Resources efficient and cleaner production in the bentonite industry

The concept of Resource Efficient and Cleaner Production (RECP) focuses on a more cost‐effective production while effectively solve the problem of environmental pollution. This article presents the RECP methodology in the case of industrial production of the bentonite. Aspects of production and management to which it is possible to apply the specific methods, that is, RECP measures were analyzed. Mass and energy balance of the process as a whole were prepared and concrete measures were proposed. Applying the proposed measures increases the efficiency of the whole process. This is expressed as absolute and relative RECP Indicators. Relative indicators show an increase in energy productivity of 16.34%, an increase in materials and water productivity of 1.72%, and a decrease in the intensity of emissions of solid waste from 59.5%, carbon (CO2‐eq) of 7.78%, and wastewater of 1.69%. Expressed as absolute indicators, achieved benefits are: energy use reduction in the amount of 3,438,367.20 MJ/year, greenhouse gas emissions reduction in the amount of 167.04 t CO2 eq/year and reduction waste generation in the principal amount of 371.1 t/year.