Organizations towards the Evaluation of Environmental Management Tools ISO 14001 and EMAS
The purpose of this article is to analyze and compare the benefits of and barriers to the implementation of Environmental Management Systems (EMS)—International Standard ISO 14001 and Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS)—by organizations. This paper attempts to answer the following research questi...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-08-01
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| Series: | Energies |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/14/16/4870 |
| _version_ | 1797524047861383168 |
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| author | Agnieszka Ociepa-Kubicka Iwona Deska Ewa Ociepa |
| author_facet | Agnieszka Ociepa-Kubicka Iwona Deska Ewa Ociepa |
| author_sort | Agnieszka Ociepa-Kubicka |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The purpose of this article is to analyze and compare the benefits of and barriers to the implementation of Environmental Management Systems (EMS)—International Standard ISO 14001 and Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS)—by organizations. This paper attempts to answer the following research questions: 1. Does the implementation of either ISO 14001 or EMAS bring the same benefits and barriers to organizations? 2. Does the system functioning duration in the company influence internal and external benefits resulting from EMS implementation? 3. Are economic aspects of EMS adoption as important for entrepreneurs as the ecological aspects? This topic is important due to the large disproportions appearing in recent years between the number of companies registered in ISO 14001 and in EMAS, and due to relatively frequent cases of non-renewal of EMAS certifications in recent years. It is crucial because each EMS certified institution has implemented procedures which contribute to better protection of the natural environment. The study was conducted in the form of a survey; questions and answers were specified based on the literature review and the authors’ research. Results indicate that the knowledge-based and organizational problems, as well as the time invested in preparing the documentation, are much more significant than financial problems associated with EMS implementation. Even organizations that previously introduced ISO 14001 still have difficulties with EMAS implementation. The perception of benefits resulting from EMS introduction is related to the system functioning duration in the company. The analysis shows that it is necessary to strengthen economic incentives in order to enable the widest possible dissemination of EMS among companies. Research results can contribute to further simplification and increases in EMS implementation, which may lead to more sustainable development and climate change mitigation, inter alia, due to the improvement in energy efficiency, increased use of renewable energy, and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T08:51:47Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-869c5a15c4d64565bd7be4b3fb8d2aff |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1996-1073 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T08:51:47Z |
| publishDate | 2021-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Energies |
| spelling | doaj.art-869c5a15c4d64565bd7be4b3fb8d2aff2023-11-22T07:28:36ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732021-08-011416487010.3390/en14164870Organizations towards the Evaluation of Environmental Management Tools ISO 14001 and EMASAgnieszka Ociepa-Kubicka0Iwona Deska1Ewa Ociepa2Faculty of Management, Czestochowa University of Technology, Armii Krajowej 19 B, 42-218 Częstochowa, PolandFaculty of Infrastructure and Environment, Czestochowa University of Technology, Brzeźnicka 60 A, 42-215 Częstochowa, PolandFaculty of Infrastructure and Environment, Czestochowa University of Technology, Brzeźnicka 60 A, 42-215 Częstochowa, PolandThe purpose of this article is to analyze and compare the benefits of and barriers to the implementation of Environmental Management Systems (EMS)—International Standard ISO 14001 and Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS)—by organizations. This paper attempts to answer the following research questions: 1. Does the implementation of either ISO 14001 or EMAS bring the same benefits and barriers to organizations? 2. Does the system functioning duration in the company influence internal and external benefits resulting from EMS implementation? 3. Are economic aspects of EMS adoption as important for entrepreneurs as the ecological aspects? This topic is important due to the large disproportions appearing in recent years between the number of companies registered in ISO 14001 and in EMAS, and due to relatively frequent cases of non-renewal of EMAS certifications in recent years. It is crucial because each EMS certified institution has implemented procedures which contribute to better protection of the natural environment. The study was conducted in the form of a survey; questions and answers were specified based on the literature review and the authors’ research. Results indicate that the knowledge-based and organizational problems, as well as the time invested in preparing the documentation, are much more significant than financial problems associated with EMS implementation. Even organizations that previously introduced ISO 14001 still have difficulties with EMAS implementation. The perception of benefits resulting from EMS introduction is related to the system functioning duration in the company. The analysis shows that it is necessary to strengthen economic incentives in order to enable the widest possible dissemination of EMS among companies. Research results can contribute to further simplification and increases in EMS implementation, which may lead to more sustainable development and climate change mitigation, inter alia, due to the improvement in energy efficiency, increased use of renewable energy, and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/14/16/4870environmental management systemeco-management and audit schemeEMASISO 14001organizationmanagement |
| spellingShingle | Agnieszka Ociepa-Kubicka Iwona Deska Ewa Ociepa Organizations towards the Evaluation of Environmental Management Tools ISO 14001 and EMAS Energies environmental management system eco-management and audit scheme EMAS ISO 14001 organization management |
| title | Organizations towards the Evaluation of Environmental Management Tools ISO 14001 and EMAS |
| title_full | Organizations towards the Evaluation of Environmental Management Tools ISO 14001 and EMAS |
| title_fullStr | Organizations towards the Evaluation of Environmental Management Tools ISO 14001 and EMAS |
| title_full_unstemmed | Organizations towards the Evaluation of Environmental Management Tools ISO 14001 and EMAS |
| title_short | Organizations towards the Evaluation of Environmental Management Tools ISO 14001 and EMAS |
| title_sort | organizations towards the evaluation of environmental management tools iso 14001 and emas |
| topic | environmental management system eco-management and audit scheme EMAS ISO 14001 organization management |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/14/16/4870 |
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