Environmental Management in the Company—Fashion or Necessity?

Companies are increasingly concerned about their carbon footprint as customers are focused on doing business with organisations that play a part in protecting the environment.

Businesses are expected to comply with the relevant standards and have a robust environmental management system in place. On the other hand, some firms believe that EMS should not be necessary for their corporate strategies.

Let’s take an in-depth look to decide whether an EMS is necessary for your company or is merely a fashion.

EMS – A Fashion

Some companies argue the need to have an EMS or spend vast resources implementing an environmental management system. Keep in mind that global warming and the issue of climate change is influencing customer’s purchase decision. An increasing number of buyers are reluctant to do business with organisations that don’t consider environmental protection as their priority. The increase in environmental awareness and pro-ecological attitudes is considered to be one of the key megatrends with the greatest impact on the global economy in the coming years. More and more consumers take into account the need to protect the environment when making purchasing decisions. The Global Consumer Insights Survey shows that 43% of consumers expect companies to be responsible for their environmental impact.

A company that openly claim not to care about the environment, destroying its brand image. Their stance on environmental management will be evident through their business operations and practices. You’re risking your company’s future by adopting a non-serious approach to environmental management.

EMS – A Necessity

You shouldn’t consider environmental management as a PR statement or a way to increase your customer base. A robust EMS can transform your business and elevate it to new heights. An EMS can cut down your costs, improve your business productivity and add value to your products.

An EMS will enable you to have efficient policies and system in place that’ll optimise your resource allocation and utilisation. You’ll be able to cut down on waste which will help you use more of your raw materials in creating better products. Furthermore, you will cut down on various operation and procurement costs.

An EMS certification such as the ISO 14001 can help your business implement international standard practices. You’ll experience a financial and competitive advantage over your peers by achieving efficiency in business processes. Customers and other relevant stakeholders will have increased confidence in your business’s ability to run sustainably.

It can be safely concluded that EMS has become more of a necessity than a mere fashion statement. Companies with an implemented EMS are more likely to succeed. The system helps to reduce their business impact on the environment. Furthermore, it ensures the safety and wellbeing of their employees and the community. In saying that, it is not easy to implement a robust EMS. You need adequate planning and expert resources to help develop a proper structure.

It can be hard to find the necessary in-house expertise to create a robust system. If you’re looking for an external resource such as a boutique consulting firm specialising in environmental and quality management systems, then check out EQM Consult. As an experienced company, we help small and medium businesses to comply with relevant ISO standards such as ISO 14001. You can check our website for more information about services or contact us for a consultation.

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