IMPACTS OF ADOPTION OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS

This involves first of all planning on the EMS to be used before actually implementing it and thereafter constantly checking on the system for any concerns and finally acting on the concerns as soon as they arise so as to ensure that the EMS runs smoothly and delivers as per the organizational goals. It includes such aspects as the structure of the organization, planning, and resources available for development, implementation, and maintenance of policy for environmental protection. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 2004 is the most widely used environmental management standard. One of the standard’s alternatives is the EMAS. Goals of Environmental Management System The main aims of Environmental Management System include: 1. It enables organizations to have order and consistency in addressing environmental corners through such ways as the allocation of the necessary resources, a delegation of responsibilities, continuous monitoring, and evaluation of the ongoing practices, processes, and procedures.

Through the EMS organizations are able to address the short-term and long-term impacts of its processes, services, and products on the environment. Provides a framework through which organizations can train their workforce in order to attain both the desired performance and the set goals. It helps the organizations in the understanding of the legislative requirements governing the products, processes, and services offered. It is focused on continuous improvement of the environmental management systems in place while also providing guidelines on the implementation of objectives and policies required in meeting the organization’s desired results. It evaluates the performance of organizations from a broader point of view with the aim of creating greater business value for the organizations (Slaper, 2011). The three bottom lines of an organization include: 1.

Social equity, the people/human capital: this bottom line entails the fair and valuable business practices of an organization to its workforce as well as the community and region in which it is based. Planet/environmental bottom line: this requires the use of sustainable environmental practices by an organization in order to operate efficiently while also benefiting nature and ensuring that as little environmental harm as possible is caused (Ekins, 1992). Profit/economic bottom line: this is concerned with the economic value that an organization is left with after deduction of all costs incurred during production. Shift towards more environmentally friendly production through implementation of policies and procedures centered on the need to conserve the environment 3. Compliance with the existing laws on regulations pertaining to responsible environmental use by organizations 4.

Reduced impacts on the environment An example of the improvement of the environmental sustainability of an organization through the implementation of environmental management systems would be a case whereby an organization was operating without any EMS in place and therefore not aware that there are laws and regulations in place that govern the operations of organizations with regards to the environment. As such, the organization releases its raw effluent to a nearby river thereby polluting the environment. There are complaints from the members of the neighboring community on the environmental pollution and the organization has to take action by implementing an EMS. & Jergova, 2005). Among the benefits of EMS is waste reduction, economic use of resources and energy. With this, organizations save on resources that would have been channeled towards waste management, energy, and procurement of excessive raw materials.

It provides assurance of the organization’s responsibility towards the environment to its main stakeholders who include the organization’s customers. As such, the organization enjoys good relations with its customers. This results in improved economic performance by the company Impacts of Adoption of Environmental Management Systems on the Social Equity Performance of Companies The greatest assets of any organization are its workforce and other stakeholders such as members of the community in which it operates. As such, a good relationship with these stakeholders is important for the growth and progress of the organization as it provides an ample business environment with the conditions required for the progress. Through adoption of EMS, an organization is able to provide assurance to its employees and management that it is in control of its activities and processes as pertains to sustainable environmental use and impact.

With the assurance that they are working for an environmentally responsible employer, the employees are more motivated and this translates into increased productivity (Delmas, 2004). The external stakeholders of an organization such as its customers, regulatory agencies and members of the community in which it operates also appreciate an organization that assures them and demonstrates the awareness of sustainable environment use in its practice (Potoski & Prakash, 2005). As such, every organization should seek to not only adopt an EMS but also continually improve its standards to cope with the changes in requirements. Bibliography Bednarova, L. & Jergova, N. “Benefits from Environmental Management System Implementation”. Obuda University Bulletin, Vol. 671 Delmas, M. Erratum to Stakeholders and Competitive Advantage: the Case of ISO 14001”. Production and Operations Management, Vol.