 The environment is gradually becoming a core factor in managing companies, local authorities, administrations and other entities, a concept known as environmental management. In France, this concept – which underpins the sustainable development model – is encouraged by public authorities and supported by ADEME. ADEME encourages companies, local authorities, administrations and other entities to develop their environmental management practices by :
- Supporting the development of concepts, tools and standards, in association with public and private bodies.
- Providing financial aid to industrial players, in the form of pre-assessments and assessments in particular.
- Supplying information, practical tools and technical support (i.e. training) to companies so as to help in implementing the process.
- Funding illustrative operations in partnership with local stakeholders (i.e. chambers of commerce and industry, regional councils and water boards) and sectoral players (i.e. trade federations and technical centres).
Developing and sharing best practices and innovative technologies, especially with regard to tools like the “Eco-Design in Action” example sheets. - Environmental management : what is it ?
Companies, and SMEs in particular, are conscious of the growing importance of factoring the environment into their development strategies, and more and more companies are integrating environmental considerations into their management systems. Environmental management is developing as a concept and underpins the sustainable development model. There are two approaches to the process :
- The “organizational” approach : developed at production sites, companies can adopt this approach to undergo an “eco-audit” or to apply for ISO 14001 or EMAS quality certification. This approach represents a valuable internal management tool for a company, based on the principle of continuous improvement.
- The “product” approach : this approach extends beyond the company walls, aiming to design or improve products with the goal of minimizing their impact on the environment at each stage of their life cycle (i.e. from the production of the materials used in making the product to the latter’s end-of-life).
- Standardized international processes
Whether they follow the organizational or product approach, environmental management processes are voluntary and defined by international ISO 14000 standards, which comprise the various requirements for implementing an environmental policy at the demonstration and assessment stages. Here is a guide to the various ISO 14000 “environmental management” documents :
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Organizations (sites)
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Products
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Implementing an environmental policy
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Environmental management systems (14004, 14061)
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Integrating environmental aspects into product design and development (14062, 2003 French edition: FDX 30310)
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Demonstrations
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Environmental management systems (14001)
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Environmental qualification labels and declarations (1402X series)
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Assessment tools
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Environmental evaluation performance (1403X series)
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Life-cycle assessment (1404X series)
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Terminology
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Vocabulary (14050)
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Environmental management presents numerous benefits for a company of any size. The process can help to :
- Manage regulatory constraints.
- Meet the demands of contractors.
- Build relationships with partners (shareholders, banks, insurance companies etc.) based on trust.
- Optimize costs and manage risks.
- Enhance and safeguard future competitiveness.
- Rally employee support around a unifying topic.
- Promote a company’s integration into the local community.
More specifically, the product approach is used by companies to drive innovation and improve products by satisfying and anticipating market expectations. For this reason, more and more French companies are showing an interest in this process every year.
 The environment : a consumer concern
Consumers consider the environmental implications of their purchases. This has been made all the easier by the use of various “eco-labels” that were introduced in the 1980s. Nowadays, for example, two-thirds of French people buy their household goods according to the energy label, which indicates a product’s degree of energy conservation. |
| Highlights
- The PEE, a crucial tool
One of the methodological tools offered to industrialists by ADEME is the Corporate Environmental Plan (PEE).
The PEE, which was designed by the Agency together with the chambers of commerce and industry, was updated in 2003 and adapted to the various sectors. The plan provides a methodology for assessing the existing situation or putting in place an Environmental Management System (EMS). It is currently used by some 2,500 businesses.
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