Environmental Management Approach Research Articles

Improving environmental performance by means of empowerment of contractors

PurposeTo present ways for empowering contractors in improving environmental performance particularly to meet the requirements defined in ISO 14000.Design/methodology/approachTo review the traditional methodologies for protecting the environment in undertaking construction activities, investigate the limitations of these methods and the associated reasons, and apply the principles of ISO 14000 environmental management system (EMS) to develop an effective framework for helping contractors to become competent in implementing environmental management.FindingsThe major methodologies developed for protecting the environment in construction include governmental regulations, economic measures, and EMSs. However, the applications of these measures are limited. The typical causes contributing to the limitation include the clash between cost and environment, environmentally passive culture within construction industry, lack of cooperation among project parties, and clash between contract time and implementing environmental management methods. Furthermore, the practice of environment management is mainly driven by external impetus such as legal enforcement incentive programmes from government. However, the effectiveness cannot be gained if internal motivation does not exist. This paper introduces a framework to help a contractor to cultivate an environmentally friendly culture within its organization.Originality/valueThis paper proposes a framework for empowering contractors in improving environmental performance by identifying the weaknesses of the existing practice and applying a systematic approach of implementing environmental management approaches.

Focusing on the environment

The safety of packages and operations is a major concern in ensuring protection for people and the environment. The environmental impact of the activities of Cogema Logistics is covered by an environmental management approach. This systematic approach starts with the design phase for new products and processes and meets several objectives: to reduce the environmental impact of direct activities by optimising the maintenance, management and storage of the fleet and to inform and develop awareness among suppliers. The development of environmental partnerships with suppliers is encouraged to foster collaboration and improve products and services. As part of the sustainable development policy of Areva, Cogema Logistics has decided to extend the management system to environmental using the ISO 14001 model. The associated ISO certification was obtained in February 2003 for all activities and locations. In this context, and beyond the compliance with regulations, Cogema Logistics, together with its customers, authorities, suppliers and local partners, has undertaken to prevent all types of pollution and to continuously improve environmental performance. Within this guiding principle, new package designs or new means of transport must take into account an environmental analysis. Relevant dispositions have been introduced into various steps of the quality security environment management system—tender review, pre-design review, design review, qualification test, feedback disposition (manufacture, transport, maintenance, operation). This paper shows how Cogema Logistics' quality management system can be usefully complemented by an environmental approach.

The Role of an Environmental Management in Improving of Competition in Manufacturing Companies

Environmental management approach is the way that used to integrate the environmental considerations in the management operation and decision making operation in under developing countries, especially in this conditions, which are full of competition and continuously changes. So, implementation of environmental management approach is a very important action, because it has a positive effects on the function of the entity (productivity, Trading, Accounting, financial, human resources. and researching and development), also it has a positive effects on the managerial performance it self. Before the decision of implementing an environmental management approach, it must make a cost-benefit analyzing in order to ensure from its appraisal. The successful implementation of environmental management approach needs the support of the high managers at the entity; also it needs the efforts of all levels in the entity, in addition to all needed resources. The environmental laws must contain the ways of implementing of the environmental management approach in the entity. To have an efficient result, it is important for the entity to combine the environmental management system with the total quality management system.

Developing public environmental education: Improving community-based environmental management

This paper presents the experience of institutional capacity building in environmental education, and the achievement of the participatory approach in environmental management for the Canadian International Development Agency funded project ‘Community-Based Conservation Management: China and Vietnam’ in Xiamen. The project has enhanced teaching capacity and applied research skills of the local training institutions with integrated social and physical science lessons in multiple levels of a post-secondary environmental education programme. The focus of the project was to integrate the local secondary and post-secondary schools environmental education plans. Approaches to promote public awareness on environmental conservation are also illustrated. The study highlights the conservation activities of the Community Based Conservation Management project in Xiamen to encourage the involvement of a variety of community groups, including university students, youth and women. In addition, it explores the social responsibility of the faculty as an essential link between the public and decision-makers for effective public involvement in environmental management. We argue that the success of public environmental education relies on institutional capacity building, interdisciplinary studies and community participation.

How Ready are Colleges for an Environmental Approach That Utilizes Campus/Community Coalitions?

While there is optimism about an environmental management approach that utilizes campus-community coalitions to reduce levels of high-risk drinking, the readiness of schools to implement such an approach is unknown. We surveyed 100 colleges regarding their readiness based on eight factors: existence of a task force to address alcohol use on campus; the inclusion of the college/university President; inclusion of a community representative; frequent meetings; external funding to address alcohol use; previous environmental training; changes implemented as a result of environmental training; and a plan to institute environmental training in the future. Having an alcohol task force or coalition (57%) was associated with participation by the president and/or community representative on the task force, having extramural funding to address high-risk drinking, training in environmental management, implementation of changes after the training, plans for future training, school size, Greek organizations on campus, and being a state university.

Environmental management and life cycle approaches in the Mexican mining industry

Mexico ranks among the 11 major producer countries of minerals worldwide; its open pit and underground systems are 500 years old. This paper presents an overview of the Mexican mining industry from technological development, historical and economic perspectives. The efforts made by mining companies to address issues of environmental management and sustainable development expressed in national and international frameworks, as well as the Mexican environmental regulatory framework for the mining sector, are analyzed. Since, among others, life cycle assessment (LCA) has been recognized as a key topic to promote sustainable development in the Latin American and Caribbean region, this paper also examines the application of LCA in mining. Two life cycle approaches are presented: a national life cycle inventory for base metals, and an integral life cycle model for the management of mining processes.

Sustainability and competitive advantage: Empirical evidence on the influence of strategic choices between environmental management approaches

Sustainability and competitive advantage: Empirical evidence on the influence of strategic choices between environmental management approaches

An integrative methodology for environmental management in construction

A remarkable difference between the registration rate of ISO 14001 environmental management system (EMS) and the implementation rate of environmental impact assessment (EIA) in construction industry in Mainland China indicates that there may be little coordination between the implementation of the EIA and the EMS in construction projects in Mainland China, and the EIA practice may not really serve as a tool to promote environmental management (EM) in construction. Since the China Environmental Protection Bureau recently enacted to implement the environmental supervision system in construction project supervision, contractors have to pay greater attention to adopt and implement EM in construction. In this regard, this paper presents an integrative methodology (E+) for dynamic EIA in construction, which integrates various EM approaches with a general EMS process throughout all construction stages in a construction project. The E+ is expected to effectively and efficiently assist contractors to enhance their environmental performances in China.

A Case Study of Cleaner Production Opportunities in Small and Medium Enterprises on the Island of Mauritius

Small Islands Developing States provide a special case in development, largely due to special characteristics of their natural, economic and social environment. Understanding and implementing strategies for sustainable development become critical issues for islanders. The island of Mauritius has evolved from an agricultural to a semi-industrialized country over the past three decades. Small- and Medium-scale Enterprises (SMEs) play a vital role in the economic development of the island but they also contribute significantly towards overall industrial pollution. Large-scale industries produce more pollution than SMEs but because of their preferential access to capital investment and to new technologies, it is comparatively easier and more economical for them to control their pollution. In the case of SMEs a number of factors hinder them from the planning and implementation of pollution control actions. These factors include: lack of access to resources allowing for investments in pollution control, low level of technology, lack of space, non-availability of trained personnel, and the unwillingness of management to invest in environmental protection. The environmental management approach adopted by large-scale industries and SMEs differ considerably. The aim of this research was to highlight these differences through case studies of a large-scale industry (brewery) and a small-scale industry (tannery). The author carried out waste audits to identify cleaner production opportunities. Emissions could be effectively controlled by a combination of Cleaner Production (CP) and pollution control options. Most of the opportunities are not pursued by the factories because of a lack of skills on how to build cleaner production projects, lack of top management commitment, lack of time, and lack of allocation of responsibilities for project conception and engineering. This article concludes with recommendations for a national strategy for the implementation of the Cleaner Production concept in SMEs. The island of Mauritius lies in the Indian Ocean at about 800 km to the east of Madagascar (see Map 1). It is 1865 km2 in area and volcanic in origin. As of December 2001, the population was estimated at 1.2 million. Mauritius is the sixth most densely populated country in the world, and it has one of the lowest cropland per capita ratios. In less than three decades, Mauritius has changed from a poor developing country with uncontrolled population growth, high infant mortality, and declining or stagnant growth per capita income, to a rapidly industrializing country. Small islands like Mauritius provide a special case in development, largely due to the special characteristics of their natural, economic, and social environment. Understanding and implementing strategies for sustainable development become critical issues for islanders. Over the past 15 years, Mauritius has achieved an 5-6% annual growth in the economy and steady growth in per capita income. During this time the economy has diversified from being dominated by sugarcane to a mixture of industry, agriculture, tourism, and financial services. This change is associated with a greater demand for resources, greater consumption of products, and increased volume of wastes. It is estimated that there are approximately 5,000 industrial enterprises in Mauritius (National Environmental Strategies, 1999). Of these, some 900 employ 10 or more persons and are referred to as large-scale, employing a total of over 100,000 people. The small and medium scale manufacturing establishments employ somewhere between 14,000-15,000 people. Most of the large industries in Mauritius are well organised and structured and are sometimes backed up by internationally reputable mother companies. On the other hand, SMEs in Mauritius are mostly family owned or owned by a small group of shareholders. The environmental management approaches adopted by these two types of industries differ considerably. …

Longitudinal Assessment of the Effectiveness of Environmental Management and EnforcementStrategies on College Student Substance Abuse Behaviors

In 1998, the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA Reauthorization) was amended by the United States Congress, thereby encouraging the development of new strategies on college and university campuses for addressing alcohol and other drug (AOD) abuse. The HEA Reauthorization also served as a catalyst for colleges and universities to develop new policies related to AOD,including parental notification policies. This 3-year, longitudinal case study assesses the effectiveness of the collaborative, multifaceted environmental management and enforcement plan that was implemented at Syracuse University, a private 4-year university. Through measurement of behavioral indicators this study shows the effectiveness of a comprehensive environmental management strategy in reducing the frequency and severity of AOD abuse in college environments. The effectiveness of this comprehensive environmental management approach is evident in the university's 29.2% decrease in alcohol violations and corresponding 24.6% decline in overall discipline cases. Moreover this research provides theory and practical application for student affairs practitioners in the judicial, counseling, education, administrative, and health services.

Lessons learnt in addressing environmental issues of new water resource projects ? a case study in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Developing new water resource projects without taking cognisance of the environmental impacts, both biophysical and social, has received global condemnation for many years now and is largely becoming a practice of the past. However, it is the prominence, extent of issues addressed, timing and intensity of the investigations and the commitment to environmental protection and mitigation that has increased significantly over the past few years. Practices in South Africa are no exception to this. Environmental legislation in South Africa requires that an Integrated Environmental Management (IEM) approach be adopted when any new project is being considered. This IEM approach was recently put to the test in South Africa during the planning and implementation of an inter-basin transfer scheme in the province of KwaZulu-Natal. This paper will discuss the steps that were taken to address the environmental issues during a protracted planning phase, and what was accomplished. It will compare how these recommendations were taken forward into the construction phase and the operations phase, and the lessons learnt from the process.

The environmental planning and management approach towards the development and management of the Osun natural spring project, Ibadan, Nigeria

There is a general shortage of potable water in Nigeria, partly through the lack of natural provision and partly because of rapid urban growth that has largely been unplanned. The paper describes the recent redevelopment of a public water facility in a run-down area of Ibadan which is part of the Sustainable Ibadan Project. Despite funding from national and international bodies, the development is strongly based at community level. The local inhabitants feel they have control over their own water supply through their representatives on the various planning and managing committees. This aims to reduce vandalism and to increase pride and involvement in the community. The project is a pilot for other projects around Ibadan, some of which have begun and others are being planned. This paper describes the administrative structures and management principles that have been employed. It forcefully advocates community-based planning and management which respects both the environment and the water-users, and involves a major “bottom-up” element.

Longitudinal Assessment of the Effectiveness of Environmental Management and EnforcementStrategies on College Student Substance Abuse Behaviors

In 1998, the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA Reauthorization) was amended by the United States Congress, thereby encouraging the development of new strategies on college and university campuses for addressing alcohol and other drug (AOD) abuse. The HEA Reauthorization also served as a catalyst for colleges and universities to develop new policies related to AOD,including parental notification policies. This 3-year, longitudinal case study assesses the effectiveness of the collaborative, multifaceted environmental management and enforcement plan that was implemented at Syracuse University, a private 4-year university. Through measurement of behavioral indicators this study shows the effectiveness of a comprehensive environmental management strategy in reducing the frequency and severity of AOD abuse in college environments. The effectiveness of this comprehensive environmental management approach is evident in the university's 29.2% decrease in alcohol violations and corresponding 24.6% decline in overall discipline cases. Moreover this research provides theory and practical application for student affairs practitioners in the judicial, counseling, education, administrative, and health services.

Industrial ecosystem indicators?direct and indirect effects of integrated waste- and by-product management and energy production

In an idealised industrial ecosystem (IE), firms and organisations utilise each other's material and energy flows including wastes and by-products to reduce the system's virgin material and energy input as well as the waste and emission output from the system as a whole, and contribute to sustainable development (SD). IE complements the more conventional individual flow, product, process, organisation, individual actor or sector-focused environmental management approaches and tools with network or systems level approaches. The first research objective of this paper is to construct indicators for IE. The second task is to test the use of these indicators with "what if?" material and energy flow scenarios for the energy and waste system of Satakunta region in Finland including 28 municipalities. Using literature analysis as a source, we arrive at environmental indicators of carbon dioxide (CO2) equivalents, and at economic indicators of fuel, energy and waste management costs and revenues. The social indicators show the employment effects of the waste management system. The scenarios analyse the current situation (0-scenario) against alternative situations in the future. The future scenarios are developed according to the known and anticipated trends in international and national policy and legislation. The indicator application in the scenarios produces social, environmental and economic effects of waste management in four categories: direct negative, direct positive, indirect negative and indirect positive. Industrial ecosystem theory emphasises the utilisation of wastes as a resource with value alongside the objective of reducing waste. Therefore, the indirect positive effects of waste management are important, as well as the conventional focus of waste management, which has usually been on direct positive effects. The main difficulties in our argument are the system boundary definition, the qualitatively different nature of environmental, economic and social effects and indicators as well as the lack of qualitative or interview data on the preferences and interests of the actors involved.

Challenges and strategies for better use of scientific information in the management of coastal estuaries

Numerous studies have concluded that better use of scientific information could improve the quality of coastal and estuarine environmental management. Approaches for effecting such a change include ecosystem-based, integrated, and adaptive management, but such basic re-orientation of estuarine and coastal management has proved difficult to achieve. Even environmental indicators, seemingly straightforward ways of injecting scientific information into decision making, have achieved broad on-the-ground use in relatively few instances—principally the largest estuary management programs. A conceptual framework useful for examining environmental management systems affecting the five PNCERS (Pacific Northwest coastal Ecosystems Regional Study) estuaries conceives of environmental managers, researchers, and interested and affected parties in the public as interacting through the multi-layered institutional arrangements that currently promote the utilization, management, or protection of coastal and estuarine resources. Considerable variation exists in the approach and effectiveness of the region's environmental management organizations. Interaction between science and management in the region appears to be limited to an extent by high transaction costs; a cultural divide between environmental scientists and environmental managers is perceived by members of both groups who work with the PNCERS estuaries as inhibiting communications between them. Mechanisms that both groups identify as useful for improving the flow of information between science and management are little used, perhaps as a result. The two groups have very different patterns of information dissemination and acquisition, and though both chose agency archives and databases as their top methods for disseminating information, neither group relies much on these vehicles for information they seek. Both residents' and practitioners' perceptions of threats to the PNCERS estuaries show patterns of estuary-to-estuary variation. One theme that emerges is that problems associated with poor land management in adjacent uplands are common to most of these estuaries, potentially providing a sense of commonality through which a more regional approach to estuary management could emerge. A common set of estuarine environmental indicators implemented for all estuaries could help instigate such a regional approach, but resource constraints, especially at the local level, will have to be overcome for that to occur. There is currently substantial lack of common vision among coastal practitioners as to the purpose and desirability of indicators, and relatively little experience or knowledge of their use, particularly at the local level. Use of estuarine science in the management of these estuaries appears to be greatest during periods in which the largest programmatic shifts in environmental management approaches occur, an observation consistent with other studies that have concluded that the use of environmental science in environmental management tends to be episodic.

Coping with hygiene in South Africa, a water scarce country

The burden of infectious diseases may be reduced by adopting effective infection control measures. Some of these are dependent on the provision of adequate and safe water supplies for maintenance of basic standards of personal, domestic and healthcare hygiene. Consequences of scarce, and sometimes unsafe, waters supplies in South Africa are highlighted with reference to healthcare-associated infections, community acquired infectious intestinal diseases and domestic practices as infection sources. Availability of water in more than 67% of South African municipal hospitals and primary health care facilities (delivered by water tanker in 12.5% of satellite clinics, 5% from river or dam sources, 12.4% relying on rainwater) does not necessarily guarantee that it's quality is safe for utilisation. In the Northern Province and Mpumalanga, water needs to be purified prior to usage in 14.4 and 33% of satellite clinics respectively. Simple, low maintenance and low-cost interventions to maximise use and safety of limited water resources may be implemented: micro-organism (S. dysenteriae) inactivation by direct UV-exposure in sunlight abundant environments, water purification by filtration mechanisms and making use of iron pots in the community for pasteurisation, decontamination and boiling procedures. Education is paramount in promoting healthy domestic food handling practices, changing cultural perceptions of hygiene, hand-washing technique and mechanisms of domestic environmental decontamination. Water provision cannot be separated from other inter-related factors such as sanitation. Although the present government has taken initiatives to reduce the number of people not having access to water by 50% in 2002, provision of sanitation has been slower (>38% inadequate sanitation in 2002). Adoption of integrated environmental management approaches in conjunction with community participation (WASH Campaign--2002), by the government, aims to address the sanitation problems.

The link between ‘green’ and economic success: environmental management as the crucial trigger between environmental and economic performance

The link between environmental and economic performance has been widely debated in the literature for the last ten to fifteen years. One view is that improved environmental performance mainly causes extra costs for the firm and thus reduces profitability. However, also the opposite has been argued for: improved environmental performance would induce cost savings and increase sales and thus improve economic performance. Theoretical and empirical research have provided arguments for both positions and have not been conclusive so far. This article discusses reasons for the different views and the differences in empirical research and presents a theoretical framework to explain the coexistence of the conflicting views. It is argued that not merely the level of environmental performance, but mainly the kind of environmental management with which a certain level is achieved, influences the economic outcome. The model presented provides implications for both empirical research and company management in practice. Research and business practice should focus less on general correlations and more on causal relationships of eco-efficiency, i.e. the effect of different environmental management approaches on economic performance.

The link between 'green' and economic success: environmental management as the crucial trigger between environmental and economic performance

The link between environmental and economic performance has been widely debated in the literature for the last ten to fifteen years. One view is that improved environmental performance mainly causes extra costs for the firm and thus reduces profitability. However, also the opposite has been argued for: improved environmental performance would induce cost savings and increase sales and thus improve economic performance. Theoretical and empirical research have provided arguments for both positions and have not been conclusive so far. This article discusses reasons for the different views and the differences in empirical research and presents a theoretical framework to explain the coexistence of the conflicting views. It is argued that not merely the level of environmental performance, but mainly the kind of environmental management with which a certain level is achieved, influences the economic outcome. The model presented provides implications for both empirical research and company management in practice. Research and business practice should focus less on general correlations and more on causal relationships of eco-efficiency, i.e. the effect of different environmental management approaches on economic performance.

Achieving sustainability through attention to human resource factors in environmental management

Currently, many businesses are implementing a proactive, strategic tool known as an environmental management system (EMS) to gain a competitive advantage. Companies can no longer simply use compliance plans to deal with environmental concerns; consumer demands for greener products and services, and operational efficiencies require long term strategic and sustainable approaches for environmental management. An EMS includes documentation of: commitment and policy; planning; implementation; measurement and evaluation; and review and improvement. Establishment and maintenance of an EMS can be costly and time consuming, therefore implementation should be carefully structured to assure success. This paper identifies human resource (HR) factors such as top management support, environmental training, employee empowerment, teamwork, and rewards systems as key elements of the implementation process of an EMS. Furthermore, the interaction of these factors is examined in terms of the five categories of an EMS mentioned above. Finally, a conceptual model of the EMS‐HR factors is proposed to assist in proper facilitation of the environmental management program.

DYNAMICS OF WETLAND DEVELOPMENT AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT IN LAS VEGAS WASH, NEVADA1

ABSTRACT: This paper examines the co‐evolution of the Las Vegas, Nevada metropolitan area, Las Vegas Wash ecosystem‐a downstream riparian wetland‐and Wash management as a case of urban‐environment dynamics. Since Las Vegas Wash provides the primary drainage for Las Vegas, changes in the urban system lead to changes in the Wash and its ecosystem. The population of the drainage area has grown from approximately 1,000 people in 1900 to more than 1.3 million in 2000. This phenomenal population growth led to increased Wash flow, from less than .03 m3/sec (1 ft3/sec) to over 7.4 m3/sec (260 ft3/sec), and consequent ecological changes from a nearly dry wash to a rich wetland, and now to an eroded system. As the Wash ecosystem changed, valuation of Wash characteristics by residents and resource managers also changed, shifting the focus of management and use, which ultimately led to further ecosystem changes. Reciprocal relationships among human activity, environmental change, and management in this urban area highlight the need for a comprehensive and dynamic systems perspective and adaptive approaches in urban environmental management and make this a particularly compelling case study. This paper describes a conceptual systems framework for adaptive urban‐environment management derived from this case.