Marguerite Newbold

OPTIONS FOR INFORMAL ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT: THE AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRY HIGHLIGHTED

M. Newbold, K. Lewis, J. Tzilivakis, J. Finch, T. Kaho, J. Skinner, and K. Bardon, ‘The Options for informal environmental management: The agricultural industry highlighted’, paper presented at the Eco-Management and Auditing Conference, 2-3 July 1996, Leeds, UK.

Rationale for the introduction of environmental management systems to local government, environmental regulators and industry — a case study

Under the technical assistance programme of the Environmental Know How Fund, an environmental management training course, based on British Standard BS 7750 (BSI, 1994), was developed and delivered to local government, environmental regulators and industry in Kamensk-Uralsky, Russia. The case study approach to training middle managers incorporated environmental reviews of workshops within three large industrial plants. One such environmental review is described here to illustrate problems and fundamental differences in integrating Western and Former Soviet Union (FSU) principles on management, legislation and pollution control. The paper considers whether current pollution measures and environmental auditing procedures would satisfy the needs of the international community funding and trading with Russian industry, and concludes that a structured environmental management system (EMS) approach is required. There is little doubt about the benefits of implementing an EMS, both in terms of pollution reduction and overall cost savings; however, the crucial first step of the EMS approach, commitment from top management has yet to be established.