Environmental Compliance Management System

Panacea, common sense, or just a label?: The value of ISO 14001 environmental management systems

The primary objective of this Technical Note is to provide guidance to utility companies either for improving the operations-phase implementation of a current environmental management system or for developing a system. The guidelines presented herein provide the approach, content and implementation protocols for developing a completed operations component of the Environmental Management System (EMS) (i.e., the Operations and Environmental Quality Management System, or "OEMS").

<strong>Background:</strong> Environmental problems present the most complex and important managerial challenges of the 21st century. Most businesses have responded to these environmental problems by adopting an environmental management system.<p><strong>Aim:</strong> This article investigates South African small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) owners’ intentions to implement an environmental management system based on the theory of planned behaviour.</p><p><strong>Setting:</strong> Although large businesses are clearly of interest with respect to their environmental management, especially given their prominence in many of the most environmentally impactful sectors, the relative neglect of the environmental management of SMEs is disconcerting, given their overall importance in most economies. In addition, very little research used the theory of planned behaviour to empirically test SME owners’ intentions, to implement an environmental management system.</p><p><strong>Method:</strong> A quantitative survey was used to collect primary data from 326 SME owners by a structured questionnaire.</p><p><strong>Results:</strong> Regression analysis results confirmed the influence of SME owners’ attitudes towards an environmental management system and pro-environmental norms on their intention to implement an environmental management system. Perceived behavioural control, however, did not significantly influence the SME owners’ intention to implement an environmental management system.</p><p><strong>Conclusion:</strong> These findings provide valuable insights into the implementation of environmental management systems among South African SMEs. The theory of planned behaviour also seems to be an appropriate means to investigate the intentions of SMEs to implement an environmental management system.</p>

Management of institutional radioactive waste in Slovenia is one of the main processes in the management system of Agency for Radwaste Management (ARAO). The management system integrates the quality management system ISO 9001 and the environmental management system that was certified according to the standard ISO 14001:2004 in October 2007. The certificate represents a permanent commitment of ARAO to improve the environmental management system and implement environmental planning. Environmental planning includes and maintains environmental objectives and targets in all ARAO’s activities, especially in managing the institutional radioactive waste that can have potential environmental impacts and is considered as a risky activity from the public view point. We defined a general ARAO’s register of environmental aspects with seven main groups of aspects. Each aspect was evaluated according to its impacts with the help of multiple criteria and only the aspects evaluated as significant are dealt with in further environmental planning. Environmental planning was implemented in the process of managing of institutional radioactive waste. Our methodology for evaluating the significance of environmental aspects showed three significant aspects. Appropriate environmental objectives and targets were defined for these aspects in a way that they were measurable, if applicable, consistent with the ARAO’s environmental policy. It was assured that they provided adequate environmental protection measures and protection of human health, compliance with national legal requirements and international directives dealing with radioactive waste management and that the production of radioactive waste was minimized. The environmental planning is carried out annually, and each year we are looking for opportunities to minimize potential environmental impacts of our service. In this paper, ARAO’s experience with environmental planning and the realization of the objectives and targets that have already been achieved, implemented and integrated in the process of managing of institutional radioactive waste are presented. The results and the successful completion of environmental programs contribute to optimization of the management system and the quality of ARAO’s process performance. Implementation of environmental management system according to ISO 14001 increased the satisfaction of producers of institutional radioactive waste management that come from medicine, research and industry. It is also part of confidence building by our stakeholders.

The relevance of the topic is determined by need to increase the level of environmental policy of the activities of Ukrainian business entities. The theoretical and applied aspects of the implementation of environmental management system at domestic industrial enterprises are to be examine as a subject of the study. The main goal is to discover the features of ecological objectives and strategies of Ukrainian industrial enterprises in order to implement the environmental management. The basic methods of the study are analytical, systemic and comparative, institutional and structural-functional approaches The scientific significance of the work is to determine the features of implementation process of environmental management on domestic industrial enterprises. The article identifies the relationship between the state of the environment and the methods used by the enterprises. The processes of the environmental management system are presented with the use of the Shewhart-Deming cycle (PDCA). The potential benefits reflected in the performance of enterprises from the implementation of the environmental management are analyzed. The possible factors and barriers that can inhibit the development and implementation of the environmental management system are identified. The results of the research highlights the necessity of implementation of the environmental management system that can provide improving of the environmental state, saving of the resources, reducing expenses of the enterprise what will contribute to take a competitive position in domestic and international markets.

Since the 1970s, the U.S. Army has instituted environmental policies, programs, regulations, and management systems to ensure that its mission and support activities have minimal effects on the environment and comply with national policy. In recent years, the Army has incorporated environmental management systems (EMSs) at some installations through the DOD ISO 14001 EMS pilot program, in anticipation of Executive Order 13148, Greening the Government through Leadership in Environmental Management.1 While the EO does not require an EMS to be ISO 14001 compliant, many federal agencies are considering modeling their EMS after ISO 14001. This article presents how well current Army‐wide policy and guidance aligns with the ISO 14001 environmental management standard and offers opportunities for improvements in policy.When viewed from a corporate perspective, the Army generally has the major components for an ISO 14001 EMS, which include environmental policy, planning, implementation and operations, checking and corrective action, and management review. Army policies and guidance that provide the framework and demonstrate general conformance with ISO 14001 fall into three groups: (1) strategies and plans (the Army Environmental Strategy into the 21st Century, the Army Strategic Environmental Assessment,2 and the Army Environmental Campaign Plan and Operational Directive); (2) Army regulations (AR) for management, organization and function, and the environment; and (3) program management processes, reports, and databases (e.g., EPR, ISR II, EQR, ECAS, and EQCC). Additional documentation needed to meet ISO 14000 criteria include: (1) the unifying policy and guidance that integrates and streamlines the Army EMS; (2) a comprehensive assessment system that focuses on the management of the Army Environmental Program; (3) systems for updating administrative publications (e.g., ARs) in a timely manner (i.e., AR 200‐1, Environmental Protection and Enhancement, and AR 200‐3, National Resources—Land, Forest, and Wildlife Management); and (4) new policy and procedures for Army outreach. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Environmental awareness rapidly increased worldwide these recent decades. Likewise, individuals but also business organizations have begun practicing ”Green” initiatives in their organization’s operations to reduce environmental impact. The implementation of the Environmental Management System (EMS) in the Green Supply Chain (GSC) is an approach to adopt the green initiatives in the business operations that beneficial to the organization, not just regarding the environmental benefits, but economic and social as well. In an example where EMS improves the environmental performance of the organization, previous research suggests that improvements not only occur within the limits of the organizational operation but also need to be extended throughout the supply chain. The effectiveness of EMS implementation in the green supply chain boosts the environmental performance of the organization. Ultimately, EMS and GSCM practices are complementary to each other. Organizations that implemented EMS have more signs of improving the environment not only at the boundaries of their organizations but also across their network of buyers and suppliers. This research explains the debate by empirically assessing the relationship between EMS and GSCM practices.

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate how different actors influenced the implementation of an environmental management system (EMS) and a performance measurement system (PMS) in a case company when the systems are eventually integrated. Another purpose is to illustrate how the frameworks of Gibson and Earley and Lovaglia et al. can be utilized to investigate the implementation of different management systems in practice.Design/methodology/approachThis paper is an interpretative case study, which utilizes qualitative methods such as semi‐structured interviews and internal documents.FindingsThe results indicate the importance of maintaining a separation between the power and status of an actor in EMS and PMS implementation processes, and the ways in which the power and status of actors in the EMS and PMS implementation differed. The status and role of an actor can change although the power may be static during the implementation of different management systems. Therefore, the paper confirms the classification of Lovaglia et al. and proposes that their classification should be added to the framework of Gibson and Earley.Originality/valueEarlier accounting studies using the institutional theory framework of Burns and Scapens did not specifically investigate the role of actors, or their power and status in implementing two different management systems. The collective action frameworks of Gibson and Earley and Lovaglia et al. have not been practically utilized before in EMS and PMS studies. Furthermore, EMS and PMS integration studies have usually been normative without empirical case data.

The increasing consciousness of sustainable development and reconciling production with ecosystem conservation have fostered the adoption and implementation of environmental management systems (EMS). This paper investigates the critical processes and factors that may affect EMS planning. Empirical findings of a recent study in Hong Kong are presented, and a five‐stage EMS planning framework starting from strategy formulation to system implementation and evaluation is proposed. The framework integrates various perspectives of environmental management and strategy formulation. The paper provides organisations with a procedural guide for implementing environmental management practices. Flexible adaptation of the framework can help organisations derive potential benefits from the EMS implementation leading to sustainable competitive advantage. The framework can be modified to cater for varied business nature and operations in industry.

Environmental management of military activities is of growing global concern by defence forces. As one of the largest landholders in Australia, the Australian Defence Force (ADF) is increasingly concerned with sustainable environmental management. This paper focuses on how the ADF is maintaining effective environmental management, especially in environmentally sensitive marine protected areas. It uses Shoalwater Bay Training Area (SWBTA) as a research example to examine environmental management strategies conducted by the ADF. SWBTA is one of the most significant Defence training areas in Australia, with a large number of single, joint and combined military exercises conducted in the area. With its maritime component contained in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park (GBRMP), the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area (GBRWHA), and abutting Queensland’s State Marine Parks, it has high protection values. It is therefore vital for the ADF to adopt environmentally responsible management while they are conducting military activities. As to various tools employed to manage environmental performance, the ISO 14001 Environmental Management System (EMS) is widely used by the ADF. This paper examines military activities and marine environmental management within SWBTA, using the Talisman Saber (TS) exercise series as an example. These are extensive joint exercises conducted by the ADF and the United States defence forces. The paper outlines relevant legislative framework and environmental policies, analyses how the EMS operates in environmental management of military activities, and how military activities comply with these regulations. It discusses the implementation of the ADF EMS, including risk reduction measures, environmental awareness training, consultation and communication with stakeholders. A number of environmental management actions used in the TS exercises are presented to demonstrate the EMS application. Our investigations to this point indicate that the ADF is complying with all relevant legislation and policies. Further research is required to confirm compliance and conclude that military activities have good accord with environmental management objectives.

Environmental performance evaluation of implementing EMS (ISO 14001) in the coating industry: case study of a Shanghai coating firm

Implementing environmental with other standardized management systems: Scope, sequence, time and integration

<p><em>The village community still holds to the tradition in the midst of the current globalization. People still hold on to local wisdom inherited from generation to generation. This is also done by the community in preserving the environment. The people of Penglipuran Pakraman Village adheres to Hinduism so that Hindu theology influence is certainly very strong. Based on this background, it is investigated more deeply about the environmental concepts based on Hindu theology, the implementation of environmental management system based on Hindu Theology, and the environmental sustainability implications in Penglipuran Pakraman village in socio cultural and religious. To discuss the problem is used several theories they are: Hermeneutics Theory, Symbol Theory, Functionalism Structural Theory.</em></p><p><em>The results of the research are: There are local Theological concepts in Pakraman Penglipuran village which are deeply in harmony with Hindu Theology establishing the confidence of the people to guard the preservation of the environment such as the worship of Ratu Sakti Empu Naluah.</em></p><p><em>This is in accordance with the Vedic teachings that strongly prohibit forest destruction. Pakraman Penglipuran village include: Environmental management system in PenglipuranPakraman Village is really simple but all the system works properly. The rules are clear and the enforcement is also firm so that the community is very obedient to the customary law.</em></p><p><em>The implementation of the Hindu Theology concept is also manifested in religious rituals. The implications of environmental sustainability for the rural life of Pakraman PenglipuranVillage include the socio-cultural and religious implications. Socially Pakraman Penglipuran Village as a tourist destination brings implications to the economy of the community. The income of the population increases because they no longer rely solely on livelihoods in the agricultural sector.</em></p><p><em>The findings of this study (1) the strategy of the Penglipuran community to take a middle way between maintaining traditional values in managing the environment and adapting to the progress of modern era by deviding the living space into two, the front maintaining traditional values while the back part follows the modern era (2) The strength of the community maintains traditional values in managing the environment because of the theological that had been internalized in each individual in the community, (3) Penglipuran became village model that perfomed well environmental management.</em></p>

In this study, the benefits of implementing ISO 14001 Environmental Management System (EMS), employees' responses towards the implementation of EMS, the reasons for resisting the implementation and the challenges encountered by top management in implementing EMS were explored. A questionnaire survey to 97 ISO 14001 certified manufacturing companies in the State of Selangor was conducted. The findings showed that improved corporate image is the most substantial benefit brought by implementing EMS. A majority of the respondents were optimistic and they believed the implementation of EMS was good to the company and it benefited them. The top three reasons for resisting the implementation of EMS were employee's preference to stay at status quo, employees were haunted by the past failures in EMS and fear of the unknown. The findings also indicated three major challenges encountered by top management in the implementation of EMS are top management commitment towards the implementation, identification of environmental aspect, impact and legal compliance.

Implementing an Environmental Management System (EMS) has become an effective mechanism to address environmental problems of an organization and direct its activities to achieve the goals of ·sustainable development. .After realizing its effectiveness in the developed countries and in the private enterprises, the developing countries as well as public institutions are showing inclination to adapt environmental management systems. Some local authorities in developed countries have shown significant achievements by implementing EMS based on ISO 14000 series. Some other local authorities have made similar achievements by implementing their own EMS without any accreditation and external auditing. This paper first discusses the benefits of installing EMS in local authorities and then presents the fmdings of multiple case studies conducted in two local authorities in Japan and Thailand where EMSs based on ISO 14000 have been implemented and later continued with self-man&gement without involving ISO. The paper reiterates that implementing of EMS in local authorities in developing countries is practical and useful even without the accreditation of ISO. Involvement of professional bodies and senior citizens is suggested as an alternative to external verification of EMS performance.