The importance of self‐diagnosis and self‐evaluation for an EMS set‐up

Abstract Environmental management systems (EMSs) have been developed to improve environmental performance of organizations towards the diffusion of sustainability in industrial production. The ISO 14000 series of International Standards is the most important reference for eco‐management of any type of organization. The EMS implementation can be developed more fluently and with less effort (in terms of human resources and costs) and time by applying, before the Environmental Review, a ‘self‐diagnosis and self‐evaluation (SD&E)’. The ISO 14000 series, in fact, guides the organizations to start the system elaborating their Environmental Policy and Environmental Review. The case study described is the environmental SD&E carried out on a Valli Zabban S.p.A. industrial site. The chemical industry in question is the leader in Italy in the production of bitumen and bituminous membranes; it has already developed an advanced quality system (certified ISO 9001/94) and is now working with our environmental research group to reach the ISO 14000 certification. The most relevant convenience of introducing that step is that the company is ready, once it has completed the self‐evaluation, to start the implementation of its EMS with more awareness of the environmental situation in its various activities and to prepare a favourable ‘atmosphere’ and expectations company wide. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment