Drivers, barriers and incentives to implementing environmental management systems in the manufacturing industry

Abstract

Industrial development has made major breakthroughs in the last decade in the wake of increased production, government policies and public demand. At the same time, problems related to environmental sustainability have become a major concern for producers. The unsatisfactory dimension of environmental protection has always been highlighted, because the environmental management system (EMS) is ignored and not consistently implemented in certain Tunisian companies. This increasing interest in environmental consciousness is pushing manufacturers to aspire to adopt successful environmental management strategies. Organizations are in fact increasingly responsible for monitoring and enhancing their environmental efficiency. The present work is intended to resolve these issues by establishing the essential factors and modelling their interrelationships in the Tunisian context. By reviewing literature and expert opinions, 14 critical factors have been identified which leads to responsive in the implementation of EMS- based ISO 14001. For better understanding, the MICMAC research was used to identify the critical variables according to their driving and dependence power. The present study highlights “Top management commitment and support” and “Government policies and legislation” as the most significant factors for ISO 14001 implementation. This research will facilitate organizations' readiness for implementation of ISO 14001 by providing a detailed understanding of mutual relationships among EMS factors based on ISO 14001.