Online version: PDF - DTIE

154
SECTION 6:
EMS IN THE
FUTURE
• Businesses have realised that if they are to remain profitable and
competitive, they must integrate environment management into daily
processes and practices.
• National legislation that makes EMS and environment reporting
mandatory is on the rise. Taxes on emissions and waste are
adding momentum to EMS implementation. Non-compliance will be
punishable with heavier fines and even imprisonment.
• Increased environment expertise, together with more efficient and
cleaner technologies, will greatly facilitate environment improvement.
• EMS will also move from piecemeal improvements to reducing the
overall impacts of production and processes. Eco-efficiency, cleaner
production and industrial ecology will move from being noteworthy but
isolated achievements to common practice.
• EMS goals are fast evolving from environment management to
sustainable development. Companies will not only have to reduce
resources and waste, but also take steps to improve social welfare
and the quality of life in the societies in which they operate.
Corporate social responsibility involves good management, better
pay and benefits, health and safety in the workplace, training,
non discrimination, indigenous rights, avoiding child labour, and
transparency in product and service procurement.
• The market and immediate stakeholders are demanding greater
transparency. Companies have to not simply carry out environment
management efforts, but report on environment performance with
independent verification of performance data.
• There will be greater transparency on corporate lobbying activities,
and the role of companies in influencing public policy on sustainable
development.
• In tourism, leading airlines, airports, tour operators, hotels, and
visitor attractions are working on EMS. There is still much scope for
improvement – especially in small and medium-sized businesses that
constitute a large part of the industry.
S
E
C
T
I
O
N
6