The concern for the environment is nowadays a common discussion theme for those responsible for production planning.
The present
Companies have been changing their paradigms. Their business vision and goals, the investment strategies and even marketing, they are all aimed at improving their product but not without adapting it to the new reality on the global market and sustainable development.
Corporate responsibility towards the environment is no longer just a stance against impositions. It turned into voluntary attitudes. Understanding this paradigm shift is vital for competitiveness: in a market increasingly open and competitive, those who are controlling the environmental impacts of their productions are not only more prepared for the near future, but also are get rewarded for those concerns. It has become a competitive advantage.
ISO 14001 standard
An Environmental Management System certified by the NP EN ISO 14001 is an essential requirement for companies that wish to market their own products in the global market.
The Environmental Management System allows the organization to achieve an over-time-improved environmental performance. It essentially consists in the planning of its activities having the precise objective of eliminating or minimizing impacts on the environment through preventive actions or mitigating measures while ensuring compliance with legal requirements.
ETMA is certified by the norm NP EN ISO 14001.
Implementing the ISO 14001 standard
The challenge of implementing the ISO 14001 standard was generating the expectation of causing some constraints. But ETMA soon realized it was the other way around. The implementation of this norm has become a competitive advantage.
Modern competitiveness requires industries – and companies such as ETMA -, to adjust and support environmental requirements of their customers.
Because it is certified, ETMA now has the capability to more easily respond to the necessary requirements. Some of the regulatory environmental requirements:
- Directive 2002/95/EC (ROHS) is an European Directive which prohibits certain hazardous substances from being used in product manufacturing processes: cadmium, mercury, hexavalent chromium, polybrominated biphenyls, EC Regulation No (EC) No (1);
- Directive 2011/65 / EU (ROHS2 – is an evolution of the original Directive, addresses as follows an original version, improving as regulatory conditions) 1907/2006 concerning the registration, evaluation, authorization and restriction of chemical substances;
- REACH – Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals) entered into force on 1 June 2007) and conflict of minerals (Minerals of Conflict are minerals obtained in regions of armed conflict and human rights abuses and can withstand Financing of armed groups).
The future
In an age where people are increasingly concerned about the environment, « Environmental Marketing » emerges as an interesting strategy to be adopted by companies, also as a differentiation motto.
Actions related to environmental preservation are advantageous for companies – and, of course, the society as a whole, since these policies guarantee environmental preservation and a progressive quality of life. On the other hand it ends up leading to greater profits, also due to the very favorable Social Marketing and the gains of competitiveness that will positively differentiate one company from its competitors.