The adoption of environmental management systems (EMS) provides the framework for the implementation of corporate policies and programs aimed at organizational protection from environmental risks. This practice has been growing tremendously in recent years, both among national and multinational companies. Firms that decide to introduce an environmental management system usually comply with their industry standards, such as the “Responsible Care” for the chemical industry, or international guidelines such as ISO 14001 and the European Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS). The environmental management systems aimed at the prevention and minimization of impacts enable companies to save money through improving efficiency, reducing the costs of energy and raw materials, avoiding fines and penalties that may result from lack of compliance with local regulations, and by eliminating risks of non-compliance. In addition to environmental impact reduction, these systems ensure the maintenance of high environmental standards because they guarantee monitoring and iteration of measures over time. EMS certifications can increase investor confidence and give the company competitive advantages over rivals which have not yet implemented similar policies.
