The purpose of this stydy was to assess the Cleaner Production - CP as a corporate sustainability tool, through a multiple case study in companies from the State of Rio Grande do Norte. To this end, our research methodology approach used the CP methodology from SEBRAE (2005) and applied it to the food industry (Company 1), the textile industry (Company 2) and to a car dealer (Company 3). Results highlighted, among other variables, the specific sustainability focus of any observed cleaner production activity. In company 1, raw material substitution, optimization of water and energy usage were the main foci. In Company 2, the foci were the optimization of fabric usage and technological modification (installation of washing equipment for the printing plates; before that, there was not control of water usage in this process, resulting in increased water consumption and disposal of waste). Company 3 was focused on source segregation and external recycling. However, these results pointed out that environmental, social and economic improvements demand corporate sustainability; and more commitment from executive management is needed to consider CP as an effective sustainable tool.
Corporate sustainability; Cleaner production; Environmental management; Environmental impacts; Waste
