“LEAVING NO ONE BEHIND PRINCIPLE”: A CRITICAL ANALYSIS IN RESPECT OF EMS 14001: 2015 IMPLEMENTATION IN ZIMBABWE.

Abstract

In response to the call towards addressing global environmental risks and impacts, the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) developed a series of standards that are used on voluntary basis by organisations seeking competitive advantage on the international markets basing on their environmental performance.  Only big companies or corporates have made it to the certification ladder leaving small companies lagging behind. This article argues that the harder it becomes for small and medium enterprises to get ISO 14001 certification, the more emerging of global environmental problems such as climate change. Most companies if not all want to have their businesses certified in order to enhance their chances to trade on international markets since the standard is a precondition for global trade. The paper provides a way forward on the possible options that can be implemented to accommodate small businesses so that action against climate change becomes their business as well.

Key Words: Climate change, Environmental performance, Global environmental risks, ISO 14001, International markets.

Introduction

Most scholars have been putting much attention on the benefits, effectiveness, expectations and key drivers to EMS 14001:2015 implementation. The cost factor for small businesses has not been given much consideration given the benefits that comes with EMS ISO 14001: 2015 implementation. Furthermore ISO 14001 has got eight out 17 UN SDGs that are directly anchored on affordable clean energy, water and sanitation, decent work climate action, life below water and life on land and other SDGs that are environment-related. This points out to the significance of the standard and its application by small companies. Hence the need to make implementation and maintenance costs of the requirements considerable. Being ISO certified shows an organisation’s commitment towards socio-ecological transformation of their operating environments.

EMS as an environmental management tool has played a very pivotal role towards strengthening action against climate change. Businesses which are certified to EMS 14001:2015 have a fair share when it comes to trade and export markets especially in Europe. Hence most of the exporting businesses are now certified to EMS as a requirement for doing business. This has been triggered by corporates which have been operating their businesses at the expense of the environment. In response to the damage posed to the environment, ISO 14001 was put in place as a precondition for trade hence it helps firms to remove barriers to trade (Zhang et al., 2007; Mori & Welch, 2008).

In light of this view, the EMS has got the potential to go beyond just acting as a condition for trade, but can also be utilised as a tool for climate action. This can be done by reducing inhibitive administrative costs of certification. Given that only corporates with huge pockets can afford fulfilling the requirements of the standard such as raw material and resource use efficiency, monitoring of environmental impacts and aspects and fulfilment of legal and other obligations (Waxin et al., 2017). Complying with all these requirements comes with costs and as such small organisations find it difficult to implement the requirements of the standard. This view is also shared by (Whitelaw, 2004; Waxin et al., 2017). If ISO is really concerned about strengthening climate action through the use of the standard, it should at least consider small and medium enterprises by making sure cost of certification is bearable even to one-man businesses.

Benefits of implementing ISO 14001

Given the motives for ISO 14001: 2015 certification, the author argues that the benefits derived are not only felt by the surrounding communities but the globe as well. The author foresees the acceleration of climate change if this loophole is overlooked and hence an increase in GHG emissions from their processes (Budi et al., 2019). Of late ISO 14001 has been attributed to a compendium of benefits not limited to reduction of water and raw material consumption, reduction of waste, energy consumption, air emissions and release of toxic substances (Whitelaw, 2004; Mori & Welch, 2008).

Conclusion

In conclusion, if ISO 14001 certification could consider SMEs by making it less costly it can yield good results given that these informal and small scale companies are not obliged to monitor, review and report their environmental performance. These small companies will continue to pollute whilst capitalising on the local markets where there are no trade barriers as compared to international markets. There seems to be inequalities when it comes to certification of ISO standards by firms in general. Given the importance of EMS 14001: 2015 in mitigating climate change, it will be unfair for small companies to be deprived of the opportunity to voluntarily demonstrate their commitment towards socio-ecological aspects of their operating environment hence they should be given a lifeline.

Recommendations

ISO Technical Committees (TCs) and its stakeholders who are responsible for third party audits must consider the barriers to ISO 14001 implementation by small businesses for the benefit of the environment. The consideration must include setting more bearable fees for certification and recertification audits.

REFERENCES

Budi, I.Y. Karuniasa, M and Nurcahyo, R. (2020). Effectiveness of ISO 14001: 2015 implementation in small and medium enterprises (case study: a laundry machine industry SME in Bantul Yogyakarta) IOP Conf. Ser.: Earth Environ. Sci. 423 012010

Mori, Y. & Welch, E.W. (2008). The ISO 14001 environmental management standard in Japan: results from a national survey of facilities in four industries, Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, 51(3): 421 – 445.

Waxin M-F., Knuteson, S.L. and Bartholomew A. (2017). “Drivers and challenges for implementing ISO 14001 environmental management systems in an emerging Gulf Arab country”, Environmental Management. Accepted in Nov. 2017. DOI 10.1007/s00267-017-0958-5

Whitelaw, K. (2004). ISO 14001 Environmental Systems Handbook, 2nd ed., Elsevier Butterworth-Heinemann Ltd, Oxford.

Zhang, B., Bi, J., Yuan, Z.W., Ge, J.J., Liu, B.B. and Bu, M.L. (2007). Why do firms engage in environmental management? An empirical study in China. Journal of Clean Production, (2007): 1-10