Boyd concludes his report by outlining a number of recommended policy changes to enhance pollution prevention's profitability. P2 often involves the complex redesign of products and processes. Technology-forcing regulations often limit the output of individual pollutants in a way that constrains redesign. Performance-based regulations take a more aggregate, holistic view of a facility's emissions. Make small firms comply with emissions regulations.
Small firms represent a large market for pollution prevention products and services.
This market will fail to develop, however, unless small firms face more meaningful regulatory pressure. The case studies show how such restrictions can significantly influence the profitability of a given P2 initiative. Boyd also notes that improved environmental cost accounting methods are needed to better estimate environment-related financial benefits. Flexible, performance-based regulations enhance the private sector's demand for improved environmental accounting information. It's important to point out that these three non-randomly selected cases should not be used to draw broad policy or empirical conclusions.