The IPPC Directive (96/61/EC) was introduced across Europe to improve environmental protection standards. IPPC stands for Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control. In essence, the IPPC Directive is about minimizing pollution from various sources throughout the European Union.
Together with the IPPC, Best Available Techniques (BAT) have been introduced to help give an idea of how industries can improve. In environmental protection law, BAT means the most effective and advanced stage in the development of activities and methods of operation that indicate the practical suitability of particular techniques to provide the basis for emission-limit values, designed to prevent, and – where not practicable – generally reduce emissions and the impact on the environment as a whole.
"Best" means most effective in achieving a high general level of protection of the environment as a whole.
"Available" techniques are those developed on a scale that allows implementation in the relevant industrial sector, under economically and technically viable conditions, taking into consideration the costs and advantages, whether or not the techniques are used or produced inside the Member State in question, as long as they are reasonably accessible to the operator.
"Techniques" include both the technology used and the way in which the installation is designed, built, maintained, operated and decommissioned. (EU Council directive 96/61/EC concerning integrated pollution prevention and control)