Use Of Environmental Management Systems Research Articles

Linking Environmental Management Systems to Firm Performance: Empirical Evidence from an Emerging Economy

This study aims to determine how environmental performance and customer satisfaction affect the relationship between environmental management systems and company performance. For this purpose, we have collected and analyzed data from 243 textile companies in Pakistan, using partial least squares structural equation modelling. Our empirical results indicate that environmental management systems have a positive and significant impact on business success, customer satisfaction and environmental performance. The findings also show that environmental performance and customer satisfaction mediate the relationship between environmental management systems and business performance in a complementary manner. Our findings show that environmental performance and customer happiness are essential for textile companies to benefit from environmental management systems. The results suggest that Pakistani textile companies should make better use of environmental management systems as valuable tools for addressing stakeholders' concerns and for boosting financial profits.

An insight into the associations between environmental activity management, environmental management systems and performance

Purpose This study uses the survey method to examine the associations between the three levels of environmental activity management (EAM) (environmental activity analysis, environmental activity cost analysis and environmental activity based costing) with environmental management systems (EMSs), and assesses the effectiveness of these EAM practices and EMSs by examining their associations with both environmental and financial performance. While this study is unable to assert causality, the findings provide an important insight into the need to integrate EMSs and EMA practices, specifically EAM. In addition, the findings provide an initial insight into the relationship between the extent of use of these practices and organisational performance (environmental and financial). Design/methodology/approach Data was collected using a mail survey of 659 manufacturing organisations identified from the Onesource on-line database. A total of 140 completed questionnaires were returned (21.2%), 72 (10.9%) following the initial mail-out, and a further 68 (10.3%) from the follow-up mail-out. Findings In respect to the association between EAM and EMSs, this study provides empirical evidence to support the integration of EAM practices with the use of EMSs, suggesting the relationships between the two is bi-directional. In respect to the association between EMSs with environmental and financial performance, while the extent of use of EMSs is not associated with financial performance, there is strong evidence supporting the positive association between EMSs with environmental performance. Further, while there are minimal results regarding the direct association between the three EAM practices and environmental performance, a cyclical relationship between EAM and financial performance is identified. Originality/value This study contributes to the literature by providing an empirical insight into the relationship between the extent of adoption of EMSs and the use of EMA. The focus on the relationship between EMSs and EMA is pertinent owing to the sparse research on EMA practices and the “importance of using such [EAM] practices and integrating them within the organisation rather than using them on an ad hoc basis” (Phan et al., 2018, p. 657). This study also contributes to the literature by examining the effectiveness of both practices in respect to their association with environmental and financial performance.

Use of Environmental Management Systems and Renewable Energy Sources in Selected Food Processing Enterprises in Poland

The issue of environmental management systems in food processing companies is gaining importance due to the need to reduce water withdrawal, wastewater, air emissions, and waste generation. New technological solutions and innovations can reduce the negative effects of the enterprises’ production facilities on the environment. In Poland, the phenomenon of increasing use of the amount of renewable energy sources is influenced by, e.g., adopted national and EU legislation, development of new technologies in the field of energy, and increasing awareness of producers and consumers in the field of ecology and environmental protection. It is also important that the state creates favorable conditions for the use of renewable energy in micro-installations. The application goal of the study is to develop a procedure for improvement of the environmental management systems for food processing companies and increase the awareness of potential use and implementation of renewable energy sources by food processing entities. In the theoretical part of the study, methods of comparative, deductive, and synthetic analysis are used. In the practical part of the study survey method, case studies, a simple flashback, and transfer of ideas are presented. The results of the research can be used by state institutions to put emphasis on the implementation of sustainable development of state policy on the food market.

Credibility of certified environmental management systems: Results from focus group interviews

The implementation and use of environmental management systems (EMSs) depend on the perceived credibility of their certificates. This study aims to identify and describe factors influencing the importance of certification credibility of EMSs. This study discusses the significance of such systems to enterprise credibility by administering and analysing focus group interviews with 20 representatives from the production industry, education sector, certification bodies, and non-profit associations for environmental protection. The paper concludes that credibility of EMSs' certification depends on the certifying companies, and poor-quality audits facilitate the possession of certification as well as the universality of using certified systems. The positive reception of certified EMSs in companies induces the widespread use of certificates, fashion, and credibility, which can be increased by publication of audit reports. These conclusions emphasise the importance of strict auditing and control systems for certifications.

Opinions of small and medium UK construction companies on environmental management systems

Pressure to reduce the environmental impact of construction activities has increased, such that a paradigm shift is required. This paper presents stakeholder opinions of environmental management systems as a means for the construction industry to respond to these issues. Using a previous approach, the views of small and medium construction companies were sought, using questionnaires to ask respondents to reveal their perceived benefits of and barriers to implementing the ISO 14000 suite of environmental management standards in the UK. Detailed statistical analysis showed that environmental management systems can sometimes produce quantifiable benefits to organisations in terms of cost reduction. However, from a contractor’s view, the greatest benefit was a reduction in environmental impact outweighing financial benefits. Findings also demonstrated numerous barriers to an organisation exist, both internal and external, regarding adoption and use of environmental management systems. The most critical barrier was that cost savings do not always balance with the expense of implementation. Furthermore, waste minimisation at the design stage is viewed as most important. In general, the opinions gauged in this study indicated that short-term profits are normally considered more imperative than long-term gains. Therefore, despite a need to focus on developing strategies for removing or reducing the challenges of environmental management systems, the reality is that they may not be the panacea to sustainable development, as is often touted.

Environmental management systems and environmental product innovation: The role of stakeholder engagement

AbstractEnvironmental product innovation (EPI) is an imperative for contemporary business as it enhances firm competitiveness and provides significant societal benefits. Arguments that the use of environmental management systems—such as ISO 14001—may enhance EPI have not been empirically supported. In this study, we argue that the environmental management systems–EPI relationship is contingent upon the level of a firm's engagement with three groups of stakeholders, namely, suppliers, customers, and the local community. Using a sample of 1,314 manufacturing firms for the period 2003 and 2014, we find empirical evidence that supports our hypothesis for all three groups of stakeholders. Further analysis reveals that for firms with prior experience with quality management systems, engagement with local communities becomes the critical condition. We discuss the implications of these results for both theory and practice.

Environmental Management Systems and Environmental Product Innovation: The Role of Stakeholder Engagement

Environmental product innovation (EPI) is an imperative for contemporary business as it enhances firm competitiveness and provides significant societal benefits. Arguments that the use of environmental management systems (EMS) — such as ISO 14001 — may enhance EPI have not been empirically supported. In this study, we argue that the EMS-EPI relationship is contingent upon the level of a firm’s engagement with various types of stakeholders, namely suppliers, customers, and the local community. Using a sample of 1,303 manufacturing firms for the period 2003-2014 we find empirical evidence that supports our hypothesis for all three types of stakeholders. Further analysis reveals that for firms with prior experience with quality management systems, engagement with local communities is the most beneficial. We discuss the implications of these results for both theory and practice.

Cosmetics as endocrine disruptors: are they a health risk?

Exposure to chemicals from different sources in everyday life is widespread; one such source is the wide range of products listed under the title "cosmetics", including the different types of popular and widely-advertised sunscreens. Women are encouraged through advertising to buy into the myth of everlasting youth, and one of the most alarming consequences is in utero exposure to chemicals. The main route of exposure is the skin, but the main endpoint of exposure is endocrine disruption. This is due to many substances in cosmetics and sunscreens that have endocrine active properties which affect reproductive health but which also have other endpoints, such as cancer. Reducing the exposure to endocrine disruptors is framed not only in the context of the reduction of health risks, but is also significant against the background and rise of ethical consumerism, and the responsibility of the cosmetics industry in this respect. Although some plants show endocrine-disrupting activity, the use of well-selected natural products might reduce the use of synthetic chemicals. Instruments dealing with this problem include life-cycle analysis, eco-design, and green labels; in combination with the committed use of environmental management systems, they contribute to "corporate social responsibility".

The Implementation of Corporate Sustainability in the European Automotive Industry: An Analysis of Sustainability Reports

The acceptance of corporate sustainability implementation and sustainability reporting has continued to grow steadily in recent years. This is particularly true for companies in the automotive industry. Increasing regulatory demands, for example, with respect to CO2 emissions, are one clear reason for this. In this paper the sustainability reports of 14 manufacturers in the European automotive industry are analyzed with respect to issues of corporate sustainability implementation. This entails content analysis of sustainability reports from 2012, and of their earliest available equivalents. The analysis of corporate sustainability implementation in the selected companies is provided with the purpose to help understand how manufacturers in the European automotive industry implement corporate sustainability. Results confirm the importance of specific policy instruments in implementation, such as the use of environmental management systems and standards, and of related changes in organizational structures. The latter include suitable adaptation of corporate strategy, philosophy, objectives, measures, and activities, as well as the need to integrate stakeholders in the adjustment process. The analysis shows that while companies are well-aware of the significance of sustainability for their industry, some tend to be leaders, and others laggards, as far as implementation is concerned.

Drivers of environmental innovation in Majorcan hotels

Using a database of Majorcan hotels, this paper examines several previously untested determinants of environmental innovations in hotels derived from the Porter hypothesis and from the specifics of knowledge transfer in the tourism industry. The empirical analysis is original in that it distinguishes between eight types of environmental innovations. The results show that hotels’ general predisposition to implement innovations, manager remuneration based on environmental performance, staff satisfaction, environmental accounting, and trainings are important determinants of the overall environmental innovation activity of Majorcan hotels. Moreover, the use of environmental management systems is associated with innovations with cost-saving potential, whereas the hotel star category is associated with innovations that contribute to hotel quality, such as wastewater treatment, noise reduction, noise isolation, and visual impact improvements. Furthermore, high levels of staff satisfaction are related to the implementation of water-saving and noise reduction innovations, as such innovations require staff participation, whereas the role of information sources in explaining innovation adoption varies based on the technical complexity of innovations. The paper concludes with policy implications for sustainable tourism development, recommendations for the hoteliers, and directions for future research.

Analysis of benefits and difficulties associated with firms' Environmental Management Systems: the case of the Spanish automotive industry

Abstract Adopting an Environmental Management System can offer firms a number of benefits, but also runs up against some difficulties. Firms need to weigh up these benefits and difficulties to evaluate their investment in such a system. This work aims to examine the use of Environmental Management Systems in a strategic sector in Spain: its automotive industry. We identify the main benefits firms obtain from these systems, and the difficulties they face in their implementation and certification. The literature offers homogenous results for the difficulties, but not for the benefits, which are conditioned by the sector and country under analysis. We obtain data via a questionnaire from 228 firms including manufacturers and suppliers. We then carry out a factor analysis to determine the latent constructs relating to benefits and difficulties. According to our results, the benefits of these systems are improvements in the firm's market position, stakeholder relations, and environmental performance, and access to environmental technologies. The difficulties are the requirements of the system, the organisational structure and commitment of the human resources (managers and workers), and the environmental information in terms of establishing objectives, calculating outcomes and establishing workers' environmental responsibilities.

Analysing Energy and Material Saving Technologies’ Adoption and Adopters

The main objective of this paper is to map the adoption of technologies for energy reduction and resources consumption in production. The aim is also to contribute to the identification and understanding of the characteristics of the manufacturing firms that use these kinds of energy and material saving technologies. Our research is based on data from the largest European manufacturing survey to date and it includes data from Spain and Slovenia. The results show that the use of specific energy saving technologies and material saving technologies in manufacturing firms is still modest. Dividing manufacturing firms based on technology intensity sectors and based on their relative energy efficiency we have concluded that firms in high technology industries focus less on energy efficiency than low technology firms. Some other specific relationships between the use of energy efficient technologies and adopters’ characteristics (e. g. use of environmental management systems) are presented in this paper.

Corporate sustainability reporting and the relations with evaluation and management frameworks: the Portuguese case

This paper assesses how sustainability reporting practices have been adopted in organizations which operate in a Southern European country, Portugal, and how those practices are related with environmental management and evaluation systems. A questionnaire survey was carried out in 2006, involving a statistical population of 69 firms, specifically the member companies of the Business Council for Sustainable Development Portugal, the Portuguese branch of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development. The questionnaire survey was designed to assess: (i) the use of environmental management systems (EMS) and environmental performance evaluation (EPE) frameworks and (ii) practices connected with environmental and sustainability performance reporting, namely: report formats; regularity; key target audiences; reporting driving forces; guidelines; and future intentions. The results indicate that the environmental management system was a well-accepted environmental management tool. More than half of the companies surveyed had adopted environmental performance evaluation related frameworks. Corporate sustainability reporting was found to be a growing issue in a high number of organizations. Those companies that produce a sustainability/environmental report have an EMS and EPE in place. Most organizations in the study produced annual reports, in accordance with Global Reporting Initiative guidelines. Despite the increasing interest among organizations in the adoption of environmental and sustainability measurement and reporting practices, this issue was mainly confined to larger companies. The six Portuguese Small and Medium Enterprises analyzed show a poor environmental management and environmental performance evaluation and sustainability reporting profile. The findings show that they needed to be more engaged with these practices. Specific drivers must be used to enable these directions, including environmental education and raising awareness, since that is the first step toward improving the current scenario of reaching a better sustainable profile.

Green public procurement in practice — The case of Norway

Green procurement is seen both as a public strategy to promote sustainable products and as a business strategy to improve environmental performance of the supply chain and thus meet demands for more environmentally friendly products, including from public institutions. Green Public Procurement (GPP) is a part of the national strategy for sustainable development in Norway, and it has become a national policy through legislation and various initiatives from the government. In addition to the implemented Acts, several other public initiatives are introduced, among other guidelines and action plans about how to integrate environmental and social responsibility in public procurement. The government has also presented a number of white papers relevant for green public purchasing. The documents stress the focus on environmental and ethical issues in public procurements. This paper gives an overview and the results from different surveys of how it is practiced on different levels. It further gives a short overview of how to meet the requirements by the use of environmental management systems and environmental product declarations. The paper ends with a suggestion for further research on how to approach GPP in a holistic and systematic way, addressing the often used statement that green procurement will be more costly.

SIGNAL DYNAMICS: AN INDUSTRY LEVEL ANALYSIS OF THE DIFFUSION OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS.

The article presents the results of research on boundary conditions in signaling theory, in terms of institutional analysis. It focuses on the use of environmental management systems as a signal of corporate environmentalism. An overview of the research protocol is provided, which involved data analysis and mathematical modeling. The industries studied exhibited trends which did not clearly correlate with existing signaling theory or institutional theory. The possibility that organizational learning was responsible for the observed trends is addressed.

Evaluation of operational environmental performance: an engineering-based approach

The corporate sector is increasingly required to understand and manage the environmental consequences of their activities by the use of Environmental Management Systems (EMSs). A diverse range of EMSs have been proposed in the literature. These methods have been reviewed and assessed in this paper according to their suitability for evaluation of operational environmental performance. Existing methods present limitations in accommodating changes in environmental performance, and do not incorporate fundamental process analysis to assess how the actual performance varies from what is theoretically achievable. A novel engineering-based risk evaluation framework is proposed to overcome some of the identified issues.

Environmental supply chain management, ISO 14001 and RoHS. How are small companies in the electronics sector managing?

AbstractThis study explores the use of environmental management systems for initiating and controlling environmental improvements in the context of supply chain cooperation. It examines how environmental requirements are reaching smaller companies in the electronics supply chain, especially in the light of recent legal changes such as enforcement of the RoHS Directive. It is based on qualitative interviews with environmental and purchasing managers of 21 small and medium‐sized companies. The results point out a lack of significant drivers for these companies to implement proactive measures when dealing with environmental issues, owing to limited customer pressure. RoHS and legal compliance are the only environmental customer criteria to be met, while ISO 14001 works as an optional supplier selection criterion. In consequence, companies are not focusing on environmental work within their supply chains, and the potential of influencing the environmental profile of suppliers by shaping their ISO 14001 is not used. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment.

Inter‐organizational use of EMSs in supply chain management: some experiences from Poland and Sweden

AbstractThe paper investigates the possibility of using environmental management systems (EMSs) as a tool for the environmental management of supply chains. Based on interviews with environmental managers of selected companies, the paper highlights the importance of taking a long‐term perspective in terms of both the cooperation with suppliers and developing the supply chain perspective for EMSs. The role of cultural influence from foreign partner companies in building the proactive environmental focus and stimulating the spread of EMSs is underlined here. In addition, the paper looks at the development, use and control of supply chain environmental requirements and their possible integration into the buyer's and supplier's EMSs. Finally, important shortcomings of EMSs, such as the lack of enforcement forbearance and the credibility of ISO 14001 certification, are discussed. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment.

Development of the use of standardized environmental management systems (EMSs) in local authorities

Local authorities have used EMSs to structure their environmental efforts for some time now, and this paper studies the development over time of the use of EMSs in some Swedish local authorities. T ...

An Assessment of the Exchange of New Technology between Environmental Agencies and Business with the Pronoia Technology Transfer Framework

Recently a new paradigm has emerged in the United States and many other countries that calls for a more collaborative approach between industry and government, such as the use of environmental management systems (EMSs) in supplemental environmental projects (SEPs) associated with enforcement actions. EMSs are seen as a promising new way to achieve higher corporate environmental performance. However, it has been difficult for many companies and regulatory agencies to work out mutually beneficial SEP agreements. In this paper, we use the pronoia framework of technology transfer to assess the impact of organizational trust on the ability of business and environmental agencies to negotiate the use of EMSs in SEP agreements. The interview data from business and governmental managers indicates that all three dimensions of the pronoia framework are useful in predicting the ability of the two parties to achieve SEP agreements. Implications for research and practice are presented, including the need to recognize the greater challenges involved in technology transfer in regulated industries.