The terms "clean technology", "cleantech", "green", and "sustainable" are used somewhat interchangeably to refer to products, services, companies, systems and lifestyles which significantly reduce negative environmental impacts, compared to those using today's technologies. Usually they emphasize criteria such as:

• Efficient use of raw materials
• Use of renewable raw materials
• Reduction of waste
• Planning for reuse, recycling or demanufacturing
• Efficient use of energy
• Use of alternative energy sources which are less polluting
• Reduced energy use in transportation of raw materials and finished product
• Measuring "carbon footprint" or environmental impact
• Measuring and minimizing energy used in manufacturing and related operations
• Substitution of less energy-intensive materials, products and services for current ones
• Life-cycle calculations of environmental impact

Although the focus of "cleantech" is increasingly on greenhouse gas emissions and global climate disruption, other objectives are reduced waste and waste-disposal costs, avoiding chemical impacts on people and the environment, maintaining biodiversity, conservation of scarce resources, improved social justice, and a range of other goals.

What do we mean by  "green" products and services?

Here at HaraBara we use a very broad definition of green. We would include:

• Cleantech products—wind turbines, solar panels, electric vehicles
• Energy- and resource-conserving products—low-volume toilets, variable-speed motors, "green" computers
• Products made from recycled materials—paper, fabrics, building materials, packaging
• Products made from renewable resources—biodiesel fuel, bamboo flooring, biomass power, bio-plastics
• Products made in greener facilities—LEED-certified call centers, low-carbon factories
• Organic products and materials—fibers, fabrics, food, feedstuffs
• Recyclable, reusable and compostable products—WEEE electronics, packaging, carpeting,
• Less carbon-intensive services—web conferencing, distance learning, video conferencing
• Carbon products—carbon credits, offsets, VERs, CERs, TECs, derivatives
• Lower-toxicity products—low-VOC paints, RoHS electronic equipment
• Resources, materials, tools, equipment, engineering, design, technology and components to make all of the above
• And the vast array of products and services nobody has even thought of yet

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