Written from a business perspective, this article discusses the barriers to cleaner production, including the problem of attitudes, and emphasizes the need to rethink the economics involved. It notes that the goal of eco-efficiency should be considered as a logical and inevitable extension of total quality management. After giving some examples of cleaner production methods, this article stresses the need for building new partnerships between public and private interests in order to help ensure the implementation of such methods in countries around the world.