Environmental Management System (EMS)

Definition

EMS is a system aims to minimize the environmental impact from a company's or organization's activities. EMS in Japan is usually based on ISO 14001 and the ECOACTION 21 for medium and small companies. EMS is becoming increasingly common as expectations increase for companies to implement environmental measures.

The Ministry of the Environment states, "'Environmental Controls' and 'Environmental Management' is when a business entity implements environmental measures setting environmental policies and objectives voluntarily and taking measures toward achievement". An 'Environment Management System' is the structure and procedures at a business site or factories implement to promote 'Environment Management'" *1. In Japan, the Basic Environment Law clearly specifies the obligation of business entities to make efforts to decrease the environmental burden generated by business activities *2.

The Basic Environment Plan following the Basic Environmental Law includes the promotion of environmental operating structures that effectively contribute to environment preservation *3. The Ministry of Environment describes three business advantages to implementing EMS: 1) a proactive approach to environmental issues could lead to increased business opportunity as consumers focus on environmental issues, 2) as environmental regulations and requirements become more strict, early moves to establish an operating structure would facilitate the ability to comply to the new regulations in a timely manner, and 3) an EMS can reduce the consumption of resources and energy, which can lower costs and improve management systems *1.