ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses BMW's movement from a traditional environmental management system (EMS) to a more all-encompassing and innovative sustainability management system (SMS). In 1999, BMW Group achieved a major milestone by implementing environmental management systems, which allow the company to identify and manage environmental risks and impacts, in all of its manufacturing facilities. The chapter describes how Designworks/USA worked to implement the SMS standard by creating a sustainability policy, enumerating SMS aspects and impacts, developing an impact prioritisation scheme, drafting action plans to address prioritised SMS aspects, and conducting their initial internal SMS audits. While the SMS standard was built on the International Organisation for Standardisation 14001 framework to facilitate certification to both standards, it contains many unique elements, particularly with regard to integrating social issues into the management system process. Implementation of the Designworks/USA SMS began in January 2001.
