ABSTRACT
The eight case studies presented in this chapter are from companies in different sectors—paper and cellulose, glass, cleaning, automobile, power, textile, chemicals and iron industries—whose productive activities cause different types of environmental impact. Nevertheless, they have something in common; they were the first in their sectors, in Brazil, to obtain the environmental management system (EMS) standard ISO 14001. EMS implementation represented a revolution in Cetrel's general management. All the procedures were changed: strategic planning, objectives, goals and continuously improved policies are part of the company's routine. EMS implementation increased Fiat Automoveis's employees' environmental awareness, and helped to prevent material and energy losses. The company's main reasons for implementing the EMS and obtaining ISO 14001 certification were to show conformance to an international standard of environmental excellence and to provide the firm's products with a competitive advantage in a demanding market.
