ISO 14001

E-ISSN： 2051-3062|2001|34|43-54

ISSN： 0966-9671

Source： Greener Management International, Vol.2001, Iss.34, 2001-06, pp. : 43-54

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Abstract

Do environmental management systems (EMSs) effectively support the ecological performance of companies and are they sufficient to meet the challenge of continuous environmental improvements? These questions were targeted by a research project of the Institute for Economy and the Environment at the University St Gallen. In this paper we reflect on the results of a written survey covering more than 150 ISO 14001-certified companies in Switzerland. The survey's focus is on the ecological and economic effectiveness of EMSs. It is deepened by the analysis of several case studies with a focus on EMS impact on environmental learning processes within companies. Our results show that the companies are largely satisfied with the ecological and economic effects of their EMSs. However, the potential benefits of EMSs are often not systematically explored by companies. We could identify several key areas for potential improvements: integration, audit culture, strategic objectives and authority relationships. The findings suggest that additional measures need to be considered in order to support the eco-effectiveness of ISO 14001-certified companies.