ABSTRACT
This chapter illustrates how 18 Danish companies have gained added value through implementing and maintaining their EMSs. It also describes the problems they had to overcome. A Danish survey shows that companies achieve various different advantages through their environmental management systems (EMSs). EMS certification/verification is a climax: a milestone where there is a chance to celebrate and where the certificate itself is the reward. Following certification, the main task is to keep the momentum going by continuing to focus on environmental issues in order to create new opportunities and values. Many companies had expected to attract more customers due to their adoption of EMSs. Training and education is important, but after EMS certification several companies changed from classroom to on-the-job training or to monthly or quarterly meetings with discussions and presentations, where it is possible to involve employees and discuss their suggestions.
