The cleantech, or environmental goods and services sector, broadly consists of companies that supply solutions that protect or enhance the natural environment. A wider definition is given below. UK CEED provided one of the first official definitions of the environmental goods and services sector back in 2006 (see here).

Defining Cleantech

You may not consider yourself part of the environmental/cleantech sector, but generally-speaking you are part of the sector if the products or services you offer have one or more of the following advantages:

• uses less energy or water than alternatives in their construction and/or operation
• generates energy from renewable sources
• prevents pollution or produces less pollution/emissions than alternatives
• facilitates the treatment of airborne, marine or land-based contaminants
• reduces waste and/or efficiently recycles or reuses resources
• supports the recycling, waste management, water supply & water treatment industries
• ensures products or buildings are designed sustainably over their lifetime
• services that help businesses/individuals reduce their environmental footprint and become greener

Cleantech Sub-sectors

There are many reports available which try to classify the cleantech sector into different sub-sectors. UK CEED originally proposed 12 sub-sectors for Defra and the Department for Trade & Industry in 2006 (see here) and this was later expanded to 23 in 2009 by the Department for Business, Enterprise & Regulatory Reform (see here). UK CEED broadly categorises the cleantech sector into the following 7 sectors of which 2 are cross-cutting.

Smart Tech & ICT

Electronic devices or services which have an environmental application. This includes smart technology, modelling, sensors, monitoring and other instrumentation.

Environmental Services

Consultancy and environmental management/awareness services.