An evaluation of the Impact of Environmental Management Systems on the Economic Performance of Business Enterprises in South Africa
This research report focuses on the impact of environmental management systems(EMS) on the economic performance of business enterprises with respect to the threeresearch variables, namely water, energy and raw materials. A systematic samplingtechnique with a random start and the K-Value sampling interval were employed todraw a sample size of 30 enterprises from a list of 240 EMS certified enterprises.However, the response rate ultimately turned out to be only 30 % of the sample size.The research discovered that EMS programmes that are practised by enterprises understudy in South Africa are inefficient, as strategies adopted to cut down on theconsumption of the research variables are inefficient. It has further been found thatdue to unavailability of data, business enterprises failed to consistently andconvincingly provide data pertaining to the costs of EMS adoption.Inefficient strategies in cutting down consumption of research variables are concludedto have led to minimal savings and revenue accruing to the enterprises. This isobserved to be a result of the following factors: not undertaking some research aheadof any action to shed light on the nature and magnitude of responsive measuresrequired for specific problem areas; costly EMS technology and infrastructure; lackof innovativeness in exhausting the full potential value of the research variables; poorEMS practice etc. Failure to provide data by enterprises is observed to be a result oflittle value, which enterprises attached to information storage and documentation aswell as environmental accounting system, yet they are such crucial components ofEMS. This has therefore made impossible to weigh gains against costs to establishwhether business enterprises are gaining or losing in their EMS projects.On the basis of the observed shortcomings, enterprises are advised to have in place acomprehensive EMS database and to conduct some research ahead of any responsiveaction. The South African government is recommended to intervene by providing anenabling environment for EMS by implementing EMS supporting policies andpromoting awareness campaigns. Furthermore, research into the observed problemareas has been recommended in order to get to the bottom of EMS problems in SouthAfrica.
Year of publication: |
2006-10-31
|
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Authors: | Khuto, Motseki |
Subject: | Environmental management systems | environmental performance | economic performance | efficient of resources | sustainable development | design for environment |
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