Environmental degradation is a burgeoning problem owing to the continual expansion of industrial production and high-levels of energy and material consumption world-wide. CP (CP) is a preventive environmental approach, aimed at increasing resource efficiency and reducing the generation of pollution and waste at source, which is being implemented globally and in South Africa. CP is not just an environmental initiative; it also supports other productivity-oriented programmes and strategies. This report deals with the development of an assessment model for CP to support the business process of a company using TM. A conceptual model for CP assessment including TM assessment of identified CP improvement options is derived. The research investigates the possibility of improving the understanding of CP by using TM frameworks. Through direct participation data was collected to compile case studies with in the South African automotive industry. Case studies identify CP focus areas and improvement techniques. Results from the CP assessments were used to forecast cost saving through the implementation of the CP techniques. The CP improvement options were assessed using three different TM methods. The main reason behind the TM assessment of CP technologies was to develop a better understating of CP from a TM perspective. Results derived from the TM assessment were used to suggest strategies to benefit managers of companies and other stake holders. The research provides a different approach towards the understanding of CP technologies and improvement options. The study attempts to link the CP process to the business process in a company using TM methods. The study contributes towards the understanding and growth of CP technologies in the South African automotive sector and states the challenges with regards to the implementation of CP in South Africa. Based on the TM assessment results, technologies strategies for CP implementation were proposed. / Dissertation (MEng (Technology Management))--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Graduate School of Technology Management (GSTM) / MEng / unrestricted

Many of our most important and debated environmental problems of today have a tight relationship to the built environment. Examples are energy use, diffusion of chemical compounds through building materials and products and negative health impacts caused by emissions to indoor environments. Systematic work with such issues practiced in environmental management systems has become more and more common in companies, also in real estate companies. A series of studies have been exploring whether the application of environmental management systems also effectively ascertain reduced environmental impact. It has turned out that in many cases, this was not even possible to evaluate, since follow-up procedures often are insufficient. The purpose of this project was to study environmental management in real estate companies and to come up with ideas on how this practice could benefit from improved follow-up of environmental impact. In the first part of the project, nine real estate companies of different types were studied through deep interviews and document analysis. The companies were primarily chosen because they were considered to have an ambitious environmental management practice. And even though many of the companies also were very ambitious, the results indicate that it is difficult to draw conclusions concerning improvements in terms of reduced environmental impact. The formulation of targets and objectives with unclear relation to reduced environmental impact is an important reason. A result is that follow-up of improvements is pursued in diverse ways and this is mainly due to the difficulties of relating company activities to environmental impact. In the second part of the project a case study of a real estate unit (a housing unit with 900 apartments) was pursued. Large amounts of quantitative data on environmentally influencing flows were collected in order to explore the possibilities to account for the environmental impact of such a unit. Based on these data, a few environmental indicators with as clear relationship to environmental impact as possible were suggested and calculated, mainly through LCA-methodology. The amount of CO2-equivalents per year caused by the energy use and transports of the unit is one example of an indicator, which is expressing the unit’s contributions to the global problem of climate change. Both the flow’s extent and significance are then expressed in contrast to traditional measurements of energy use, like the amount of kWh/sqm and year. Indicators of this type may be used in order to develop environmental management in real estate companies, for example to formulate objectives and targets with a higher degree of relationship to environmental impact and to follow-up the efficiency of the environmental management system more clearly. For energy use, this is possible today. For other aspects in real estate management, indicators need to be developed further. Concerning availability of data from real estate for calculating environmental impact, structural difficulties to find data is a problem for some activities. However, routines for data collection are possible to develop. Clear, quantitative target formulations and benchmarking are examples of situations that support the introduction of routines for such data collection. / <p>QC 20100601</p>

This project is an action research study which presents the development of a system for product environmental performance internal communication for the Atlas Copco Tools AB scenario. The study is based on the study of available literature upon product-oriented environmental management systems and the European Integrated Product Policy scheme. Through the analysis of the literature and the scenario in study, a concept for integrated product environmental performance communication from the product development process to the marketing was elaborated. This concept presents an integrated product environmental information process through performance assessment, documentation, evaluation and final external communication. The concept implementation, then focus the development of the internal communication system as a basis for product-oriented environmental considerations integration into the company’s processes and business strategy. The final system recommended included product environmental performance assessment, through specifically identified assessment tools, and documentation, through the creation of an easy accessible product-oriented information database. Finally, the system also suggests an Ecodesign cycle for product continuous improvement focused on environmental performance.

Abstract The research behind this licentiate is spread out over a decade of intensive development of environmental work in industry. A 1998 survey of Swedish companies with newly installed environmental management systems (EMS) concluded that such systems need more product-orientation. Data collected by companies as part of the process of creating their EMS between 1996-2001 offered further evidence that it is environmentally justified to seek improvements in the materials selection, use and disposal phases of products, i.e., to make the environmental improvement work more product-orientated. In a EU-funded project carried out between 2004-2006 it was demonstrated that developing an environmental product declaration could be a cost-effective product-oriented environmental action even for smaller companies. This licentiate thesis relates to methods for companies to orientate their environmental work on their products. In particular, it examines experience and provides insights on the possibilities for companies, including small ones, to use life cycle assessment in product development in order to design products with an environmental performance well above legal compliance. It is difficult to give general recommendations to companies about their environmental work because each company has its own unique business idea, customers, work culture, stakeholders etc. Nevertheless, the main findings of the licentiate thesis can be summed up in the following recommendations for, say, a small company in Europe without much previous experience of environmental work: §  Focus your environmental work on your products because you will accomplish more environmentally and the chance of profiting economically will motivate your personnel; §  Consider doing a life cycle assessment, LCA, on a strategically chosen product in order to learn more about your products and how to improve their environmental performance; §  Do not expect to find a general market demand for green products; start a dialogue with your best customers in order to create the demand; §  Engage an LCA specialist to do the LCA and work together with your personnel to interpret the results and generate improvement ideas; §  If your customers demand that you install an environmental management system, ask them if they would not prefer to receive an environmental product declaration on the particular product they are interested in, and a chance to discuss how its environmental performance can be improved.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-25T16:44:41Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Paulo Renato Mendonca.pdf: 4324640 bytes, checksum: 2f1f96a9fa954b97a5aacf6ce9914f8c (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-11-12 / This study discusses the adoption of dedicated, non-certified Environmental Management Systems (EMS&#8223;s) for medium-large size companies as a way to obtain access to an EMS that could meet fundamental requirements of good environmental management practices and obtain satisfactory environmental and economic results at lower costs. The investigation methodology utilized is a case study of one average-large company that developed and implemented a dedicated, non-certified EMS working since June/2011. The conclusion of the investigations conducted by this study is that medium-large size companies can obtain sastisfactory environmental and economic results by adopting such kind of EMS. The study also makes evident that the results observed are consequence of the consistency of the indicators, administrative practices and structures introduced by the EMS investigated and the good quality of the work and engagement of the company&#8223;s top management towards supporting the continuity of the programs, actions and investments that grant the success of the system. Taking into consideration the importance for the medium-large size companies of reducing costs carried by their EMS management and the commitment of the top management with it, as well as by having in view that such top management engagement could be of different kind and intensity for different companies, it is suggested the extension of this kind of study to other medium-size companies, aiming to verify the results obtained in this case study / O presente trabalho discute a adoção de sistemas de Gestão Ambiental (SGAs) próprios, não certificados, para empresas médio-grandes como via de acesso a um SGA que atenda a quesitos fundamentais das boas práticas de administração ambiental a custos mais baixos e que possa produzir resultados de desempenho ambiental e econômico adequados. A metodologia de investigação empregada é um estudo de caso de uma empresa médio-grande que desenvolveu um SGA próprio não certificado, em operação desde junho de 2011. A conclusão das investigações realizadas é que as empresas médio-grandes poderão obter resultados ambientais e econômicos adequados com a adoção de tais SGAs. Evidenciou-se que os resultados observados são consequência da consistência dos indicadores, das estruturas e práticas administrativas introduzidos pelo SGA pesquisado, aliados à qualidade do trabalho e ao engajamento e comprometimento da alta administração da empresa no sentido de suportar a continuidade dos programas, ações e investimentos que garantam o sucesso do sistema. Tendo em vista a importância para as empresas médio-grandes da redução dos custos com a administração de seus SGAs e do comprometimento da alta administração com o funcionamento do sistema, e considerando-se que tal disposição ao engajamento da alta administração poderá ser de diferentes graus para variadas situações que possam ser encontradas no universo empresarial, sugere-se a extensão e aplicação desta forma de pesquisa a outras empresas médio-grandes que se utilizem de SGAs próprios e não certificados, objetivando a verificação dos resultados obtidos neste estudo de caso

Environmental aspects have been intentioned more in recent years and the wasteproblem has a great impact in this matter. Due to this fact, waste management systems havebeen developed and new waste treatment methods as well as waste recovery and reductionhave been introduced. These methods are focused on preserving the environment as a coreissue. Despite of high effort and investment in waste management system, the environment isfaced with large impact due to high amount of landfill. This problem is a worldwide issue andcan be seen both in developed and developing countries.In this research, quality and environmental management system planning in wastemanagement has been analysed through stakeholders’ analysis. Waste management systemshave been investigated in two cities, one in the Middle East and another in Scandinavia.Results of this research show that stakeholders’ analysis can be applied into qualitymanagement system planning in order to ensure municipalities and waste managementcompanies to set SMART quality objectives which meet all stakeholders’ requirements. Thisapproach is recommended to be used in technology transfer projects.Stakeholders- QE management model proposed in this research, defines the role ofstakeholders’ analysis into quality and environmental management system planning.

Resumo: Atualmente, no campo da engenharia de produção o termo desenvolvimento sustentável está sendo amplamente divulgado como uma oportunidade para melhoria na qualidade de vida que alia conservação e proteção do meio ambiente. Ao se observar a questão da poluição industrial, é possível perceber que ela vem agravando a deterioração do meio ambiente e da saúde pública, conseqüentemente, exigindo uma nova postura das empresas no sentido de mitigar seus impactos ambientais. Neste sentido, emergiu o objetivo deste trabalho: diagnosticar as ações ambientais das indústrias calçadistas considerando, a priori, a importância local do pólo produtivo calçadista de Franca-SP. Assim, desenvolveu-se uma estrutura teórica baseada em Sistema de Gestão Ambiental, Legislação Ambiental e Programas de Prevenção à Poluição, cada qual com um instrumento em evidência, quer seja a norma ISO 14001, o Licenciamento Ambiental e o Programa Produção mais Limpa. Todos estes elementos subsidiaram detalhamentos específicos dentro do contexto em que se examinavam ações efetivas praticadas por empresas calçadistas. Sucintamente, os resultados alcançados na pesquisa exploratória nos levou a perceber que há uma lacuna entre os benefícios apresentados na literatura sobre a ISO 14001 e a real percepção dos empresários entrevistados; basicamente, estes mesmos (empresários) apenas "reagem" para não serem punidos, fato que adverte a relevância de se manter controles mais rígidos sobre ferramentas como o Licenciamento Ambiental e, por último, concluiu-se que o Programa "Produção mais Limpa" se apresenta com potencial para articular as ações ambientais identificadas, partindo da aplicação de know-how na gestão privada para a articulação à governança pública, visando mudanças de atitudes para melhoria ambiental na cadeia calçadista como um todo. Portanto, os resultados dessa pesquisa identificaram ações tímidas e incipientes... / Abstract: In the hole world, sustainable development to improve life quality with environment protection is becoming a strong and weel aceptable idea. It is possible to observe that industrial pollution is increasing enviroment and health deterioration, and so, demanding a new attitude from organizations concerning their environment impacts. So, the objective of this paper is to diagnose environmental actions in shoes manufactures, a priori, the importance of local shoes industries in Franca city. So, a theorictical structure was developed based in Environmental Management System, Laws, and Pollution Prevention Programs, each one with a tool, such as ISO 14001, Environmental Licensing and More Clean Production Program. All these elements helped in specific detail in a context that elective actions were studies. The results obtained in the research made us realize that there is a void between benefits presented in the literature about ISO 14001 and real perception of interviewed managers: they just react to avoid legal punishments, wat points the need to keep more rigorous controlson tools such as Environmental Licensing and, at last, it was concluded that More Clean Production Program presented a potential to articulate environment action, applying know-how in private management to public "governança", willing to change attitudes to environments improve in shoes supply chain as a hole. So, results of this research identified shy ans incipients actions from interviewed managers to the sustentability of the sector. / Orientador: Jair Wagner de Souza Manfrinato / Coorientador: Agnaldo de Sousa Barbosa / Banca: Adílson Renófio / Banca: Aldo Roberto Ometto / Mestre

<p>Problem: Har arbetet för hållbar utveckling inletts och i vilken grad främjas den i kommunikationen mellan lärare och student på Handelshögskolan vid Umeå Universitet?</p><p>Syfte: Syftet med denna uppsats är att övergripande avbilda hur implementeringen av hållbar utveckling i undervisningen på Handelshögskolan vid Umeå Universitet. För att avbilda studieobjektets verklighet så väl som möjligt kommer vi undersöka ett antal delsyften; om vad som kommunicerats, hur det kommunicerats och hur relevant kommunikationen uppfattas i undervisningen. Detta kommer undersökas genom att titta på lärares uppfattning för att jämföras med hur studenterna uppfattar implementeringen av vår problem formulering.</p><p>Teori: Teorikapitlet har sin grund från vetenskapliga arbeten och är baserad på tre teorier. En teori handlar om hur man strukturerar arbete för hållbar utveckling i en universitets kontext. Vi har även valt två teorier om kommunikation som huvudsak behandlar hur man förmedlar ett engagemang för hållbar utveckling.</p><p>Metod: Vi valde att använda oss av den kvantitativa metoden där två enkätundersökningar tillämpades, en för lärare och en för studenterna, för att på detta sätt kunna mäta faktisk implementering av hållbar utveckling i undervisningen. Undersökningarna genomfördes genom direkt besöksutskick då vi ansåg detta vara mest lämpligt eftersom övriga arbetsfokuseringar hos lärarna och studenter kunnat orsaka större bortfall. Detta med bakgrunden av vår urvalsram som var Handelshögskolans lärare och studenter.</p><p>Resultat: Vi kan i studien se ett samband mellan att belysa hållbar utveckling i undervisningen och en ökad medvetenhet hos studenten relativt än hos dem som inte haft det integrerat i undervisningen. Arbetet för hållbar utveckling på institutionen har inletts men resultatet är långt ifrån tillfredsställande då hållbarhetens tre dimensioner ska vara integrerat på alla nivåer.</p>

<p>In recent years several municipalities in Sweden and elsewhere have or are implementing environmental management systems (EMS) in parts of their organisation. The most common model to use for Swedish municipalities implementing an EMS is ISO 14001. Today EMS in municipalities is mainly focussing on the administrative aspect of environmental management- the internal environmental work in the municipalities. It is argued that ISO 14001 do not fit a political aspect of environmental management in municipalities but primarily fit and support the administrative perspective. ICLEI (International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives) has developed the ecoBUDGET manual as a model for implementing an EMS that specially would fit a political organisation like a municipality. In this context it is interesting to investigate similarities and differences between ecoBUDGET and ISO 14001 as models for EMS. The ambition of the study is to contribute to an understanding of what possibilities and limitations these models can have when working with EMS in a municipality. </p><p>The overall aim of this study is to analyse and compare the effects of the two different EMSs, ecoBUDGET and ISO 14001, on municipal environmental management. Drawing from earlier research on effects of New Public Management reforms in Swedish municipalities, this study focuses on tree strongly connected dimensions of effects on the municipal environmental management as a consequence of implementing and using an EMS. The dimensions of effects studied are organisational borders, organisational structures and roles. Each of the EMS is studied from a theoretical as well as practical point of view. This means that ISO 14001 and ecoBUDGET are compared to each other, partly from standards texts and handbooks, partly from how they are applied in practise intwo Swedish municipalities, Växjö and Kalmar. </p><p>Concerning EMS in municipalities according to ISO 14001 and ecoBUDGET as models similarities as well as differences could be found. Both of the models are based on the Deming concept the PDCA-cycle (Plan, Do, Check, Act). There is however no requirements on reducing environmental negative impacts in absolute terms. ISO 14001 and ecoBUDGET however have different focus and also therefore have different effects on municipal environmental management concerning organisational borders, organisational structures and environmental municipal roles.</p>

<p>This thesis is mainly directed towards readers with a basic background in Environmental or Quality Management Systems. More increasingly organisations and companies decide to work with Environmental Management Systems (EMS) and the ISO standard has ever been increasing in popularity. The advantages of the ISO standard are the flexibility it offers, the adaptability to a variety of organisations and processes.</p><p>Most literature on EMS focuses on communication but very few address the issues regarding implementation and translation of the EMS into something functional for the core activities of an organisation.</p><p>In this qualitative study the author focuses on studying the differences between organisational levels regarding working with and implementing EMS at their various levels. The theoretical frame for the study is that of new-institutionalism. Within this frame is gathered empirical data from interviews with representatives of eight larger companies or organisations, all with multiple organisational levels. Combined these interviews form a solid foundation for the study if intra- and interorganisational EMS-implementations.</p><p>The conclusion of this research indicates the participating companies translated and implemented the EMS by standardising already existing routines and methods into complementing the EMS. A side-effect of this study which lies outside the actual aim of this thesis is that companies which have built up their EMS starting at ground-level have a better implementation and communication of such EMS.</p> / <p>Det här arbetet fokuserar på<strong> </strong>läsare med en bakgrund inom miljö- och kvalitetsledningssystem.Allt fler företag bestämmer sig att arbeta med miljöledningssystem (MLS) och detta har lett till att ISO standarden ökat i popularitet, främst på grund av standardens flexibilitet vilket ses i hur enkelt standarden är att anpassa till olika företag och processer. Majoriteten av MLS-litteratur har en fokus på kommunikation men väldigt få handböcker och författare tar upp frågor i samband med den praktiska implementering och översättning av MLS när det gäller anpassa MLS till något fungerande för organisationens kärnverksamhet.</p><p>Den här kvalitativa studien fokuserar på att analysera de skillnader som finns mellan organisatoriska nivåer när det gäller deras arbete med och implementering av MLS. Studien utfördes inom den teoretiska ram av Nyinstitutionalismen och inom dessa gränser samlades empirin från åtta större företag med olika organisatoriska nivåer. Kombinationen av dessa intervjuer skapar basen för analysen av inter- och intraorganisatoriska MLS-implementeringar. Slutsatsen av den här studien visar att de organisationer som deltog översatte och implementerade deras MLS genom att anpassa pre-existerande rutinerna till att möta standardens krav. En sidoeffekt av den här studien som fanns utanför studiens ursprungliga ram är att organisationer som byggde sitt MLS från grundnivå och uppåt visade sig ha en bättre kommunikation och implementering av deras MLS.</p>