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To link to full-text access for this article, visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2010.06.005 Byline: Ana Claudia Neri, Luis Enrique Sanchez Abbreviations: CSI, Cement sustainability initiative; EIA, Environmental impact assessment; EMS, Environmental management system; WBCSD, World business council for sustainable development Abstract: A procedure to evaluate mine rehabilitation practices during the operational phase was developed and validated. It is based on a comparison of actually observed or documented practices with internationally recommended best practices (BP). A set of 150 BP statements was derived from international guides in order to establish the benchmark. The statements are arranged in six rehabilitation programs under three categories: (1) planning (2) operational and (3) management, corresponding to the adoption of the plan-do-check-act management systems model to mine rehabilitation. The procedure consists of (i) performing technical inspections guided by a series of field forms containing BP statements; (ii) classifying evidences in five categories; and (iii) calculating conformity indexes and levels. For testing and calibration purposes, the procedure was applied to nine limestone quarries and conformity indexes were calculated for the rehabilitation programs in each quarry. Most quarries featured poor planning practices, operational practices reached high conformity levels in 50% of the cases and management practices scored moderate conformity. Despite all quarries being ISO 14001 certified, their management systems pay low attention to issues pertaining to land rehabilitation and biodiversity. The best results were achieved by a quarry whose expansion was recently submitted to the environmental impact assessment process, suggesting that public scrutiny may play a positive role in enhancing rehabilitation practices. Conformity indexes and levels can be used to chart the evolution of rehabilitation practices at regular intervals, to establish corporate goals and for communication with stakeholders. Author Affiliation: Escola Politecnica, University of Sao Paulo, Av. Prof. Mello Moraes, 2373 Sao Paulo, SP 05508-900, Brazil Article History: Received 29 October 2009; Revised 10 May 2010; Accepted 2 June 2010

To link to full-text access for this article, visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ejor.2007.03.023 Byline: A. Espinosa, R. Harnden, J. Walker Keywords: (P) OR in societal problem analysis; (S) Complexity theory; (P) Organization theory; Sustainability; Cybernetics; Second order cybernetics; Environmental management; Systems thinking; Viable system model Abstract: There is wide acceptance of the need for a more holistic approach to sustainability. However, practical solutions remain elusive and tend to exhibit underlying conflicts between different paradigms and their associated methodologies. This paper argues the need to wield analytical tools that themselves embody the principles of systemic, ecological thinking. We present here a theoretical framework based on complexity science - focused on organisational and second order cybernetics - that highlights our understanding of the concept of sustainability. The paper goes on to reflect upon how current practice would benefit from such an approach. Author Affiliation: Hull University Business School, Scarborough Management Centre, Filey Rd, Scarborough, North Yorkshire YO11 3AZ, United Kingdom Article History: Received 17 February 2006; Accepted 30 March 2007

To link to full-text access for this article, visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2006.06.025 Byline: M.B. Galan (a), D. Peschard (a), H. Boizard (b) Keywords: Environmental indicator; Environmental impact; Farming practice; Environmental management system Abstract: Faced with society's increasing expectations, the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) review considers environmental management to be an ever more critical criterion in the allocation of farm subsidies. With the goal of evaluating the environmental friendliness of farm practices, France's agricultural research and extension services have built a range of agricultural/environmental diagnostic tools over recent years. The objective of the present paper is to compare the five tools most frequently used in France: IDEA, DIAGE, DIALECTE, DIALOGUE and INDIGO. All the tools have the same purpose: evaluation of the impact of farm practices on the environment via indicators and monitoring of farm management practices. When tested on a sample of large-scale farms in Picardie, the five tools sometimes produced completely different results: for a given farm, the most supposedly significant environmental impacts depend on the tool used. These results lead to differing environmental management plans and raise the question of the methods' pertinence. An analysis grid of diagnostic tools aimed at specifying their field of validity, limits and relevance was drawn up. The resulting comparative analysis enables to define each tool's domain of validity and allows to suggest lines of thought for developing more relevant tools for (i) evaluating a farm's environmental performance and (ii) helping farmers to develop a plan for improving practices within the framework of an environmental management system. Author Affiliation: (a) AlternatecH section Agro-Transfert, F-80200 Estrees-Mons, France (b) INRA, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, Unite d'Agronomie de Laon-Reims-Mons, Estrees-Mons, BP 136, F-80203 Peronne cedex, France Article History: Received 30 October 2004; Revised 9 May 2005; Accepted 20 June 2006

Various economic policy instruments implemented in Sweden for reducing greenhouse gas emission are presented. An account on regulations, emission trading and emission taxes that are intended to support the cause are also presented.

A study is conducted using field formation approach to analyze the factors that lead to the birth of China's environmental protection system (EPS). This study also analyze the progress in protection systems regulated by China.

Byline: Jiangning Zhao, D. Steven White This study employs a quasi-experimental design to examine the function of dynamic capabilities (early adoption and path-dependent learning experience) in the process of implementing ISO 14001. Approximately 97 pairs of companies (N = 194) were collected from the Standard & Poor's (S&P) database, all of whom had at least one International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) certificate and for whom five years of financial data were available. The initial differences were controlled using Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) to compare ISO companies with their matched comparison companies on the effect of ISO 14001 registration (independent variable) and on financial performance (two dependent variables): Return on Revenue (ROR) and Return on Assets (ROA). The results indicate that ISO 14001 registration has led to a reduced ROR in the two-year period and no change in the third year. ROA was not associated with ISO 14001 registration. Early adoption, the length of ISO registration and the size of the company did not affect the relationship between ISO registration and financial performance. Furthermore, the results illustrate that many companies have not yet gained the capability to ruminate and digest the dynamic nature of ISO 14001. An opportunity exists for future researchers to establish and examine the function of dynamic capabilities and their impact on the quality of ISO implementation.

Byline: Patricia J. Abreu, M. Helena G.A.G. Nadais Purpose: To examine two Environmental Management Systems (EMS) implemented in a Shopping Mall (SM) and an Industrial Plant (IP), and study the influence of the organisational structure upon the development of the EMS. Design/methodology/approach: Each organisation, stakeholders and their respective interests were analised for their influence upon the EMSs. Findings: The EMS for the IP should be directed towards environmental aspects and operational control; for the SM, the strategy should be directed to educational and divulging activities. Originality/value: The specifics of implementing an EMS in a non-industrial organisation vs. an industrial organisation, and the influence of the organisation structure upon the design of its EMS.

Byline: Rajesh Kumar Singh, H.R. Murty, S.K. Gupta, A.K. Dikshit Environmental issues in steel industry are so numerous, complex and interconnected that an ad hoc approach to problem solving is no longer considered effective. The growing pressure from all stakeholders forces steel companies to incorporate the environmental responsibility in all activities. Consequent to evolution of various environment management tools for supporting and improving environmental performance of the industry, steel companies have focused their attention towards integration of environmental strategy in their overall management system. This paper deals with an Integrated Approach to Environmental Management of the steel industry, which shall ensure a continuous improvement in environmental performance in order to increase competitiveness in the future steel market. In this paper, a business model is being suggested for integration of environment in overall management system. Based on the above model, a framework has been designed for implementation of Integrated Environmental Management Systems (IEMS) in steel industry. IEMS aims at 'the Greening of the industry' which shall integrate Pollution Prevention (P2), Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), Environment Management Information System (EMIS), green supply chain, environment performance evaluation, environmental accounting and other environmental management tools to EMS according to ISO 14001 requirements. This approach shall allow the steel companies to find and implement profitable and powerful measures that avoid waste generation; reduce environmental pollution; improve consumption of natural resources and go beyond legal compliance.

Byline: Tine Herreborg Jorgensen The aim of this paper is to discuss a number of issues related to ISO 14001:2004, the international standard for Environmental Management Systems (EMS) with the purpose of improving the next edition in order to recognise and reflect new recognitions in approaches to pollution prevention. A case study is presented and shows lack of life cycle thinking in product development. This paper suggests changes of ISO 14001:2004 in order to include a more product-oriented approach and a stronger focus on stakeholders. It also suggests to formulate clearer demands for targets and environmental improvements and to include a demand for publication of an environmental report to promote a constructive dialogue with relevant stakeholders.

Byline: Olaf Weber Do investors, such as environmentally responsible funds, influence firms' decisions to implement environmental management practices? We present the results of a survey analysing the implementation standards of environmental management practices subject to the influence of environmentally responsible investment funds. Results indicate that firms listed in environmentally responsible funds perform better in their environmental management practices. However, this good performance does not seem to be influenced by the desire of a firm to be listed in an environmentally responsible fund but by other reasons, i.e. a certified environmental management system.