Environmental management is no longer something for scientists, environmentalists and politicians to debate, rather it is a theory that must be put into practice as a result of boardroom initiatives across the land. Until the latter third of the 20th century these kinds of environmental issues had been largely ignored in real terms by commerce and industry, even though it was clear that there were potentially serious repercussions down the road.

In general, big business decisions during the 19th and early 20th centuries were based on consumption needs first and foremost. Widespread adoption of fossil fuels as a basis for creating energy formed the basis of an organization’s sustainability and natural lands were impacted with impunity in the name of expansion and development.

Following the introduction of the Clean Water Act and the Clean Air Act in the late 1960s, environmental management solutions became more widespread. When the International Standardization Organization introduced its ISO 14001 standard, following closely on the heels of the European Eco-management and Audit Scheme, everything took off. Now a series of criteria had been laid down and it was the right thing to do for organizations to adopt the standards and for others to see that they were doing so.

As it is recognized that certain businesses that are just starting off or who will operate in difficult environments could, together with emerging countries, be adversely affected if they tried to adopt the full standards as set out by ISO 14001. Other environmental management solutions have arisen, therefore, to take into account these varying circumstances.

The United Nations suggests that environmental management solutions represent a “natural capital.” By adopting the triple bottom-line philosophy and changing an approach to accounting in general, social performance and ecological issues are put in focus.

Several environmental management solutions call for simple distinctions to be made, rather than introduction of standards, enforced compliance and auditory procedures. For example, one such system advocates that unsalables are toxic products which are neither consumable nor durable and environmental self-regulation would identify and eliminate these for the better good.

An integrated management approach to the introduction of environmental management solutions is currently favored. All elements within an organization must be aware of their contribution to the life cycle of the business product and must be internally responsible for their impact environmentally. This is in particular focus as new legislation is discussed to reduce one of the greatest environmental hazards, emission of toxic greenhouse gases.

Environmental management solutions can form part of a wider goal to help ensure that an organization achieves sustainability. As particular focus is placed on reducing a carbon footprint, the organization must also ensure that it is environmentally efficient as a whole. Wastage at all levels will not be tolerated from a societal or economic point of view, with the twin threats of reputational harm and regulatory penalty ahead.

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