The use of layered minerals for design and synthesis of catalytic materials applicable in environmental catalysis is illustrated by examples from authors' own works. Interest is focused on systems derived from hydrotalcite-like anionic clays and layered silicates. In the former case the centre of attention is the compositional flexibility of the hydrotalcite structure, in the latter expandability of the layered structure leading to microporous (PILC) and mesoporous (FSM) materials. The discussed fields of application include the examples of end-of-pipe processes and green chemistry reactions. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.