In the manufacture of chemical products, undesirable residues are also produced. These frequently occur as polluted wastewater that leads to the formation of sewage sludge after end-of-pipe treatment. Effective reduction of these substances is an important aim of industrial environmental protection. Taking the example of chemical production, the author shows how this aim can be achieved by production-integrated environmental protection. The paper outlines the technical measures involved in this approach, the result that they bring and the inherent limitations. The associated cost criteria are also discussed. The two concepts of end-of-pipe technology and production-integrated environmental protection are compared.