Implementation of Environmental Management System

This research paper discusses the importance of EMS implementation in Australian agricultural sectors and its potential influence. It explores the factors responsible for EMS implementation and its impact on the environment. The paper also highlights the role of regulatory frameworks, mandates of the government, and ISO standards in EMS implementation.

Running head: IMPLEMENTATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
Implementation of Environmental Management System
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Research Question
What are the factors that are responsible for EMS implementation in Australian
agricultural sectors?
Introduction
Environmental Management System (EMS) refers to the process of managing an
organization’s programs related to the maintenance of better environment and protecting the
natural resources. The system hence, needs to be highly planned, systematic and constructed.
The EMS program not only focuses on the procedure of protecting the environment, but also
includes organizational planning, implementation process and resource development. To
elaborate it furthermore, it can be said that the EMS integrates the process for training the
workforce regarding the environmental issues, monitoring the procedure and gathering the
information regarding the environmental performance of an organization. In this regard, it is to
be mentioned that the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), has specified the
standards that are to be maintained by the organizations. The ISO 2004 is the most widely used
standard amongst the organizations. As the ISO standards focuses on the occupational safety,
health and environmental safety, the standard is taken into consideration in the fields of
agricultural business as well. The discussion hence will focus on the importance of
implementation of EMS in the Australian agricultural sectors and its potential influence.
Reading Review
The primary goal of the EMS system are to reduce wastage and increase compliance. To
elaborate it further, it can be said that the EMS works toward maintain the minimum structural
and legal standards by the organizations. It continuously monitors that all the organizations that

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are related to the production of consumable products. In addition to this, the standard also
monitors that the organizations are using proper waste reduction techniques so as to minimize
impacts on the environment. As opined by de Oliveira et al., (2017), the maintenance of the
guidelines are highly important as they are related to the wellbeing of the consumers as well as
the surrounding environment. In this regard, it can be seen that in recent times the Australian
government is playing influential role in the process of taking up and implementation of EMS by
the agricultural industries. The government has shown keen interest and taking up initiatives of
teaching the workers and the owners about the importance of the system.
Discussion and Reflection
However, it has been widely argued that the environmental practices are directly linked to
the organizational or institutional pressure. Over the time, this has been a widely debated issue
that the organizations taking up EMS are doing so as a result of institutional pressure. They are
not taking up the environmental strategies willingly. According to Daddi et al., (2016), the
regulatory frameworks are the primary driving forces behind the voluntary implementation of
environmental strategies. In order to analyze the practices by the agricultural organization of
taking up the environmental strategies, it is to be witnessed that all the organizations are taking
up similar strategies. As a reason behind this act, it can be understood that the organizations
operating in a similar field, tend to look up to similar regulatory structures. This tendency of
following isomorphic rules and regulations can further be of three kinds. The first kind of
isomorphism pressure is that the organization is being pressurized by the entities on which they
are depending. This has been named as the Coercive isomorphism. Another reason for taking up
environmental strategies is Normative isomorphism, where the professional that have been

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specified by the regulatory bodies. The third kind of isomorphism is the Mimicking isomorphism
where the organizations end to follow the established and big farms.
In opposition to this view, Cary & Roberts, (2011) pointed out that successful
implementation of environmental strategies are helpful in the overall growth of the organization.
The implementation of the strategies leads the organization towards the paths of new innovations
and hence the organization gains competitive edge over other similar organizations. In this
regard, the Australian government has taken up the methodology of voluntary participation from
the agricultural organizations (Collins et al., 2016). The ISO regulatory body as well as the
Australian government is willing to opt out from “command and control” methods that have been
used traditionally.
In addition to the regulatory framework and the mandates of the government and the ISO
framework, the organizations that are taking up EMS framework are found to be gaining more in
the front of consumers’ satisfaction. The ISO standards ensure the food and agricultural safety,
this leads to greater chances of satisfying the consumers. As opined by Nguyen et al., (2014), the
modification and control of the waste or byproducts are the most important aspect in maintain
the ISO regulatory framework. In this regard, the importance of managing phosphate can be
regarded as of having high significance. In the agricultural fields, phosphorus is being used in
order to manufacture multiple products. Hence, over the time it has been monitored hat the usage
of phosphate have highly increased. As pointed out by scientists, as a result of this practice, the
reserve of phosphorus is going to be exhausted within a span of 50-100 years. Thus, in order to
maintain the balance and decrease the ill effects of phosphate on the lands and water bodies,
taking up proper strategies is highly important. Various methods of metal loading are being taken
up in order to manage the effects of the metal.

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In addition to this, El Hanandeh, (2015) has opined that the importance of energy
recovery can be seen in the agricultural sectors where the rates of manufacturing waste or by
products are high. Taking example from the olive oil refineries can be taken. The oil refineries
need to deal with the highly polluting waste materials that are the obtained after the process of
oil refining. The solid waste materials obtained from the oil refineries, can effectively be used in
manufacturing briquettes that are used in the solid fuel burners. The Australian households are in
need of these solid fuel stoves in winter. Hence, the briquettes made by the oil waste an
effectively be used in this sector. In addition to this, these solid fuels can be used in the domestic
biomass water heaters. The domestic water heating boilers are used extensively in the Australian
households. Moreover, these units can run using the biomass as fuel. El Hanandeh, (2015) rightly
pointed out that the wastewater available from the oil refineries, wheat mills and other
agricultural machineries, can be used in this regard.
In addition to the strategies taken up in order to minimize the waste products, the EMS
also includes the strategies to save natural energy resources. Leung & Yang, (2012) have
mentioned that the agricultural farms are mostly using the non-renewable energy resources to run
their set ups. As it is widely known that these set ups are in need of huge power consumption to
run effectively. Hence, the EMS has pointed out the necessity of using renewable natural sources
to produce energy. One of the most prominent methods is producing wind energy by setting up
windmills. As it is widely known that the wind energy does not pollute the environment as the
non-renewable energy sources such as energy produced by fossil fuels or nuclear powers. In
addition to this, Leung, & Yang, (2012) have pointed out that the procedures of setting up
windmills are less complex if compared to the process of reserving tidal energy. The agricultural
field are able to implant the set up easily as they have the available spaces.

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However, it has been argued that the negative impacts of windmills can also be seen in
few countries where the windmills have been implanted extensively. It has been said that the
giant blades are seen to be affecting the local environment in many places. After installation of
the windmills, many of the places have witnessed draughts. However, the effects are not
prominent enough to come to any conclusion.
In this context, the role of Life Cycle Assessment Tool (LCA) is to be considered. The
implementation of LCA insures the capture of various indirect aspects such as impacts on the
environment. It is needed to be considered as an important tool for identification of the
environmental aspects and assessing them. However, Lewandowska, (2011) has argued that the
LCA is not entirely flawless. The primary limitation of the tool is that it is a time consuming
process. In addition to this, the small and medium agricultural industries are seen to be less
interested in the including LCA as a result of the complex and costly implementation procedure.
In order to overcome the problem, it is recommended that the government must take up proper
actions in order to support the small and medium scale industries. As opined by Notarnicola et
al., (2016), the effects of the LCA implementation as highly elusive as the consumers are not
coming to direct contacts with these bulk producers. In this regard, the role of government is
highly important.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it can be said that the successful inclusion of the EMS framework depends
upon the willingness of the framers in taking up the system. The farmers, on their parts are more
willing to take up frameworks that have immediate and long lasting effects. The process of
installing EMS includes activities such as managing wastewater, byproducts and opting for
renewable energy sources to maintain the effectiveness of the farms. By employing these

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methods, an organization can gain significant competitive edge over the other organizations.
Moreover, it can ensure a steady growth in its economy, as well as achieve customer satisfaction.

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Reference:
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