ABSTRACT
This chapter presents the findings of two studies that sought to investigate Environmental and Energy Management Assistance Scheme and the environmental management system (EMS) standards in the small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) sector. As part of a broader strategy to provide businesses with tools to manage their environmental impacts more effectively and contribute to sustainable development, the EU developed the Eco-Management and Audit Scheme Regulation on the back of the British EMS standard BS 7750. BS 7750 generated interest in EMSs in the international standards world, eventually being superseded by the international EMS standard ISO 14001. EMS implementation opens up new interactions between staff and management and provides intangible benefits such as enhanced morale, which is seen as very important for both small and medium-sized firms. Alongside the commercial benefits, SMEs found positive outcomes in terms of improved environmental performance, assured legal compliance and energy and material efficiencies.
