Effectiveness and Benefits of the Eco-Management and Audit Scheme: Evidence from Polish Organisations

Climate change and environmental pollution are considered to be among the main challenges faced by the modern world. The growth of environmental awareness and the adoption of a pro-environmental approach are considered to be the key megatrends with the greatest impact on the global economy in the upcoming years. According to Eurobarometer, EU citizens are particularly aware of the importance of protecting the environment. Although the negative environmental impact of European industry has improved over the past decades, EU citizens believe that there is further scope in terms of helping companies transition towards adopting more sustainable models. One of the factors contributing to the reduction in negative environmental impact is the participation of enterprises in voluntary programs such as the Environmental Management System (EMS), according to ISO 14001, or the Eco-management and Audit Scheme (EMAS). The whole population of Polish companies registered under the EMAS was included in the study and although the sample size was small, it was a full study, and for that reason allows for the generalisation and conclusion regarding the whole population of EMAS-registered companies in Poland. The results of the study conducted on EMAS-registered organisations in Poland in 2015 suggest that the average effectiveness of the EMAS observed between 2007 and 2014 was 66.4%. The aim of this study was to review the changes in EMAS effectiveness and benefits obtained by participating organisations after five years. The results indicate that the average effectiveness during the period of 2015–2020 increased to 79.1%; nevertheless, registered organisations recognise fewer benefits for participation in the scheme. The study has shown that as EMAS matures in organisations, it becomes more effective. It influences a lot of factors, such as environmental awareness and management commitment, the use of SRDs (including BEMPs), environmental performance indicators for specific sectors, the criteria for the excellence of assessing the level of environmental performance, and the skilful use of indicators in organisations.

ISO 14000 ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND ENVIRONMENT IN BUSINESS

Today, environmental pollution is a global problem. Industrialization, rapid urbanization, technological advances, economic developments and increasing world population have brought environmental pollution with them. Environmental pollution has reached a level that threatens human health and safety. Environmental management systems are useful and important in many ways such as reducing the negative effects of businesses on the environment, creating a safe working environment, preventing pollution, reducing costs, reducing risks, improving environmental performance, and improving corporate image. The aim of this study is to emphasize the importance of ISO 14000 environmental management system standards for sustainable development and environment in business. In this direction, the study explains sustainable development, sustainable environment, the characteristics, importance, development, stages, standards and benefits of the ISO 14000 environmental management system for businesses.

Perception of environmental insurance risk vs. implementation of control measures in organizations managed according to ISO 14001:2015 in Poland

The numerous studies of risk perception to date have been focused on three different areas of the subject. Firstly, researchers have aimed at the identification of risk perception determinants, secondly, they have created recommendations on how to communicate the risk to society, and finally they have analysed the relationships between risk perception measures and the means of risk control implemented in organizations. The last indicated research area is complemented by the following paper. On the basis of data derived from online interviews it was concluded that the higher the assessment of the measures of environmental insurance risk perception, the more frequently organizations implemented selected means of risk control in the environmental management system according to ISO 14001 (EMS ISO 14001). The largest number of statistically significant dependencies were observed in the area of variables which describe the informative potential of EMS ISO 14001 (informative potential variables) and those which directly determine the volume of environmental insurance risk (the volume of risk variables). Simultaneously, not all categories of risk perception measures are equally related to the frequency of risk control means implementation. A particularly large number of statistically significant correlations were identified for the following variable: the evaluation of the likelihood of the occurrence of environmental damage.

Environmental Management System as sustainable tools in water environmental management: a review

Background: The Environmental Management System (EMS) is a unique way to develop an environmental policy with adequate planning, including implementation, operation, checking, and management review. Objective: The main stages of the EMS encompass environmental policy, planning, implementation, evaluation, and review. Method: A number of environmental standards (ISO 14000), which were drawn up by the international standardization organization, form an essential part of an EMS. This management system introduces environmental management into the day-to-day functions, long-term operations, and resource management frameworks of the organization. Results: This overview provides important information about the role of the EMS in water resource management and the scope of the EMS in the water system. This management system is used as an instrument to promote sustainable development in society. Conclusion: This paper sheds light on the topic of a sustainable water environment. In addition, some recognized successful EMS systems were reviewed and illustrated. We believe this review provides a guide to a fruitful water environment for successful urbanization planning.

Examining The Evolving Environmental Protection Policy Convergence In The Ontario Municipal Drinking Water, Wastewater And Stormwater Sectors: Analysis Of State/Non-State Governance And The Value Of An Environmental Management System Standard For The Wastewater And Stormwater Sectors

The central question this dissertation attempts to answer is whether there is practical value in Ontario legislatively mandating that municipalities implement an environmental management system (EMS) standard for their wastewater and stormwater activities, to be added to the drinking water quality management system standard (DWQMS) that is already statutorily required. This research explores the evolving governance approaches of the municipal drinking, wastewater and stormwater sectors in Ontario, examining theories of governance, a review of the literature concerning policy convergence and standards as instruments of organizational innovation and the legal and policy framework within which municipal water management takes place.<div>The research method employed a combination of semi-structured interviews, case studies and a focus group as data gathering techniques. The research finds evidence in support of and wide recognition of the practical value of EMS by assisting municipalities in meeting their environmental objectives, addressing environmental and property damage risks, providing an additional mechanism of public accountability, transparency, and improving alignment with the existing legal structure. It was also apparent that there is no political appetite in the provincial government to embark on a mandated EMS, so the preferred option at this time is a provincially-endorsed, voluntary sector-specific standard for wastewater and also for stormwater, which could constitute a catalyst to boost voluntary uptake of EMS by small to medium municipalities (as it is already occurring with large municipalities). This standard could be based on a customized variation of the ISO 14001, DWQMS and other standards to address existing regulatory gaps. </div><div>The research also reveals that Ontario municipal water management governance is notable because governments are drawing on independently developed and implementing non-state forms of regulation (such as EMS standards), in which private sector, civil society and multistakeholder rule instruments, processes, institutions and actors all perform important roles in support of conventional state-based regulation, showing both horizontal and vertical policy convergence. </div><div>A limitation of the research is that it focuses on water governance of municipalities of one jurisdiction. Future research could examine the practical utility of examining water governance to other contexts (e.g., water governance for First Nations, and in non-Canadian jurisdictions) </div>

Examining The Evolving Environmental Protection Policy Convergence In The Ontario Municipal Drinking Water, Wastewater And Stormwater Sectors: Analysis Of State/Non-State Governance And The Value Of An Environmental Management System Standard For The Wastewater And Stormwater Sectors

The central question this dissertation attempts to answer is whether there is practical value in Ontario legislatively mandating that municipalities implement an environmental management system (EMS) standard for their wastewater and stormwater activities, to be added to the drinking water quality management system standard (DWQMS) that is already statutorily required. This research explores the evolving governance approaches of the municipal drinking, wastewater and stormwater sectors in Ontario, examining theories of governance, a review of the literature concerning policy convergence and standards as instruments of organizational innovation and the legal and policy framework within which municipal water management takes place.<div>The research method employed a combination of semi-structured interviews, case studies and a focus group as data gathering techniques. The research finds evidence in support of and wide recognition of the practical value of EMS by assisting municipalities in meeting their environmental objectives, addressing environmental and property damage risks, providing an additional mechanism of public accountability, transparency, and improving alignment with the existing legal structure. It was also apparent that there is no political appetite in the provincial government to embark on a mandated EMS, so the preferred option at this time is a provincially-endorsed, voluntary sector-specific standard for wastewater and also for stormwater, which could constitute a catalyst to boost voluntary uptake of EMS by small to medium municipalities (as it is already occurring with large municipalities). This standard could be based on a customized variation of the ISO 14001, DWQMS and other standards to address existing regulatory gaps. </div><div>The research also reveals that Ontario municipal water management governance is notable because governments are drawing on independently developed and implementing non-state forms of regulation (such as EMS standards), in which private sector, civil society and multistakeholder rule instruments, processes, institutions and actors all perform important roles in support of conventional state-based regulation, showing both horizontal and vertical policy convergence. </div><div>A limitation of the research is that it focuses on water governance of municipalities of one jurisdiction. Future research could examine the practical utility of examining water governance to other contexts (e.g., water governance for First Nations, and in non-Canadian jurisdictions) </div>

An assessment of the EMAS standard in developing an effective environmental strategy: an analysis of certified companies in Italy

PurposeThe study provides an overview of the Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) standard and its potential in helping a company to improve its environmental performance. The work aims to investigate a company's perception towards the implementation of the EMAS environmental management system with the benefits and the critical areas derived from it, the overall assessment of the certification and its possible future developments.Design/methodology/approachThe study develops an empirical analysis of Italian EMAS III certified companies, through the administration of a questionnaire to all those Italian companies that were EMAS certified and that provided a valid e-mail address on the EMAS register. Overall, 231 Italian companies took part in the survey.FindingsThe results confirm the heterogeneous effects of an Environmental Management System depending on the company profile and highlight the positive influence of certification on environmental management. It emerges how the EMAS certification is approached more for internal reasons, and therefore gives more internal benefits to companies that implement it. Moreover, the time from which companies have been certified turns out to be a relevant factor for obtaining environmental and organizational benefits connected with EMAS certification.Originality/valueThe recent decrease in EMAS registrations has not been sufficiently studied, leaving unsolved questions for scholars, practitioners and policy-makers. Previous studies used a negativist perspective, identifying the barriers that led to the non-renewal of the certification. The present study aims to focus on the positive factors, which have led still active companies to renew the certification.

Environmental Management System towards Environmental Performance of Hotel Industry: Does Corporate Social Responsibility Authenticity Really Matter?

Environmental Management Initiatives (EMI), as part of the sustainability management movement, have become an integrated part of the organisational management practices and of the current research. Since the implementation of Environmental Management System (EMS), there have been many studies analysing this relationship with the environmental performance. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) also gained a great importance for the organisations’ performance, including their performance in the environmental area. However, previous studies analysed the direct link between those variables and environmental performance, while the mediating effect of those variables has not been tested yet because using a mediator in the relationship between two variables is a rather new approach in the research area used in the behavioural sciences area. This research analyses the role of EMI in defining the Environmental Performance (EP) of hotel industry, given the strong relationship between those two variables and the importance of the tourism sector for the economic development, both in the developed, but especially in the developing countries. It also investigates the CSR authenticity as mediator between EMI and EP link. Data was collected through a questionnaire of managers of the hotels in Pakistan. Correlation, Structural Equation Model and linear regressions were applied for testing the hypotheses and for checking the viability of the model. Findings revealed that EMI and CSR authenticity are important and significant determinants of EP in the hotel industry. Findings show that CSR authenticity acts as a mediator for the EMI and EP link. The stakeholder pressures and customers’ environmental awareness have forced the hotel industry to implement environmental standards and this shift of focus is more important in the hotel industry. The current research demonstrates that efforts of EMI is a prerequisite for enhancing CSR authenticity in the environmental area, and this, in its turn, contributes to the increase of the EP of hotel and tourism sector in a developing country. Given the lack of large financial resources of the developing countries, this model is an important outcome for the tourism industry that helps hotels to become green, to attract more clients and to gain competitive advantages.

“Greening” as a trend in management and HRM development in the service sector (the case Thailand)

The development of theory and methodology of tourism activities greening based on an integrated systematic approach, taking into account its inextricable connection with the process of greening the entire socio-economic space, is relevant in the context of the unprecedented international tourism growth observed until 2020, as well as the growth of its impact on the state of ecological systems, first of all, of ones that actively host international and domestic travelers. The paper, based on the existing theoretical approaches, the author’s methodology for assessing tourism as an environmental factor of territorial development, as well as the results of surveys of representatives of tourism professionals and visitors to Thailand, suggests tools for forming an environmental management system at a tourism enterprise, as well as a concept for developing a state policy for tourism industry greening.