We went to our clients and asked them they why felt they needed and wanted an environmental management system (EMS). We also asked what benefits they had identified.

Every business we asked stated that they needed a management system so that they were able to manage their day to day operations more effectively. This was not always their main reason for starting but by the time they were half way through, all clients recognised that their businesses really benefited from having built their system.

Why they started was based on what they wanted and this was quite varied. Some of the businesses questioned wanted to demonstrate that they really were environmentally conscious in their business operations and they found that their EMS both did this and took this a significant stage further. Some wanted certification to help them access export markets. Others wanted a tool to build a culture of awareness and responsibility throughout their operation. Some wanted a marketing edge. Some were under pressure from regulators and/or community groups and felt that they want to clearly demonstrate their environmental commitment. » Read more: What Business Owners Say About Environmental Management