ABSTRACT
The United States and the Western European nations have been the primary drivers of International Standardization Organization 14000 (ISO 14001), but concern for the environment on an international basis began several years before the International Standardization Organization began to take the initiative when it developed the international standard. The cost to implement an International Organization for Standardization 14001-like environmental management system can be extremely expensive, especially if a nation or a small to medium-sized company is basically starting from “scratch.” The ICC Charter is supported by more than 2000 companies worldwide and has provided the foundation for industrial and national development of sustainable policies, environmental policies, and codes of business practice as it impacts the environment. Industries coming in from the more advanced nations because of more “environmental freedom” and less stringent environmental regulations are operating under closer environmental scrutiny and legal requirements.
