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UNIT 4: ENVIRONMENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS
THE BENEFITS OF EMS
• EMS enables tourism businesses to comply with, and even exceed,
environment legislation.
• EMS lowers costs by reducing resource use, improving operating
efficiency, lowering waste output and avoiding non-compliance fines.
• EMS makes a property a safer and healthier environment for
employees and visitors. Work related accidents, occupational illnesses
and related absenteeism can therefore be reduced.
• Along with the growth of public environment awareness, tourists
are demanding ‘greener’ services. EMS enables businesses to meet
this demand. The growth of tourism eco-labels and environment
awards is a strong indication of the growing response of tourists to
environmentally responsible services.
• Banks and insurance companies now require information on
environment performance when making lending and coverage
decisions. In 1997, UNEP brokered the Statement by Financial
Institutions on Environment and Sustainable Development, a
commitment by 104 signatories to improve environment management
and adopt industry best practice in credit risk management,
reduction of energy and materials use and waste management. The
signatories include a range of financial institutions: commercial and
investment banks, venture capitalists, asset managers and multilateral
development banks. As a spin-off from this initiative, over 70 insurance
companies from 25 countries have come together under UNEP to form
UNEP Insurance Industry Initiative for the Environment.
• Corporate social responsibility is a growing agenda. Companies are
no longer judged by their profit alone and face mounting pressure
to participate in improving the quality of life of their customers,
employees and the wider society within which they operate. EMS is the
first critical step in this direction.
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