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Title:
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EFFECTIVE CORPORATE SUSTAINABILITY MANAGEMENT THE ECOWHEEL FRAMEWORK |
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Author(s):
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Manuel Seidel, Rainer Seidel, Helene Sterzik, Mehdi Shahbazpour |
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ISBN:
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978-972-8939-79-3 |
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Editors:
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Tomayess Issa, Pedro Isaías and Theodora Issa |
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Year:
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2012 |
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Edition:
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Single |
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Keywords:
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Environmental Management Systems, ISO 14001, corporate sustainability, EMS implementation, EMS and sustainability software. |
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Type:
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Full Paper |
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First Page:
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61 |
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Last Page:
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68 |
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Language:
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English |
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Cover:
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Full Contents:
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click to dowload 
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Paper Abstract:
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Organisations around the world are increasingly adopting Environmental Management Systems (EMS) to integrate environmental sustainability principles in their business activities. Standards such as ISO 14001 and the Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) can be used as guidance to implement an EMS. Environmental consultants and professionals play a key role in the development of such systems. However, the majority of organisations struggle to effectively engage staff and create momentum in their corporate sustainability and environmental management initiatives. Many traditional 'folder on the shelf' systems are only good for 'getting the tick from auditors' and often fail to facilitate significant reductions in environmental impact. To engage staff and generate effective progress towards corporate sustainability the focus needs to be on effective collaboration and culture development rather than bureaucracy. This paper introduces the ecoWheel framework a visual environmental management and sustainability strategy tool. The ecoWheel framework was developed on the basis of research and consulting experience to help organisations overcome the typical barriers that they face when implementing environmental improvements. The ecoWheel framework involves three elements which progressively take an organisation on a journey from a defensive approach to an integrated maturity level. Each element of the ecoWheel framework involves specific tools and principles to overcome the challenges that organisations face at their respective level of environmental sustainability maturity. The paper concludes by introducing a web-based environmental and sustainability management system ecoPortal which brings together the three elements of the ecoWheel framework and facilitates effective communication and collaboration within organisations. |
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