Teaching Resources

Technology in the commercial context would mean 'knowledge of how to make use of the factors of production, to produce goods or services for which there is an economic demand'. Technology innovation both hurts and helps the environment. Therefore, intellectual property, by promoting innovation may be both good and bad for the environment. However, technology, as far as Environmentally Sound Technologies (ESTs) are concerned, works for the benefi t of the environment. ESTs can be considered to be those benefi cial environmental technology innovations which provide a net environmental benefit compared to existing technologies in terms of resources consumed, wastes produced, and risks to human health and the environment, for example, waste management technologies for solid and hazardous wastes, products and methods for cleaning up pollution, recycling equipment, and processes.