Ph. D. (Department of Logistics Management, Faculty of Management Sciences), Vaal University of Technology. / The effective practice of green supply chain has been a focus of both practitioners and researchers for almost a decade, mostly focusing on greenhouse effects and implementing full green supply chain control systems. However, not much attention has been given to empirical relationships between internal environmental management systems, green packaging management, green information systems adoption and organisational performance. The chief objective of this study was to assess the internal environmental management factors of the plastic packaging manufacturing organisations in Gauteng province in South Africa, mainly focusing on the three major internal environmental factors, namely pollution prevention plans, total quality management and environmental audits. Secondly, the study aimed to determine the relationship between green packaging management, green information systems and organisational performance. A positivist approach was used as this study is quantitative. A total number of 250 questionnaires were distributed to managers and employees of the chosen plastic packaging organisations. Although 250 questionnaires were distributed to the chosen organisations, only 230 were deemed to be fit for capturing due to some errors on the other 20 questionnaires. For data analysis the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS 24) was used to generate frequency tables and graphs. Furthermore, structural equation modelling (SEM) was used to generate regression weights and standard regression weights. The factor loading was also generated using SEM as well as model fitness and path co-efficiency values. A detailed research approach was followed using a sample size of 230; the results of this study show that there is a positive significant relationship between internal environmental management systems, green packaging management and green information systems. Further, it was found that most organisations that adopt green management systems are more likely to perform better than those that do not. The study also discovered that the government policies that place emphasis on green practices, not only pressurise organisations, but also help them to be strategic. Most plastic packaging manufacturing organisations usually find it difficult to operate without polluting the environment, but this study discovered that if they control their internal environmental systems, it will be easy for these organisations to adopt environmental management systems and produce green products. Also, given the changing market environments, currently most consumers prefer green products and if organisations go green this might open up new markets for their new products and enhance performance. This study examined the importance of green packaging management from the perspective of both government policies and organisational policies. The results showed that some organisations are still struggling to align their internal environmental management process with the external environment; however, the market changes are enforcing that most plastic packaging organisations start aligning their internal management systems with external systems, as it gives them opportunities towards new products and new competitive strategies that will lead to better performance. An environmental management framework was developed in this study. The framework aims to help guide plastic manufacturers with their long- and short-term strategies. In line with non-linear relationships between variables, the study recommends the following to the plastic packaging organisations: to create pollution prevention policies and strategies to improve organisational performance by eliminating pollution and avoiding penalties from the government. Pollution prevention plans, total quality management and environmental audits were used as independent variables to measure organisational performance. In line with the linear relationship between the adoption of green packaging management and organisational performance, it is recommended to the plastic packaging organisations that enterprises facing slow-moving sales growth, profitability and general performance challenges, should use green technologies as a remedy for their problems.

A deficiência na gestão de resíduos causa diversos problemas como os aterros irregulares, poluição da água e ar, saúde da população, contaminação dos solos e da água. Há mais de uma década legislações estão vigentes e sendo atualizadas com o intuito de amenizar os impactos decorrentes dos RCC’s. O objetivo principal do presente trabalho consiste em investigar a conformidade técnica e legal de sistemas de gerenciamento de resíduos de construção civil na cidade de Curitiba, no Estado do Paraná. Para isso, foi elaborada uma lista de verificação baseada nas normas vigentes e modelos de certificações ambientais. Foram visitadas 24 obras nas quais foi aplicada a lista de verificação, de forma a realizar um diagnóstico dos sistemas de gerenciamento atualmente utilizados. Mesmo a gestão de resíduos sendo obrigatória e limitante para obtenção do certificado de conclusão de obra, através desse diagnóstico foi possível verificar que os sistemas adotados são falhos, há falta de conscientização, e que a aparente conformidade documental não se traduz em efetivo gerenciamento dos RCC. / Waste management deficiency causes various problems like irregular landfill, water and air pollution, population health, soil and water contamination. For over a decade waste laws are in place and being updated in order to mitigate the impacts of RCC's. The main objective of the present work consists of investigate a technical and legal compliance of waste management systems of construction in Curitiba, State of Paraná. For this, a checklist has been drawn up based on current laws and models of environmental certifications. 24 civil constructions were visited and applied this checklist in each one in each one of them for it to be possible to make the analysis of the data. Even waste management is mandatory and limiting for obtaining CVCO through this diagnosis was verified that the systems adopted are failed, there is a lack awareness and that the apparent document compliance does not translate into effective management of RCC.

One of the greatest challenges facing the world today is integrating industrial activities such as mining with environmental integrity and social concerns. Monitoring is fundamental to environmental management, both to assess the adherence to standards and to allow environmental managers to learn from practical experiences. However, a problem arises when the regulatory authorities cannot keep up with their mandate of enforcement and compliance monitoring. This research examined how the Department of Minerals and Energy (DME) implements the concept of sustainable development in the mining sector of the Eastern Cape (EC) and, more specifically, the extent to which the Mine Environmental Management (MEM) section is able to effectively monitor compliance of mining operations with environmental legislation. This was the first systematic compilation of statistical data for the DME, and presents the first study in the EC regional office in terms of environmental sustainability. Results indicate that there has been a sustained increase in mining activity over the past three years, possibly as a result of the boom in the construction industry and the accelerated road maintenance and improvement programmes in the Eastern Cape. Mining applications received by the DME have increased by 47% from 2006 to 2007 (January-May) and by a further 100% from 2007 to 2008. In addition to the increasing number of mining concerns being established, 98 mining concerns will need to apply for the conversion of their old order rights to new order rights by the 1st May 2009. Mining in the province is predominantly small scale with mining permits (mined areas less than 1.5Ha) making up 52.3% of all applications, with larger mining concerns contributing 29.3% and prospecting contributing the remaining 18.4%. In terms of compliance inspections, the EC regional office is required to conduct 120 environmental compliance inspections annually in terms of contributing to sustainable development. The MEM section exceeded this target since 2003. However, when the number of operational mines is considered, 120 inspections per year equates to one mine being visited, on average once every four years (based on 2008 data). Based on projected figures (number of compliance audits and number of operational mines) for 2009, the DME’s target of 150 inspections for 2009/10 combined with the limited staff D. Watkins – MBA Dissertation 2008 capacity will, at best, mean that mines would be inspected once in seven years. However, the target of 150 inspections will not actually even cover the expected number of EMP evaluation inspections. This has serious implications in terms of regulating the compliance of the mining concerns with their EMPR’s. The low level of compliance monitoring can be directly related to staff capacity and logistics problems at the regional office as well as provincial targets being based on staff capacity rather than the number of operational mines. Thus, considering potential environmental damage associated with mining operations and the capacity constraints of the MEM to conduct frequent compliance audits, it is likely that mining operations will have negative implications for sustainable development in the region. Currently there are many challenges facing the DME in terms of contributing positively to sustainability in the mining sector and there is a need to base future actions on the idea of continuous improvement and ultimately progress.