems in the region.

Within the context of the technological developments that have underpinned the growth of these three manufacturng groups, the paper argues that the environmental problems associated with these industries are essentially fourfold: (a) excessive natural resource usage (especially non-renewable resources); (b) inefficient resource usage within exisrting production processes; (c) the pollution effects of these production processes; and (d) the problems associated with waste disposal.

The paper goes on to investigate the scope for adopting a holistic approach to the environmental managment of industry in the GDMA through the development, and adoption, of 'clean technology'. Specific attention is devoted to four categories of 'clean technology': (a) 'good housekeeping' (changes in operating practices with significant potential for resource savings and waste reduction); (b) recyling (especially of 'new scrap' located at the places of production; (c) process modification (geared towards greater efficiency in resource usage and waste reduction; and (d) materials substitution (which has significant potential in the chemicals industry).