scholarly journals ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS AND CONSTRUCTION SMES: A CASE STUDY FOR SLOVENIA

2007 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 217-226 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jana Šelih

Construction projects and activities are, in general, associated with a wide range of environmental impacts. Therefore the principles of sustainable development should be adopted during construction just like in any other industrial sector. At the organisation's level, one of the ways of achieving this goal is by implementing an environmental management system (EMS). The purpose of the paper is to present current environmental management trends in construction companies based on a recent study conducted for the construction industry in Slovenia, and in particular to report on how the construction SMEs perceive obstacles to the EMS implementation. The benefits and obstacles associated with ISO 14001‐compliant EMS implementation are discussed, and the results of the survey related to environmental management systems (QMS) in construction companies in Slovenia are presented and analysed. They indicate that the majority of responding construction companies has implemented QMS, and 46 % of the respondents have also established an EMS. It can be observed that, in relative terms, there are less SMEs with an EMS than larger companies with EMS; SMEs tend to see the required documentation accompanying the EMS as excessive and a major barrier for its implementation. In practice, these findings are important because they can be used to define the baseline for new initiatives that promote EMSs within construction SMEs.

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (7) ◽  
pp. 1377
Author(s):  
Valery V. IOSIFOV ◽  
Svetlana V. RATNER

Nowadays one of the most common organizational eco-innovations in energy companies is introducing environmental management systems (EMS). Nevertheless, the issues of environmental and economic efficiency of EMS remain controversial. The purpose of this work is to develop a methodology for assessing the effectiveness of environmental management systems of Russian energy companies certified in accordance with ISO 14001. Since Russian companies do not have EMAS conformance certificates, the issues of the effectiveness of environmental management systems under the European Environmental Management Scheme and eco-audit were not considered in this study. The study is based on the data from annual corporate reports of the largest energy companies of the Russian Federation, which have the organizational and legal form of public joint-stock companies. The selection criteria were: i) the existence of an integrated management system, which is based on a certified environmental management system; ii) the presence in the corporate reports of data on the environmental performance of the company, at least a few years before and after the introduction of EMS, sufficient for statistical analysis using a two depended samples T-test. The study has shown that the application of ISO 14001 can be considered as a condition for the development of eco-innovation, as a well-designed environmental management strategy covers the whole range of issues related to innovative development, modernization and competitiveness. The introduction of EMS is also associated with an increase in the information transparency of the entire production system of the company, which is also a positive point in terms of the development of innovative processes.


2016 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 52-73 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joanna EJDYS ◽  
Alina MATUSZAK-FLEJSZMAN ◽  
Michał SZYMANSKI ◽  
Leonas USTINOVICHIUS ◽  
Galina SHEVCHENKO ◽  
...  

The practice of using environmental management systems (EMS) ISO 14001 at the organisational level indicates that the efficacy of such solutions depends on many factors, both endogenous and exogenous in nature. This article aims to identify the fac- tors that determine the opportunities for the improvement of EMS in organisations, the analysis of the relationship between the factors and the classification of the factors due to their role in the system improvement. The structural analysis was used to classify and identify the key factors and then to categorize these factors into five groups. Finally, the role of these key factors in improving environmental management systems was exam- ined. Based on the findings, guidelines can be offered to both scholars and practitioners regarding the factors crucial for the improvement of the EMS. Aiming to add value to the existing literature, the structural analysis was adapted to classification and identification of the key factors. From the point of view of practitioners, it seems to be very profitable to concentrate on the crucial factors during the process of EMS improvement.


2019 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 391-397
Author(s):  
Andrzej Pacana

AbstractIncreasing awareness and the number of activities for environmental protection has influenced the development of environmental management systems. Currently, there is a wide range of environmental management systems that can be implemented thus organizations can choose which system suits their activities best. Among small and medium-sized manufacturing enterprises, the most popular is a system based on the ISO 14001 standard. Therefore, it seems advisable to promote the skillful implementation of this system. The study was devoted to this issue. It pointed out that the participation of an external consultant, the size of the enterprise as well as the nature of the activity in small and medium manufacturing enterprises has a small importance at the time of its implementation. To implement such a system skillfully, preparation work period for designing and implementing should last about 9 - 12 months.


2012 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 157
Author(s):  
Janet Morrill ◽  
Sylvie Berthelot

This study provides evidence of the value of third party certification of environmental management systems. We examine the relative importance of improving an environmental management system as a result of certification, versus being able to communicate the quality of that system credibly to outsiders through third party certification. We use survey data where one half of the respondents had indicated that they had an environmental management (EMS) in place before seeking ISO 14001 certification, while the other half of respondents did not. Our analyses comparing the two groups find that the group already having an EMS report similar motivations for ISO 14001 certification and perceive to have received similar levels of benefits as firms having no pre-certification EMS. We conclude that even for organizations that already have an EMS, the ability to communicate credibly the quality of that system is a compelling reason to obtain ISO certification.


Author(s):  
Yoram (Jerry) Arnoni

Abstract There is increasing interest all over the world in Environmental Management Systems. Many Japanese electronic companies have mandated that their plants should be registered to ISO 14001 irrespective of what country they are located in. The big three automobile manufacturers in the United States have requested their suppliers to become registered to ISO 14001 within the next few years. The EPA is openly supporting Environmental Management Systems including ISO 14001. Twenty-two US States have enacted legislation that encourages voluntary environmental audits by granting immunity to certain non-compliance issues that was discovered during the audit, providing prior notice of the audit was given to the state and the auditee had no prior knowledge of the non-compliance. In response to the interest in Environmental Management Systems, this paper highlights the process flow from one environmental core element to the next in flow diagrams and gives examples from a number of implemented systems. There are a number of system concepts comprising of core elements that are described in ISO 14001 but the link between the core elements are not always immediately obvious. The main processes are as follows: • Identifying aspects, evaluating which are significant and then implementing control procedures for those issues, monitoring/measuring the outcome of the controls and reporting to management for corrective action or continuous improvement. • Identification of regulatory issues that apply to the organizations activities, keeping up to date with regulatory changes and reporting to regulatory offices as may be required. • Identifying which aspects that the organization wishes to pursue as an improvement program. The improvement program will include objectives, measurable targets for those objectives, the means by which those objectives will be achieved, the time frame and people responsible for the program. • Internal assessments, corrective actions, preventive actions and management review and re-action. An understanding of the EMS core elements and their inter relationship will be of interest to those who are considering implementing an Environmental management System in their organization.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Randolph Onyema Ibe ◽  
Kernaghan Webb

The purpose of this research was: to explore the organizational learning capabilities of the ISO 14001 standard and environmental management systems software (EMS-based software); to investigate whether EMS-based software has the necessary features to assist organizations with the implementation and maintenance of their environmental management system/standard; and to gain an understanding as to the functionality of the standard and software based on the experience of users. In order to achieve the objectives of this study, a questionnaire was used to survey individuals within organizations in Canada and the United States of America that were registered to the ISO 14001:2004 standard and that used EMS-based software. The results of this study suggest that the ISO 14001:2004 standard may have certain capabilities that may have the effect of enhancing organizational learning. The results also highlight some of the strengths as well as challenges users may have regarding the requirements/elements of the standard. The study also provides preliminary insights and observations as to the functionality, performance and learning capabilities of EMS-based software. However, due to the low response rate, and the use of non-probability sampling, generalizations of the results of this study will have to be made with caution. Nevertheless, this study furthers organizational learning-oriented research and understanding concerning standards and software in a preliminary and practical way in certain respects. First, the study provides scholars and organizations with a broader view regarding the application of the standard and software to environmental management - that is, as a means to improve learning - which arguably could enable them to better understand and improve the processes of learning within organizations. This could translate to an improvement in an organization’s competitive advantage and an improvement in environmental performance and thus enhanced environmental protection. Second, the study offers insights regarding possible improvements that could be made to the standard and software, which would be of benefit to the organizations that use the standard and software and to the developers of EMS-based software. Finally, the study contributes to the relatively limited available research on the learning capabilities associated with and functionality of environmental management standards and software.


Author(s):  
Fajar Ramadhan Kojra ◽  
Sukanta Sukanta ◽  
Kusnadi Kusnadi

The environment is one of the important factors in the success of an industrial company. This triggers the company to improve overall performance to implement a better environmental management system. ISO 14001 is an international standard that can be applied by companies to maintain and improve environmental management systems. This study aims to analyze the application of environmental management systems at PT. XYZ and know how far the company is ready to implement ISO 14001. The method used in this study is the Self Assessment Checklist for assessing clauses at ISO 14001. Data collection is done by observing the study site and conducting interviews with employees to obtain information at the company. Data processing is done by assessing the ISO 14001 clause with a self assessment checklist. The results of this study note that the value of the company's readiness to implement an environmental management system based on ISO 14001 standards is equal to 50.41% with a weak category.


2012 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. 595-610 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tatjana Tambovceva ◽  
Ineta Geipele

At the present stage of development in Latvia, as well as around the world, essential influence on the enterprise work has the idea of sustainable development. The concept of sustainable development has become widespread amongst government agencies, politicians, corporations and other organizations throughout the world. By the end of 2007, around 129,031 organizations worldwide have implemented environmental management systems (EMS) and certified it according to ISO 14001. About 100 of them are located in Latvia and 40 of them are construction companies. There is a lack of national evaluations of ISO 14001 in many countries, but in many countries no complete lists of the national certified / registered sites exist at all. In Latvia a list of ISO 14001 sites has been complied and regularly updated by the Latvian association for Quality. In spite of the fact that in Latvia increase using of ideas of ecological manufacture and environmental management, nevertheless there has been no any serious scientific study of Latvian experience of ISO 14001. The purpose of this study is to describe experiences and effects of EMS in construction companies, based on study conducted for the construction industry in Latvia. The results show that ISO 14001 often leads to reduced environmental impact, especially in the area of waste. A strong driving force behind implementation is the expected improvement of the organizations’ images. Legal compliance tends to be difficult to implement, but on the other hand, it works well in daily practice. To develop EMS into Sustainability Management Systems, the two most important challenges are to improve the coordination between the EMS and the organizations’ strategies and to improve learning process and direct participation of all employees. Santrauka Šiuo Latvijos plėtros etapu, kaip ir visame pasaulyje, įmonių veiklą veikia tvarios plėtros idėjos. Tvarios plėtros koncepcija visame pasaulyje plačiai paplito tarp politikų, korporacijų, vyriausybinių ir kitų organizacijų. 2007 m. pabaigoje apie 129 tūkst. organizacijų visame pasaulyje įdiegė aplinkos apsaugos vadybos sistemą (AAVS) ir sertifikavo ją pagal ISO 14001 standartą. Iš to skaičiaus apie 100 įmonių yra įsikūrę Latvijoje, 40 iš jų yra statybos įmonės. Daugelyje šalių iš viso nėra įmonių, sertifikuotų pagal šį standartą. Latvijoje pagal ISO 14001 standartą sertifikuotų įmonių sąrašą sudaro ir nuolat atnaujina Latvijos kokybės asociacija. Nepaisant to, kad Latvijoje vis labiau plinta ekologinės gamybos ir aplinkosaugos valdymo idėjos, iki šiol nebuvo jokių rimtų mokslinių studijų apie Latvijos patirtį naudojant ISO 14001 standartą. Šio straipsnio tikslas – nustatyti aplinkos valdymo sistemos poveikį statybos įmonėms, remiantis tyrimais, atliktais Latvijos statybos pramonėje. Rezultatai parodė, kad ISO 14001 dažnai sumažina poveikį aplinkai, ypač taršą atliekomis. Stipri AVS įgyvendinimo varomoji jėga – noras pagerinti organizacijos įvaizdį. Sistemą įgyvendinti sudėtinga, tačiau tai pasiteisina kasdienėje veikloje. Norint AVS integruoti į tvarumo valdymo sistemą, AVS darbą reikia suderinti su organizacijos strategijomis, pagerinti mokymo procesą ir įtraukti visus darbuotojus.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Randolph Onyema Ibe ◽  
Kernaghan Webb

The purpose of this research was: to explore the organizational learning capabilities of the ISO 14001 standard and environmental management systems software (EMS-based software); to investigate whether EMS-based software has the necessary features to assist organizations with the implementation and maintenance of their environmental management system/standard; and to gain an understanding as to the functionality of the standard and software based on the experience of users. In order to achieve the objectives of this study, a questionnaire was used to survey individuals within organizations in Canada and the United States of America that were registered to the ISO 14001:2004 standard and that used EMS-based software. The results of this study suggest that the ISO 14001:2004 standard may have certain capabilities that may have the effect of enhancing organizational learning. The results also highlight some of the strengths as well as challenges users may have regarding the requirements/elements of the standard. The study also provides preliminary insights and observations as to the functionality, performance and learning capabilities of EMS-based software. However, due to the low response rate, and the use of non-probability sampling, generalizations of the results of this study will have to be made with caution. Nevertheless, this study furthers organizational learning-oriented research and understanding concerning standards and software in a preliminary and practical way in certain respects. First, the study provides scholars and organizations with a broader view regarding the application of the standard and software to environmental management - that is, as a means to improve learning - which arguably could enable them to better understand and improve the processes of learning within organizations. This could translate to an improvement in an organization’s competitive advantage and an improvement in environmental performance and thus enhanced environmental protection. Second, the study offers insights regarding possible improvements that could be made to the standard and software, which would be of benefit to the organizations that use the standard and software and to the developers of EMS-based software. Finally, the study contributes to the relatively limited available research on the learning capabilities associated with and functionality of environmental management standards and software.


2021 ◽  
Vol 937 (2) ◽  
pp. 022037
Author(s):  
D Ushakov ◽  
L Cherkasova ◽  
Kh Shatila

Abstract The environmental aspect is now a significant element in polluting companies’ management choices. The laws defined by the establishment of standards and requirements to guarantee a minimally contaminated environment are applicable to these companies. These standards have encouraged companies to implement environmental management systems. According to these concepts, our research aimed at assessing the improvement in productivity of companies working in the industrial sector by adopting an environment management system. We evaluated productivity by defining and estimating the manufacturing function using a sample consisting of Thailand businesses, and then utilized the panel data to test its effect upon manufacturing companies’ productivity by adopting the environmental management system. The installation of an EMS and productivity have been favourable and significantly correlated


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