Blue Washing

12.04.2025

Blue Washing

Why in the news?                        

The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has recently introduced a new category of industries called the ‘Blue Category’, which falls under Essential Environmental Services (EES).

What is Blue Washing?

• ‘Blue Washing’ refers to the practice of portraying polluting industries as environmentally friendly by categorising them under less polluting or cleaner industry labels.
• This term is now used to describe the reclassification of highly polluting Waste-to-Energy (WTE) incineration industries by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) into the new 'Blue Category'.

About the Blue Category

• The ‘Blue Category’ is introduced as part of a subset of EES activities like composting, biogas plants, sewage treatment, and material recovery facilities.
• Waste-to-Energy (WTE) incineration, previously under the ‘Red Category’ with a Pollution Index (PI) of 6, is now reclassified as a ‘Blue Category’ industry.

What is WTE Incineration?

• WTE incineration burns mixed municipal solid waste (MSW) to produce heat and electricity.
• It generates energy through turbine-driven steam, similar to coal plants, but emits more CO₂

About Pollution Index (PI)

• The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) introduced a PI to categorise industries based on pollution levels.
• PI is calculated on the basis of emissions (air pollutants), effluents (water pollutants), hazardous waste, and resource consumption.
• PI ranges from 0 to 100, with industries classified as:
  • White Category (0–20): Least polluting
  • Green Category (21–40)
  • Orange Category (41–59)
  • Red Category (60–100): Most polluting.

                                                           Source: Down to earth

Consider the following statement regarding the Blue Washing

1.‘Blue Washing’ refers to the practice of portraying polluting industries as environmentally friendly by categorising them under less polluting or cleaner industry labels.

2.This term is now used to describe the reclassification of highly polluting Waste-to-Energy (WTE) incineration industries by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

A.1 only

B.2 only

C.Both 1 and 2

D.Neither 1 nor 2

 Answer C