Sustainable Development in Portuguese Social Economy Entities: The Environmental Responsibility of Private Social Solidarity Institutions

Social Economy institutions seek to provide answers to social problems, given that they naturally have a socially responsible mission. This study aims to answer the research question: how sustainable practices, namely environmental behaviour, have been adopted by Portuguese Private Social Solidarity Institutions (IPSS) with the purpose of contributing to Sustainable Development? To achieve this objective, qualitative research was carried out in 31 IPSS, which was framed within the scope of the TFA project (Theoretical framework for promotion of accountability in the social economy sector: the IPSS case). Semi-structured interviews were conducted, with a script based on the literature review, from May to July 2019, with those responsible for the management of these entities. A content analysis was conducted, using the NVivo12 Version 12.6.0 software, which enables data to be coded and categorised, reducing any researcher bias. The results indicate that most entities carry out activities of an environmental nature, related to the reuse of materials, the recycling of waste, the sale of materials for recycling, and user awareness. Several entities expressed financial limitations to the implementation of Environmental Management Systems and their accomplishment. However, the objections presented are not impossible to overcome, according to studies presented in other countries.

Eco-Factors for International Company Environmental Management Systems

Environmental management systems (EMS) require the assessment of environmental aspects to ensure that organizations recognize their most relevant impacts on the environment. The ecological scarcity method (ESM) provides weighting factors for environmental flows (pollutants and resources), called eco-factors (EF), applicable in the assessment of environmental aspects. EF are based on a distance-to-target approach, displaying the ratio of the current state to the respective policy targets for environmental flows. The ESM has been developed for Switzerland; however, for site-specific application beyond Switzerland, national EF are desirable. This publication presents a systematic procedure for the derivation of EF in an international framework, based on the investigation of eight countries worldwide and comprehensive data research. As a novel feature, the grouping of EF into sets is introduced, according to the character of the underlying policy target: legally based, intended policy, or expert recommendation. Overall, 134 EF for six environmental issues were calculated and applied in a case study from Volkswagen AG. An in-depth analysis identifies the differences between national EF and between sets of EF and discusses the implications for EMS. From the findings, general conclusions for future development and the application of EF in an international context of company management are derived.

Assessing and Improving the Eco-Efficiency of Manufacturing: Learning and Challenges from a Polish Case Study

Manufacturing offers substantial opportunities for economic growth after COVID-19, as long as it delivers competitively priced goods while simultaneously reducing pressure on the environment. In this study, we present the methodological feasibility of the joint application of life cycle assessment (LCA) and data envelopment analysis (DEA) for assessing eco-efficiency at the sector level. We employ this methodology to assess the environmental profiles of manufacturing in Poland in relation to their gross value added, and subsequently calculate the improvement targets for the eco-inefficient manufacturing industries. The study reveals that only the chemical industry is relatively eco-efficient, whereas the remaining industries have considerable room for improvement due to their very low eco-efficiency, and thus should follow the best practices established by the chemical industry. Although there are always individual paths for manufacturing industries to achieve the decoupling of economic growth from environmental pressure, activities such as the transformation of manufacturing methods to be less energy and material intensive and/or to be low-emission, the reincorporation of waste into the manufacturing processes, and the implementation of environmental management systems should become common targets of manufacturing in Poland.

Assessing the impact of environmental management systems on corporate and environmental performance

The interests of companies have increased to reduce or remove the waste produced during the manufacture, usage and/or disposal of the goods of the company. The necessity for such activities has been prioritised, while current research attempts to uncover the components which promote or dissuade such actions. With the advent of ISO 14001 corporate environmental management systems became the focus of attention (EMS). The basic premise is that such a system is crucial for the capacity of an enterprise to decrease waste and pollution and improve its overall performance concurrently. In this research, this assumption is assessed. Based on the data given by North American executives surveys, their behavior towards EMS and ISO 14001, the research evaluates the relative impacts of a formal but not certified EMS compared to a formal, certified system. The findings show firmly that companies with a formal EMS perceive well beyond pollution reduction and that the effect on many aspects of operating performance is critically favorable. The findings indicate that companies that have received EMS certification have a higher performance effect than companies that do not have their EMS certification. Moreover, experience with these systems has a larger effect on the selection and usage of environmental choices over time. These findings show the necessity to investigate deeper EMS, the environmental choices of a company and the direct and indirect connections between these systems and performance.

Environmental management system and its impact on productivity

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

Implementation of Environmental Management System (ISO 14001) in Supporting the Achievement of Corporate Sustainability Performance in the Pulp and Paper Manufacturing Industry in Indonesia

Objectives: This study analyses the implementation of an environmental management system based on the ISO 14001 standard, which can support corporate sustainability performance in the pulp and paper manufacturing industry in Indonesia. This study discusses the results of previous researchers related to the implementation of environmental management systems in supporting the achievement of corporate sustainability performance. Research Methodology: The research method used is a case study approach in five organizations from three pulp and paper manufacturing companies in Indonesia that have implemented environmental management systems. Collecting data through a questionnaire completed by representatives from organizations across the companies studied. Findings: Management commitment and implementation of internal audits that focus on environmental management and activities are the main factors contributing to the achievement of environmental performance. Meanwhile, the achievement of environmental performance is influence by employees' increased competence in the environmental field, programs to reduce energy consumption, and hazardous and toxic waste. Practical implications: The implementation of an environmental management system supported by an increase in environmental performance can improve the company's reputation, process efficiency and compliance with environmental regulations and requirements, that three things contribute to company performance, especially in the pulp and paper manufacturing industry. Novelty: This research contributes to the concept of a strong relationship between the implementation of environmental management systems and environmental performance in supporting the achievement of corporate sustainability performance, especially in the pulp and paper manufacturing industry in Indonesia.

Seemingly Unrelated Interventions: Environmental Management Systems in the Workplace and Energy Saving Practices at Home

To reduce their environmental impacts, a growing number of organizations worldwide have implemented environmental management systems (EMSs). In these organizations, energy conservation activities become usual behaviors for employees; thus, we hypothesize that employees continue such energy saving behaviors at home. This hypothesis is supported by data from surveys of individuals in Japan. Specifically, we find that the probability of engaging in energy saving practices at home is higher and that expenditures on electricity use are lower for individuals who work in organizations that implement EMSs than for individuals who do not work in organizations with EMSs. Our results suggest that beyond the original purpose of helping organizations reduce their environmental impacts, EMSs work as an intervention to promote household energy saving.

CHALLENGES INVOLVED IN INTRODUCING ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS IN AGRICULTURE

The introduction of internationally recognized environmental management standards is primarily aimed at making the world economy more environmentally friendly, and at more effective conservation of natural resources. The European Union has specific objectives related to the implementation of environmental protection policies by 2050. Effective pathways and approaches to the implementation of such policies and objectives in agriculture can be found through the introduction of a system according to the requirements of ISO 45001. The main objective of this study is to identify, based on an expert assessment, the milestones in introducing and successful certification of environmental management systems in agriculture. The established milestones for system development may be extended to other sectors.