1.2 What is environmental management System (EMS)?

1.2 What is environmental management System (EMS)?

With the evolution of the concept that “Be Green and Sustainable Development” awareness and concern at international level about environmental management has risen. From last two decades pressure on business organization and manufacturers has been raised to adopt sustainable methods for design and development. Moreover, conservation of the natural resources, optimum utilization of the resources, and sustainable development of the processes with minimum waste or zero dispose off is the focus. However, the implementation and adoption of environmental management system is a big challenge for developing countries. Developing countries are lacking behind to demonstrate environmental friendly which is a priority of the developed countries (Adams 1990, p114).

This report gives idea about the implementation of the environmental management system in Pakistan and it identify the constraints and barriers to implement EMS and its impacts on environment. Though, the first world countries have developed and still in developing phase to modify  techniques and tools to cope with the global warming and environmental issues which  has become the focus of globe. On the other hand less developed countries/ developing countries are facing many problems regarding implementation of environmental management system like financial constraints, lack of information, poor public sector policies, and lack of managerial commitment to implement the EMS (Adams p 114-15)

First, it is necessary to have a look about environmental management system development and its functions because good comprehension of the EMS leads to better understanding of the issue.

According to Marcus et al (1997) EMS, ISO 14001 has been described as a global passport for international trade. In addition to that, Quazi (1999) states that “An environmental management system (EMS) is described a well organized and planned technique to deal with regulatory aspects and customer concerns relevant to environmental issues”. Furthermore, Sheldon (1997 p19) describes that, in 1992 on the eve of United Nation Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED; The Earth Summit) in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), the Business Council for Sustainable development (BCSD), decided to develop an international environmental management system for the improvement of the environmental performance of the organizations with least impacts on environment, of their economical activities.

 Before that, Strategic Advisory Group on Environment (SAGE) in 1991, proposed suggestions and highlighted area for development of environmental standards, for the benefit of the business organizations. In 1993, International Organization for Standardization (ISO) formed new technical committee ISO/ TC207 ‘Environmental Management’ to formulate the standards suggested by SAGE.

Under the supervision of six subcommittees and one working group from different countries were, responsible to carry out work on the different areas of environmental management. The ISO 14000 family standards have been developed to support companies in any country to improve their environmental performance. In 1996, the ISO 14000 family standards (14001, 14004 14010) were published as formal official document.

As a formal official document of EMS (ISO 14001), it requires a specific requirement for a company to maintain for third party registration. It comprises of following five key elements

1-      Development of Environmental policy

2-      Planning

3-      Implementation and operation

4-      Checking and corrective action; and

5-      Review and improvement( Management Review)