ABSTRACT
Growing attention has focused on the unsustainability of current production and consumption patterns in industrialised societies, from the environmental, economical and social points of view. As a result of increasingly costly add-on technologies, preventative approaches have been adopted that avoid or minimise waste and emissions at source. The United Nations Environment Programme, which launched the concept of cleaner production in 1989, has been particularly active in the domain. In 1992 the Business Council for Sustainable Development created the eco-efficiency concept, which is close to the cleaner production concept but puts more emphasis on creating additional value for customers through environmental actions. Business leaders are nowadays fully aware that effective environmental action requires not only adequate technology but also an integrated approach of technological and managerial measures. An Environmental management systems provides order and consistency for companies to address environmental concerns through the allocation of resources, assignment of responsibilities and ongoing evaluation of practices, procedures and processes.
