Adoption Of Environmental Management Systems Research Articles

Implementing Environmental Management Systems (EMS) In Sarawak: Adoption Factors

In most organizations, Environmental Management Systems (EMS) adoption is based on voluntary basis, in which the adoption depends on organization’s aspirations for better environmental performance. Organizations are attracted by very practical benefits through implementation of EMS in their organizations. The primary purpose of an EMS implementation is to improve environmental performance continually in an organization. This research investigates the factors that drive the adoption of EMS by organizations in Sarawak. Empirical findings of a survey on the above in Sarawak organizations are presented. About 112 survey questionnaires invitations were forwarded to various organizations in Sarawak and a total of 47 responses (about 42.0%) were received, Walford (1995) in his assertion said that sampling techniques require 10 percent or more of observations or sampling fraction so that they are to be considered representative of the total population From this research, organizations which have implemented an EMS are mostly from larger organizations in Sarawak which have been established for more than 15 years with over 251 employees and more than one operating location. The results showed that ISO 14001 is the most common EMS frameworks adopted by organizations in Sarawak; followed by Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO). Among the EMS adoption factors in Sarawak, EMS implementation motivation and the role of top management are the most critical factors in EMS adoption in Sarawak. Besides, management support is also another essential factor for EMS adoption among Sarawak organizations; followed by current market orientation factor.

Environmental Management System in the Food and Beverage Sector: a Case Study from Malaysia

In the final decades of the twentieth century the concept of sustainable development became an issue of growing interest to national governments, universities, industries, non-governmental organisations and the public. For developing countries in the global south the challenges of achieving sustainable development has brought into sharp focus the tension between delivering socio-economic prosperity whilst protecting and safeguarding environmental and ecological assets. The case of food is especially pertinent where food production occurs at considerable expense to the local and global environment. Within the food production supply chain, attention has been drawn to greenhouse gas emission as a result of large energy usage, chlorofluorocarbon from food refrigeration and embedded emissions once food is wasted. One way to address environmental impacts in the food and beverage (F&B) sector is to increase the adoption of environmental management system (EMS) in the production phase. This study highlights the main findings from empirical research to examine EMS adoption in the F&B manufacturing sector in Malaysia. Drawn from survey questionnaires by 42 companies, the research explores the companies’ drivers, barriers, and incentives to the adoption of ISO 14001 standards and concludes with proposed strategies to improve the environmental performance of F&B companies and the industry as a whole. The important finding of this research is the implementation of ISO 14001 standards within Malaysian F&B sector is obstructed by the high implementation cost. Therefore, Malaysian government should increase the stringency of the environmental regulation alongside with the establishment of fiscal incentives to mitigate this barrier.

How do firms capture value from environmental innovations? An empirical analysis on European SMEs

How do SMEs exploit their environmental innovations on the market? This paper aims at exploring the factors affecting the choice of alternative green innovation strategies. It looks, in particular at the adoption of Environmental Management System (EMS) vs. green patents, and at the possible implementation of a bundle of the two, and investigates the role of sectoral characteristics in shaping firms’ strategic decisions. Relying upon a sample of 8797 European SMEs, we study the factors associated with the adoption of one or more strategies to capture value from green innovations. Results show that both firm characteristics – size and innovative activity – and sectoral specificities in terms of output tangibility, knowledge intensity and consumer vs. business orientation, matter in the adoption of different green innovation strategies.

Comportamientos proambientales de los empleados de la hotelería. El caso de un hotel certificado en Huatulco, México

Cada vez son más las empresas que asumen acciones a favor del ambiente, entre las más comunes se encuentran la adopción de sistemas de gestión ambiental o esquemas de certificación ecológica, no solo porque les permite gestionar de manera más eficiente sus recursos y disminuir sus costos haciéndolas más rentables, sino porque también les mejora su imagen pública y las compromete con la sociedad y la naturaleza. En el caso del destino turístico de Bahías de Huatulco, se han iniciado actividades orientadas a la dimensión ambiental de la sustentabilidad, lo que ha provocado que el sector hotelero se encuentre inmerso en una dinámica de certificación. Esta investigación se centra en analizar si los valores, conocimiento ambiental, compromiso organizacional y satisfacción laboral de los trabajadores, son elementos determinantes en el comportamiento proambiental. A partir de una encuesta a 178 trabajadores de un hotel certificado por EarthCheck y aplicando el Modelo de Regresión Múltiple, se logró identificar que los valores y el conocimiento ambiental tienen un efecto significativo sobre el comportamiento pro-ambiental.

ISO 14001 Environmental Management Systems Certification, Firm Characteristics and Performance of Certified Firms in Nairobi County, Kenya

Rising environmental concerns and stakeholder demands for demonstration of environmental responsibility by firms has culminated in widespread adoption of Environmental Management Systems (EMSs), with the framework based on the ISO 14001 standard being the most popular. One question that has dominated research is how ISO 14001 EMS certification contributes to firm performance. Studies on this question have largely focused on countries outside the African continent and yielded conflicting findings. Consequently, this study investigated the relationship between ISO 14001 EMS Certification and performance of certified firms in Nairobi County, Kenya. Two main research hypotheses were tested. The study applied descriptive, cross sectional research design in a census of 36 firms in Nairobi County, Kenya. Primary data was collected via structured questionnaires and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The descriptive data indicated general agreement among respondents that implementation of the core ISO 14001 elements in their respective firms satisfied the requirements specified on the questionnaire to a great extent, and that the factors for effective implementation of ISO 14001 were in place in their firms. Firm Performance improvement from ISO 14001 was rated in the range of 10-15%, though with variation in the ratings obtained. Environmental Policy, Planning, and Implementation and Operation have a positive relationship with Firm Performance, although this is not statistically significant for the element of Planning. Checking and Corrective Action and Management Review in turn have a significant, negative relationship with Firm Performance. The moderated regression analysis showed evidence of positive moderation by Firm Characteristics for Environmental Policy, Checking and Corrective Action, and Management Review, but not for Planning and Implementation and Operation; while the strength of the relationship improved by 8.4%. The study recommends that firms be cognisant of the moderating factors affecting successful implementation of EMSs in their respective industry set ups, and critically assess how these can be addressed at firm level, in order to enhance their ability to benefit from adopting EMSs.

What are the benefits and difficulties in adopting an environmental management system? The opinion of Italian organizations

ISO 14001 is the most widespread international standard that supports organizations in the implementation and maintenance of their Environmental Management Systems (EMS) defining a list of requirements to improve environmental performance. The investigation of the drivers of EMS adoption is still relevant today in the scientific debate. To upgrade the knowledge in this context, a research at national level has been designed with the aim to explore the benefits and the limits of ISO 14001 requirements. This paper presents the results derived from four national surveys conducted from 2008 to 2015 that involved the Italian ISO 14001 certified organizations to explore their difficulties and advantages of complying with the ISO 14001 requirements. The surveys were conducted through an on-line questionnaire with multiple-choice questions and a Likert four-point scale; they involved numerous Italian certified organizations, both public and private in different industrial and services sectors, collecting the opinions of managers and practitioners of Environmental Management Systems.The surveys' results demonstrate a growing consciousness over the years within the Italian organizations regarding the pros and cons of the ISO 14001 certification. The main usefulness of a certified environmental management system is related to compliance with legal requirements, competence and awareness, operational control and environmental performance assessment. Italian organizations also recognize that these are the most complex ones in which to ensure compliance with the standard's requirements. From a theoretical perspective, these considerations confirm but also outdo what is already known in the literature and open new research pathways emphasizing the more demanding requirements for Italian organizations. Furthermore, the main findings that can guide the managers and practitioners in applying ISO 14001 are revealed, in order to address their efforts toward the more challenging and helpful requirements.

STAKEHOLDER PERCEPTIONS OF THE BENEFITS AND BARRIERS OF IMPLEMENTING ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS IN THE NIGERIAN CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY

This study investigates stakeholder opinions of the major benefits and barriers of Environmental Management Systems (EMS) to the Nigerian construction industry, and the perceived issues to EMS adoption among organisations in the industry. The study highlights the environment as an important stakeholder in the industry because it affects and is affected by construction activities on a regular basis. It identifies the importance of ISO 14001 in ensuring adequate consideration for the environment is maintained on construction projects. The research adopts a quantitative approach by analysing responses from an online survey among construction industry professionals in Nigeria. The questions on the survey were drawn from a similar study carried out in Asia and the results were analysed using the Weighted Average and Standard Deviation statistical approach. Results reveal that the major benefits of EMS to the Nigerian construction industry were improved efficiency in waste management and environmental protection, as well as an overall increase in employee motivation due to better opportunities for training and development. Lack of technological support in organisations and the high cost of implementing EMS were viewed as the major barriers towards its uptake in construction companies. The findings also indicate that a feasible EMS implementation strategy must not ignore the unique nature of the Nigerian construction industry, which comprises mostly small and medium enterprises. The study concludes by recommending the use of a waste management plan based on the Reuse-reducerecycle-Recover model and an employee training plan to ensure continuous improvement in the organisation’s environmental management strategy.

Public regulatory relief and the adoption of environmental management systems: a European survey

An increasing number of organizations across the world have adopted Environmental Management Systems (EMSs) based on certifiable standards, notably the European Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) and the ISO 14001 standards. Although the specialized literature has studied the motivations, obstacles and benefits of the adoption of these standards for EMSs extensively, the impact of the public incentives on the adoption of such environmental management tools has been overlooked. In order to fill this gap in the literature, this article aims to shed light on the level of companies' knowledge and application of the main regulatory relief initiatives provided by public administrations around the EU for organizations with a certified EMS. For that purpose, this article summarizes the main findings of a survey carried out with the participation of 244 European EMAS-registered organizations. The findings of the survey highlight the fact that most of the surveyed companies have adopted or benefitted from some form of regulatory relief, mainly by making use of the measures granting an extended duration of some permits (44%), reductions in financial guarantees in the waste-treatment sector (31%) and tax reductions (26%). Moreover, it emerges that, among countries, the role of regulatory relief to support companies in the path to the adoption of EMSs is not univocal.

Environmental management systems and compliance at small and lightly regulated facilities: evidence from the New Hampshire hazardous waste program

This paper examines the regulatory compliance of small and lightly regulated facilities using a unique dataset of hazardous waste generators in New Hampshire. In particular the paper considers the factors that encourage such facilities to adopt environmental management systems (EMS) and how that adoption affects compliance behavior. The analysis provides a relatively rare look into the behavior of small and conditionally-exempt generators (CEG) since such facilities are seldom inspected or examined. The analysis finds that CEGs are less likely to adopt an EMS relative to more strictly regulated facilities as are smaller and privately held facilities, but that local enforcement activity encourages adoption. For CEGs, EMS adoption does have a significant positive effect on overall compliance. Additionally at both small and CEG facilities, EMS adoption has a significant positive effect on one particular aspect of compliance behavior, the presence of best practices for waste storage.

Adoption of environmental management systems and organizational changes: the case of the French industrial firms

The aim of this article is to analyze the relationship between Environmental Management System (EMS) adoption and firms’ organizational changes. The objective is to study the organizational changes associated with EMS adoption, and to shed light on the process of change and adaptation within the firm’s internal organization, as well as between the firm and its external partners. We study organizational changes associated with EMS thanks to an unique nationwide database in France (Organizational Changes and Computerization survey of 2006). Results show that EMS adoption is associated with a tendency toward flatter hierarchies and the development of collective labor practices. They reveal a strong complementarity with the formalization of practices such as logistical arrangements and adoption of certification systems. It also involves informal modes of coordination with external partners rather than formal constraints.

Waste management of health services: a study on the situation in the Brazilian hospital sector

In spite of the arising benefits of voluntary certificate, the adoption of environmental management systems is associated with external and internal barrier and hospitals usually have a reactive behaviour towards the environmental regulations. The study aims to analyse the contribution of environmental regulations for the healthcare waste management procedure (HCWMP) through a bibliometric survey of theses and dissertations available in the Brazilian digital library of theses and dissertations in the period of 2007-2012. As a result, 14 dissertations and three theses with a predominance of single case studies of qualitative and quantitative research were obtained. Regarding the main flaws in HCWMP, it can be highlighted that the authors reported the lack of employees' environmental training as one of the main problems. In conclusion, the contribution of environmental regulations enforced in healthcare establishments for the establishment of standards of issuance and performance, it is noted that even though a great majority of establishments show HCWMPs, a significant improvement was not obtained for the environmental quality and performance standards which is one of the objectives of these instruments once healthcare units show problems in all of the stages described and regulated by the current legislation.

Internalization of Environmental Practices and Institutional Complexity: Can Stakeholders Pressures Encourage Greenwashing?

This paper analyzes the determinants underlying the internalization of proactive environmental management proposed by certifiable environmental management systems (EMSs) such as those set out in ISO 14001 and the European Management and Auditing Scheme (EMAS). Using a study based on 232 usable questionnaires from EMAS-registered organizations, we explored the influence of institutional pressures from different stakeholders and the role of corporate strategy in the “substantial” versus “symbolic” integration of environmental practices. The results highlighted that although institutional pressures generally strengthen the internalization of proactive environmental practices, the influence of stakeholders can either support the integration of these practices or encourage their superficial adoption. For example, while pressure from suppliers and shareholders contribute to corporate greening, pressure from customers and industrial associations tend to encourage greenwashing (i.e., the superficial and misleading adoption of environmental practices). Product quality-oriented strategies also positively influence EMS internalization. The paper sheds light on the institutional complexity underlying the substantial versus symbolic implementation of environmental practices, and questions the dominant isomorphic view of EMS adoption. The paper also bridges the gap between complementary approaches on corporate greening, notably neo-institutional and stakeholder theories.

Environmental management system (EMS)

Purpose– The paper aims to discuss the link or relationship between environmental management system (EMS) adoptions with organization learning (OL). It postulates that EMS adoption has the potential to catalyze organizational learning in hotels to make them more dynamic and competitive.Design/methodology/approach– The paper reviewed the literature to link the purpose and steps involved in an EMS adoption with the benefit of managing organizational knowledge and OL. It also uses the literature to identify phases of learning in EMS adoption and the level of employees exposed to the learning.Findings– There are two reasons why more hotels should not be hesitant to adopt EMS: flexibility – EMS does not dictate the level of environmental performance a firm should achieve, thus giving hotel firms the flexibility to determine the level of sophistication of their environmental management; and the building of company’s dynamism – EMS facilitates organizational learning, leading to enhanced organizational performance.Research limitations/implications– The proposed link between EMS implementation with OL in this paper can only be proven by means of empirical studies.Practical implications– Understanding the OL value of EMS adoption may persuade more hotel practitioners to adopt it.Originality/value– This paper proposes a link between a systematic approach to managing environmental responsibility with knowledge management in hotels.

The impact of ISO 14001 on corporate environmental performance: a study of Swedish manufacturing firms

The debate concerning the environmental effectiveness of environmental management systems (EMS) based on ISO 14001 is still open and scholars have called for further studies that can explain the contrasting evidence in previous research. As a response, this study aims to contribute knowledge about the effects of ISO 14001-based EMS by presenting fact-based environmental data. The study focuses on changes in performance over a period of 12 years and includes both firms with an EMS (66 firms) and firms without one (50 firms). Consideration is given to the improvement efforts in the firms before EMS adoption making it possible to neutralize any selection effects where better environmental performance precedes ISO 14001 adoption. Analysis has been carried out using statistical methods for six different environmental areas. No statistically significant differences between certified and non-certified firms concerning the change in the rate of improvement could be found in any of the six areas. However, it can be suspected that EMS adoption has positive effects on energy use and waste production whereas the non-adopting firms seem to perform better concerning air emissions. These mixed results mirrors previous research, which is rather worrying considering the worldwide popularity of EMS based on ISO 14001 in industry.

Environmental Management Systems Does Certification Pay?

The voluntary adoption of environmental management systems (EMS), frequently certified by third-party audits following international standards, has become a vital supplement to mandatory environmental policies based on regulation and legislation. Although there is empirical evidence that both EMS adoption and certification can effectively improve firms’ environmental performance, the impact on their business performance is far from clear. Drawing upon an OECD survey including more than 4,000 manufacturing facilities, this paper fills this void by estimating the impact of both EMS adoption and certification on facilities’ business performance using statistical matching techniques. While our results indicate that the pure adoption of EMS without any certification does not enhance facilities’ business performance, the financial performance of certified facilities turns out to be significantly higher.

ISO 14001 adoption and industrial waste generation: The case of Swedish manufacturing firms

Adoption of environmental management systems (EMSs) based on ISO 14001 has constituted one of the most important developments in sustainable industry management in recent years. Previous research on the impact of EMSs has relied heavily on corporate representatives' subjective perception of benefits. Moreover, studies tend to focus on the systems' impact on firms' overall environmental performance, not distinguishing between the differences in different environmental aspects. This study aims to contribute knowledge about the influence of certified EMSs on industrial waste generation based on objective industrial waste data derived from mandatory annual environmental reports. The study focuses on changes in waste generation over a period of 12 years and includes both ISO 14001-certified firms (66 firms) and non-certified firms (50 firms). Consideration is given to the improvement efforts in the firms before EMS adoption. Analysis has been carried out using statistical methods for three different industrial waste parameters: hazardous waste, waste to landfill and the total amounts of waste. The results indicate that the certified EMSs have no statistically significant effect on any of the three waste parameters.

The Adoption of Environmental Management System in Malaysia‟s Manufacturing Organizations

The Adoption of Environmental Management System in Malaysia‟s Manufacturing Organizations

Regulatory Complexity and Organisational Environmental Innovations

Environmental Management Systems (EMS) are organisational environmental innovations with a remarkable potential for environmental sustainability transformations in firms. Research on EMS treats regulatory compliance pressures as key, yet, one-dimensional determinants of EMS adoption and certification. However, insights from the policy-oriented innovation literature reveal that the impact of regulations on innovation is rather complex and highly dependent on the context in which they are applied. This paper delves into the complexity of regulatory pressures, and examines the impact of different dimensions of regulation– ‘direct’ regulatory instruments, ‘market-based’ instruments, and stringency of regulation– on organisational environmental innovations such as EMS. It uses a unique and comprehensive DEFRA dataset on the environmental expenditures of 2,080 firms, and introduces a methodological novelty by treating the EMS adoption and certification as nested decisions modelled by a Bivariate Probit with Sample Selection model. The paper shows that different dimensions of the UK’s regulatory regime affect firms’ EMS related decisions in different and sometimes contradictory ways: (a) ‘direct’ regulations are effective in stimulating the adoption of EMS; (b) 'market-based' instruments fail to facilitate the adoption of EMS; (c) regulatory stringency encourages firms to adopt EMS; and (d) ‘direct’ regulations and regulatory stringency deter EMS certification. These findings highlight the need for a more thorough investigation of the relationship between regulatory pressures and EMS adoption/certification decisions.

A multicriteria method for environmental management system selection: an intellectual capital approach

The adoption of environmental management systems has become more widespread among those firms looking to minimize their environmental impacts. Considering that firms have to select the optimal management system from a set of possible alternatives, this paper presents a novel decision-making approach based on the multicriteria method of analytic network process, in order to evaluate and prioritize the implementation of environmental management system alternatives in for-profit firms. Since several relevant intangible benefits are derived from the adoption of this kind of management system (such as enhancing employees' knowledge and skills, as well as improving corporate reputation), the method integrates and quantifies both financial and non-financial (intellectual capital) value creation criteria in order to identify the alternative that maximizes a firm's total market value. The proposed approach is empirically tested in a group of Spanish olive oil firms with a proactive environmental management orientation, and the results confirm the reliability of the proposed model. Furthermore, the empirical applications reveal that all the olive oil firms attribute great importance to the intangible elements when assessing environmental management systems. These results suggest that it is appropriate to take into account the intellectual capital value resulting from these kinds of management systems, during the decision-making process. The proposed method formalizes the evaluation process that firms already employ; these firms certainly take non-financial capital value creation elements into account, albeit in an intuitive way.

우리나라 제조기업의 환경경영시스템 도입에 대한 영향요인 연구

우리나라 제조기업의 환경경영시스템 도입에 대한 영향요인 연구