A short overview of the types of catalytic processes that have shown progress in creating clean technology and are likely through continued material improvements to lead to new environmentally benign processing is presented. Chemistries involving solid acid/base catalysis, clean oxidation catalysis, catalysis in water, and asymmetric catalysis are discussed. Suggested reactions and catalytic materials for future clean processing are enumerated and unifying concepts for implementing catalysis for environmentally benign technologies are outlined.