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American Journal of   
Environment and Climate (AJEC)

The Role of  Environmental Management Systems (EMS) in Driving Organizational 
Development and Environmental Sustainability

Ghassan Mazraani1*, Mario Tucci1

Volume 4 Issue 1, Year 2025
ISSN: 2832-403X (Online) 

DOI: https://doi.org/10.54536/ajec.v4i1.3748
https://journals.e-palli.com/home/index.php/ajec

Article Information ABSTRACT

Received: September 08, 2024

Accepted: October 11, 2024

Published: January 25, 2025

An Environmental Management System (EMS) is a framework that helps in assessing the 
risks a business has on its environment while providing organizations with mitigation strat-
egies to minimize the risks. This study aims to analyze the importance and impact of  EMS 
on organizations and global sustainability goals. This review study uses a descriptive and 
analytical approach by including 67 studies for the review that were published in the last 5 
years. The findings from this review suggest that the integration of  EMS along with tools 
and techniques like ISO 14031, Cross-Functional Team (CFT), Matrix model, and Life Cycle 
Inventory (LCI) can be very useful in attaining global sustainability goals and maximizing 
the environmental efficiency of  organizations. The study concludes that the integration of  
EMS in industries not only helps in minimizing environmental pollution but it also helps in 
managing the overall growth of  the organizations.

Keywords
Cross Functional Team (CFT),
EMS, Environmental 
Sustainability, ISO 1403, Matrix 
Model, Significant Environmental 
Aspect (SEA)

1 Engineering Management, University of  Florence, Italy
* Corresponding author’s e-mail: ghassan@researchergroup.co

INTRODUCTION
An Environmental Management System (EMS) aids in 
evaluating the risks that affect the business environment, 
establishing performance standards, and developing 
solutions for averting the unwanted effects essential for 
compliance and for establishing the reputation of  an 
organization (Battersby, 2022). Environmental aspects are 
the characteristics of  an organization’s process, product, 
or service that can produce a positive or negative impact 
on the environment through pollution or by supporting 
sustainability (Кубатко et al., 2021). These aspects can be 
tangible, for instance, the quantity of  energy used, or the 
volume of  waste that is dumped in the natural world, or 
intangible such as the possibility of  the environment being 
polluted by a particular product (Dahlmann et al., 2019). 
The factors that have been grouped under environmental 
analysis are relevant since they explain how different 
factors influence the environment (Fiorino, 2023). 
These environmental issues and aspects are relevant to 
the creation of  EMS including the international standard 
of  ISO 14001 (Poltronieri et al., 2021). ISO 14001 
on EMS has provided elements that specify certain 
environmental aspects and also provided a way to handle 
them – sustainably (Bhateria, 2024). This puts the firms 
in a stance of  being able to meet the legal issues, manage 
the negative impacts of  these areas on the environment, 
and proceed towards the objective of  improving 
environmental performance stepwise.
Environmental evaluation also plays a tremendous part 
in the formation of  public policies and environmental 
legislation (Kraft, 2021). Decision makers and 
governments apply the knowledge from EMS in order 
to introduce measures that can help to regulate emissions 

and or consumption or encourage sustainability 
(Keohane et al., 2019). For example, the incorporation of  
Environmental Impact Statements EIA in the assessment 
of  environmental factors which are incorporated in 
numerous countries before commencement of  vast 
development projects (Gunningham & Sinclair, 2019).
In the context of  EMS implementation, there is the 
absence of  a clear definition of  environmental aspects that 
can be considered as any factor related to an organization’s 
activities that may affect the environment (Abdelkareem 
et al., 2021). Such impacts may be released to air, land, or 
water, reserve or resource depletion, species or habitat 
loss, and waste generation. For instance, in manufacturing 
industries, factors of  the environment may include the 
discharge of  gases into the atmosphere, consumption 
of  non–renewable sources of  energy, and generation of  
hazardous material (Yuan et al., 2020). Environmental 
aspects are usually divided into two; direct and indirect. 
The direct environmental impacts are those which the 
organization can control and they include; energy use, 
discharge from production, or waste disposal. Another 
classification is the indirect environmental aspects which 
are those to a certain extent are not under the direct 
control of  the organization, but the organization can 
affect them, for instance, the impact of  the suppliers 
on the environment and the fate of  its products once 
they are out of  the organization (Li & Wang, 2019). It is 
argued that both direct and indirect aspects are important 
in order to understand the environmental consequences.
Knowledge of  EMS is basic in environmental science as it 
serves as the basis for the determination and measurement 
of  the environmental impact of  human activity (Bresciani 
et al., 2023). This footprint quantifies the pressure people 



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have put on the earth’s carrying capacity and is therefore 
instrumental in determining sustainability. Through 
analyzing environmental aspects, it becomes possible for 
scientists as well as environmental managers to identify 
specific areas that are most strained by human activities 
and come up with ways and means of  minimizing the 
impacts (Bravi et al., 2020). Additionally, EMS is essential 
in public enlightenment and sustainable development 
programs. Many individuals and organizations develop 
their environmental knowledge and thus can make 
a conscious effort to reduce their impact on the 
environment (Bhoi et al., 2022). For instance, knowledge 
of  the environmental impacts of  energy consumption 
in homes for example the carbon footprint of  electricity 
usage may trigger the use of  renewable energy, efficient 
appliances, or reduced usage through changed behavior 
(Jiang et al., 2020). Therefore, the implementation of  
EMS enables not only businesses but individuals and 
communities to act positively towards the environment. 
In the corporate context, the use of  EMS is rather valuable 
since many companies attempt to achieve sustainability 
objectives and satisfy the emerging global demand for 
eco-friendly industries (Kristensen et al., 2021). Failure 
to manage environmental aspects can lead to legal fines, 
brand deterioration, or even poor performance due to 
inefficiencies, and wastage of  resources (Said et al., 2020). 
On the other hand, the companies that are able to properly 
address and control their environmental impacts will be 
able to compete for clients, customers, and government 
approvals as well as have a favorable image that is liked 
by investors (Fawehinmi et al., 2020). In addition, more 
investors give consideration to the EMS factors while 
choosing a place to invest in.
The continuing improvement in many organizations has 
resulted in boosting the problem of  pollution of  the 
environment and this is a factor that is causing harm to 
the environment. Most organizations are incorporating 
environment-friendly measures and this necessitates the 
need to incorporate EMS into organizations to achieve 
the global sustainable goals. This review further discusses 
the application of  new tools and techniques in EMS that 
can assist organizations in achieving these goals. The 
main question that is applicable to this paper is concerned 
with the recognition, evaluation, and monitoring of  EMS 
in several sectors. This means that many organizations 
as they embrace the idea of  environmental management 
and implement EMS lack real key environmental impacts 
and experience difficulties in the assessment of  impacts 
comprehensively (Ikram et al., 2019). 
Furthermore, this research was also able to determine 
the aspect of  a business integration of  operations with 
sustainable activities. This raises the critical question: 
EMS can be defined as a verified system that shall 
facilitate the organizations in developing, documenting, 
and implementing a policy, and procedures that conform 
to environmental management standards, and this 
knowledge on the importance and impact of  EMS and 
how this can help in growing environmental sustainability. 

The current review was to consider and evaluate 
procedures for the identification and management of  
environmental elements that are acknowledged and 
regulated in industries and certain sectors with high levels 
of  pollution such as manufacturing, energy, and waste 
sectors. Moreover, this work tried to assess the ways of  
applying CFT and ISO 14031 to control and manage 
crucial environmental effects properly. 

LITERATURE REVIEW
Climate Change and Global Warming
Subsequent studies have established that the rate of  
Climate change is continuously progressing and the 
effects of  climate change are massive (Valérie Masson-
Delmotte et al., 2021). The IPCC’s Sixth Assessment as 
stated in the report of  2021, it was established that the 
global temperature is rising at a higher rate than ever 
(Masson-Delmotte et al., 2021). The report suggested 
that it is virtually evident the world is in the process of  
pulling a trigger and going a notch higher than 1.5°C as 
a result of  global warming (Lynn & Peeva, 2021). This 
study further affirmed extreme weather conditions such 
as heat waves, and wildfire is mitigated by the degree of  
exposure to dry spells, droughts, and floods have become 
more frequent and severe in the recent times than they 
used to be in past decades. 
Another study presented a closer view of  the climate 
models as it investigated predictions of  climate change 
which was initiated through the models developed in 
the 1970s with the modern rise of  temperature and they 
proved that the majority of  these models are accurate 
(Hausfather & Peters, 2020). This removes any form of  
doubt that there is indeed a significant wind of  change 
blowing across the organization in the management of  its 
human resources (Wang et al., 2023). Also, the 2022 WMO 
State of  the Global Climate report revealed worsening 
climate change impacts on food production, water, and 
migration (Forster et al., 2023). The report pointed out 
that the affected areas which include Africa and South 
Asia are experiencing worsened drought conditions thus 
resulting in food shortages and displacement (Zemp et 
al., 2022). This research therefore highlights the need for 
EMS in addition to mitigation measures for managing the 
global climate.

Bio-Diversity Loss
The most thought-provoking and the most reportage 
in terms of  giving an overall picture of  the state of  the 
planet today is. They estimated that about one million of  
the species of  living organisms are now threatened with 
extinction.  During the next thirty years, or in some cases 
sooner, the climate of  the earth has been projected to 
change due to actions initiated by people of  the world 
(Pörtner et al., 2021). This study relied on data the up-
to-date accounts of  the loss at the global level and it 
was the most comprehensive current assessment. The 
biodiverse species is a clear sign that drastic changes in 
the way of  operating are still apparent. EMS is required 



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to turn around in order to make the firm’s Environmental 
Management System effective (Das Neves, 2020). 
A theoretical framework called “Bending the Curve”, 
describes the way to reverse the declines while satisfying 
human demands (Leclère et al., 2023). The study therefore 
revealed that it is achievable to shift the tide to prevent 
further erosion of  the livelihoods of  biological diversity 
through harmonised management of  lands.  Solutions 
of  which management, sustainable agriculture, and 
conservation measures are part. More importantly, it 
emphasized the fact that if  it continues to do its work, it 
will soon become much more challenging and complex 
to achieve all the desired results (Shin et al., 2022). It 
also helped establish the goals of  the Post-2020 Global 
Biodiversity Framework agreed in 2022 which includes 
the protection of  30% of  the world’s terrestrial and 
marine areas by 2030 (Xu et al., 2021). 
Another important study discussed the idea of  “Half-
Earth” which argues that to avoid the loss of  biodiversity 
we must protect half  of  terrestrial and marine 
environments (Dinerstein et al., 2019). The study offered 
empirical data on the large-scale conservation needs and 
the importance of  global Biodiversity and ecosystem 
services with Environment Management System (EMS), 
which informed the debates on global conservation goals 
(Immovilli & Kok, 2020). 

Pollution and Human Health
Air and plastic pollution in particular has continued to 
be an issue of  interest in environmental research with 
health effects (Li et al., 2021). According to a global, 
observational study air pollution continues to be the 
single, most important environmental risk factor that 
is responsible for the deaths of  about 9 million people 
annually and this was in the year 2019 (Fuller et al., 2022). 
Most of  these deaths happened in low and middle-income 
countries, a factor that reveals environmental inequality. 
It also pointed out that although the industrial emissions 
have declined in some areas and increased in others there 
has been a growth in emissions from household sources 
like cooking using solid fuels and emissions from the 
transport sector (Balakrishnan et al., 2019). 
Probably, the most significant issue that has dominated 
the discourse in the last few years is that of  plastics. 
According to a study global plastic waste input to the 
aquatic environment could increase by threefold by 2040 
if  no measures are being taken towards its reduction 
(Hamilton et al., 2023). The study also presented the 
“Breaking the Plastic Wave” model, which provides 
strategies to minimize plastics pollution through better 
recycling, innovative product design as well as effective 
policies on waste management (Oelofse et al., 2024). In 
particular, it stated that a further drastic decline in plastic 

waste is possible but only with a collective international 
effort which can only be possible through EMS and 
appropriate economic and policy implications for 
combating this problem (Fletcher et al., 2023). Micro-
plastic pollution has also become a well-discussed subject 
because of  the consequences it has on human health and 
the environment. In a recent study, people were identified 
to have microplastics in their bloodstream meaning that 
the body can absorb plastics (Damaj et al., 2024). 

Sustainable Resource Management
According to a study, food production systems are 
responsible for emissions of  over 25% of  the world’s 
greenhouse gases (Springmann et al., 2020). Changes 
in diet as a way of  lowering emissions and achieving 
sustainability with such changes as decreasing the intake 
of  meat products (Springmann et al., 2021). It has been 
recommended to use a “planetary health diet” which takes 
into account the nutritive needs of  people as well as the 
environmental needs that are involved in the provision of  
food, and this has informed most of  the discussions on 
sustainable diets (Springmann & Freund, 2022). 
A study has indicated that about 64 percent of  the world’s 
population suffers from water scarcity for at least one 
month every year (Wolkeba et al., 2024). It has been urged 
that more efforts and measures be taken to conserve 
water, especially in food production where water is used 
in a 70% proportion (Rathore et al., 2024). This highlights 
the importance of  integrating policies and EMS that 
support the use of  water-efficient technologies and crop 
types that do not need much water (Musie & Gonfa, 
2023). 
Studies have highlighted that there has been a rapid 
growth in renewable energy sources like solar and wind 
energy but they are still a challenge to address the global 
energy needs (Ang et al., 2022). The work emphasized 
the need to deploy EMS for renewable energy alongside 
efficiency and storage along with other technologies 
towards de-carbonization by the middle of  the current 
century (Gielen et al., 2019). 

MATERIALS AND METHODS
Search Strategy
This study includes review on existing literatures on 
the tools and techniques used in EMS for minimizing 
environmental pollution and managing environmental 
sustainability. The objectives of  this approach were 
achieved by collecting, analyzing, and interpreting 
secondary data that was included in the study to have 
a thorough review of  the applications of  EMS on 
organizations and global sustainability. Table 1 shows the 
search strategy used in this review.
Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria 

Table 1: Search strategy
Years Search Engines Keywords
2019- 2024 ✓ Google Scholar

✓ PubMed
✓ Environmental Management System (EMS) 
✓ Global sustainability 



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Inclusion and exclusion criteria were implemented in the 
data collection process of  this study. The study’s inclusion 
of  sources were the studies that were published during 
the past five years and highlighted the importance and 
impact of  EMS. The data collection also included studies 
that were published in English and were easily accessible 
for data collection. The selected studies include scholarly 
articles, research papers, review articles, reputable 
industry publications, and peer-reviewed journals. The 
studies that were not published in English and were older 
than five years were excluded from this study. Moreover, 
the study also excluded studies, articles, and papers that 
were not accessible. 

Data Extraction
The search strategy used for this review was to obtain, 
identify, and analyze secondary data that highlighted 
the impact and importance of  the Environmental 
Management System (EMS) in organizations and global 
sustainability. The first step in obtaining data was to 
identify a ‘keyword’ list that was most associated with 
the main idea of  our area of  study. The keywords were 
“Environmental Management System (EMS)”, “Global 
sustainability”, “Cross-Functional Team (CFT)”, 
“ISO 14031”, “Risk management”, “Biodiversity”, 
“Environmental pollution”, “Environmental aspects”, 
“Sustainable resource management”, “Significant 
Environmental Aspect (SEA)”,”Life Cycle Inventory 
(LCI)”, “matrix model”, and “Resource efficiency”. These 
keywords were used jointly and separately to increase 
the comprehensiveness of  the literature search.  Google 
Scholar, IEEE Xplore, and academic libraries were used 
to conduct systematic searches of  the given keywords. 

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Results
A total of  113 studies were identified for the study 
through the literature search, from these 113 studies 13 
studies were inaccessible as they required verified access 
and subscription, 18 studies only showed abstracts which 
were not enough for conducting a thorough review, 
and 15 studies were excluded because they were not in 
English language. So, a total number of  67 studies were 
included in the review as these studies aligned with the 
aim of  the research, which analyzes the importance and 
impact of  EMS. Each study’s authenticity was verified 
by conducting a thorough review of  its abstract, title, 

and keywords. The 65 studies that were finalized for 
literature review included 39 research papers and 26 
review articles which aligned with the title and aim of  
this research highlighting the impact and importance of  
Environmental Management System (EMS). 

Discussion
Importance of  EMS
Compliance with Environmental Regulations
An Environmental Management System (EMS) is an 
important part of  the framework used to accomplish 
the environmental objectives of  an organization and 
mitigate regulatory risk (Bravi et al., 2020). Today’s 
business organizations are fraught with the escalating 
number of  environmental legislations such as pollution, 
waste, energy, water, and hazardous substances. Failure 
to observe these regulations attracts severe fines and 
legal ramifications, productivity loss, and deterioration 
of  an organization’s image (Ikram et al., 2019). An EMS 
thus enables organizations to factor compliance in the 
middle of  their operations to monitor and implement 
legal guidelines (Waxin et al., 2019). This is made possible 
through establishing standard procedures for tracking the 
changes in regulation, compliance, and documentation 
of  performance on environmental issues. Further, EMS 
demands periodic reviews and updates of  the operations 
in compliance with new or altered regulations (Ojo et al., 
2021). 
EMS’s most significant benefit in regulatory compliance 
is the determination of  environmental aspects and 
impacts during the planning process (Ociepa-Kubicka 
et al., 2021). It assists organizations in learning about 
their legal requirements in the local context, the country, 
and the international level and responds to compliance 
issues (Oladinrin & Ojo, 2022). For instance, emissions, 
waste disposal, or water usage can all be controlled to 
meet the set legal standards to help organizations avoid 
regulatory violations in this area and therefore reduce 
their vulnerability to future regulatory probes (Mahzun 
et al., 2020). 
In addition, EMS provides for carrying out internal audits 
and inspections regularly to check whether the practices 
of  the organization meet the legal demands (Bhateria, 
2024). In case of  any irregularities such auditors detect 
during these audits, adjustments are made to correct the 
situation, thus eradicating long-term liabilities (Mustonen, 
2023). With the ever-changing environmental laws, EMS 

✓ Web of  Science
✓ ScienceDirect
✓ Scopus

✓ Cross-Functional Team (CFT)
✓ ISO 14031
✓ Matrix model
✓ Life Cycle Inventory (LCI)
✓ Significant Environmental Aspect (SEA)
✓ Bio-diversity
✓ Environmental pollution
✓ Sustainable resource management
✓ Environmental aspects
✓ Resource efficiency



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offers organizations a systematic way of  ensuring legal 
compliance to avoid legal risks, fines, and other legal 
repercussions that may hinder their operations (Whitford 
& Provost, 2019). 

Resource Efficiency and Cost Reduction
There is so much emphasis put on the topic of  
sustainability in the present-day business world, and 
this has led to pressure on business organizations to use 
resources such as water, energy, and raw materials in the 
most efficient manner possible (Fadly, 2020). An EMS 
helps organizations set up a structured approach that 
enables them to assess their resource utilization profile 
in an organization and determine potential areas of  
improvement (Voinea et al., 2020). When organizations 
avoid the wastage of  scarce resources, they help save the 
environment and at the same time, there is cutting down 
on expenses (Wong et al., 2020). 
In implementing an EMS, it is during the planning and 
implementation that prospects of  resource efficiency 
can be noted. In these stages, companies analyze 
their operation to find out how they are utilizing their 
resources and where they are losing them (Ikram et al., 
2019). For instance, an EMS may reveal that power usage 
in production is high, water usage in cooling is high or 
waste production in packaging is high (Abisourour et al., 
2020). From this information, organizations can embark 
on more sustainable measures such as using energy-
efficient equipment, recycling water used in production 
processes, or using renewable materials. 
Moreover, EMS encourages the integration of  practices 
that have a cost-saving factor in the long run (Ojo et al., 
2021). For instance, measures that can help save energy 
include installing LED bulbs instead of  conventional 
bulbs, using solar energy, or improving the building’s 
insulation will lead to lower energy bills. Similarly, through 
water recycling or the use of  efficient irrigation systems, 
companies can cut their utility bills and at the same time 
have the added advantage of  saving water (Herghiligiu et 
al., 2019). Costs of  disposal and material expenditure are 
also reduced in waste reduction programs such as reusing 
materials or adopting a circular economy. 
Obtaining certification, for instance, ISO 14031, helps 
organizations to create competitive advantages in the 
market, appeal to environmentally concerned consumers, 
and enhance the company’s relations with investors who 
have an environmental concern (Tessitore et al., 2019). 
This can create new revenue streams and improve profit-
making since more consumers are likely to go green when 
making their purchases (Wessels, 2024). 

Enhancing Corporate Reputation and Stakeholder Trust
With the rise of  environmental problems in the world, 
consumers and other users of  the product demand 
responsible performance from the firms (Marrucci & 
Daddi, 2022). An EMS is useful in making organizations 
demonstrate their commitment towards the environment 

through the reduction of  the negative impacts on the 
environment, therefore, promoting the organization’s 
image to environmentally conscious customers (Oladinrin 
& Ojo, 2022). The idea is that adopting sustainable 
practices will help businesses create a competitive 
advantage and appeal to consumers who are conscious 
of  the impact that they make when they are making their 
purchases. 
EMS implementation is a clear indication that the 
organization is in the process of  addressing the 
organization’s detrimental impacts on the environment 
such as pollution or exploitation of  natural resources 
(Díaz de Junguitu & Allur, 2019). This contributes 
to fostering good relations with the locals and the 
authorities hence establishing a social acceptance of  the 
project. From the investor’s perspective, especially from 
the ESG perspective, an EMS signifies a commitment to 
sustainability and, therefore, makes the company more 
valuable as an investment (Daud et al., 2019). 

Risk Management and Prevention
An EMS makes it easy for organizations to systematically 
prevent negative events such as spillages, emissions 
violations, or mishandling of  hazardous wastes as the 
aspects are managed appropriately (Algheriani et al., 2019). 
Managing risks before they occur assists the organization 
in avoiding environmental disasters that may cause legal 
actions, penalties, or loss of  reputation. In addition, the 
EMS framework provides for monitoring and auditing 
of  environmental issues, as well as corrective measures, 
which guarantee that risks to the environment are 
noted and acted upon accordingly (Samani et al., 2019). 
Avoiding environmental losses is also useful in avoiding 
expensive clean-up or non-compliance fines that can lead 
to operational instability. Also, those organizations that 
have incorporated the EMS in their management systems 
are more ready to handle any environmental issues that 
may arise from factors such as disasters or changes in 
laws (Zimon & Madzík, 2020). 

Tools and Techniques Used for Identifying 
Environmental Aspects 
Cross-Functional Team (CFT)
Cross-functional team (CFT) is a team that is made for 
process innovation and has been adopted in environmental 
management and manufacturing to increase production 
output while at the same time decreasing the negative 
effects on the environment (Rosa-Masegosa et al., 2021). 
Compared to the batch production system in which 
processes run in stages, CFT entails the flow of  materials 
through production phases constantly (Yan et al., 2021). 
This technology improves the efficiency of  the flow of  
resources such as water energy and raw materials which 
leads to a strong cut down in wastage, emissions, and 
energy consumption. The procedure through which 
CFT’s integrated to identify environmental aspects can 
be seen in Figure no1. It shows that for environmenta 



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aspect identification the required first step is to establish 
a CFT who establish, determine, and inspect the core 
processes through flow diagrams and identify the core 
environmental aspects.

by-products and energy consumption (Das, 2020). 
Whenever it brings about production efficiencies, CFT 
also saves costs and is environmentally friendly to help 
companies achieve goals of  emission reduction, resource 
conservation, and sustainability without compromising 
on productivity and quality (Rogers & Jensen, 2019). 

Importance of  CFT in EMS
CFT is a central component in EMS since it offers the 
method of  continuous improvement of  production 
processes and management of  resources (Ellafi et al., 
2020). CFT makes sure that the materials, energy, and 
water are used in the most efficient way possible by keeping 
a constant and uninterrupted flow in the production 
process hence minimizing wastage of  any resource as well 
as time (Das, 2020). In addition to increased operational 
effectiveness, this structure also cuts back on emissions as 
well as the production of  waste products. 
The implementation of  CFT in an EMS has the potential to 
decrease the organization’s carbon footprint as well as the 
overall utilization of  resources for instance fuel, water, and 
raw materials (Theodore & Theodore, 2021). This is useful 
to the organization in attaining environmental compliance 
and enhancing the organization’s environmental 
performance in regard to the set standards (Xu et al., 2022). 
Further, as stated by the CFT, the EMS promotes ongoing 
improvement, which is one of  the pillars of  the EMS and 
enables it to enhance performance over time and develop 
a more efficient, environmentally friendly, and profitable 
business model (Mardonova & Choi, 2019). 

The Use of  ISO 14031
Overview of  ISO 14031
ISO 14031 is focused on the evaluation and enhancement 
of  the environmental effect in the space systems and the 
management of  the space programs (Gomes da Silva et al., 
2020). This standard prescribes a procedure for assessing 
the impacts of  the environment and the organization’s 
performance in the sphere of  space systems, satellites, 
and space exploration equipment. ISO 14031 comprises 
major aspects such as the confirmation of  environmental 
performance indicators; energy intensity; resource use; 
and the emissions relating to space systems (Obamen et 
al., 2021).
It also looks at the factor of  monitoring to ensure that 
the space programs do not compromise on the standards 
of  the environment as well as the goals of  sustainability. 
ISO 14031 allows the organization to assess and monitor 
its environmental performance and set objectives and 
targets for it thereby helping an organization to minimize 
the risks it faces in the environment (Falqi et al., 2020). 
Figure 3 provides an illustration of  the process adopted 
by ISO 14031 which highlights the organization’s process 
of  identifying and analyzing cost and their output on 
environmental aspects.

Figure 1: Process of  CFT’s integration to identify 
environmental aspects

The main requirement from a CFT is to identify the 
environmental aspects through a flow diagram and to 
assist the flow diagram the CFT should consider the 
potential inputs and outputs of  the organization as 
shown in Figure 2.

Figure 2: Inputs and outputs of  the organization

In environmental management, CFT optimizes the use 
of  inputs by avoiding waste of  time and other necessary 
inputs. As has been observed in chemical manufacturing, 
CFT enables the production process to be controlled 
with extreme accuracy of  reaction conditions to minimize 



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Figure 3: Operations of  the organization

Figure 4: The EPE process

Integration of  ISO 14031 with EMS
The incorporation of  ISO 14031 into the EMS has a lot 
of  advantages in the management of  the environmental 
elements in space systems. ISO 14031 can be applied 
to supplement other EMS frameworks because of  the 
unique approach that the framework takes to meet space-
related tasks  (Al-Anbari et al., 2020). Application of  the 

ISO 14031 in an EMS will support the evaluation and 
enhancement of  the environmental performance of  
space programs in the Organization in a more efficient 
manner. It helps in setting the right objectives and KPIs 
regarding the space industry and anything concerning the 
environment (Al-Hashimi & Kareem, 2020). This also 
seeks to increase compliance with environmental laws 



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that apply to space systems, improve risk management 
if  performance assessment is conducted in a targeted 
approach, and improve sustainability initiatives. The 
Environmental Process Evaluation (EPE) outline is 
provided in Figure-4 which is integrated by ISO 14031 
and is similar to the management model of  “Plan-Do-
Check-Act”which identifies the indicators for improving 
environmental evaluation.
Through this integration, there is a possibility of  coming 
up with a conceptual framework and environmental 
management system with space programs for the 
attainment of  sustainable goals and resource optimization 
for the limited planet’s resources (Mansour et al., 2021). 
Besides, it promotes communication and reporting of  
environmental performance improving engagement with 
the stakeholders and compliance with the legislation in 
the space industry(de Azevedo et al., 2024). Further, it 
enhances communication and reporting of  environmental 
performance enhancing stakeholder engagement and 
compliance with legal requirements in the sensitive space 
industry (Alsulamy et al., 2021). 

Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) Tool
Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) is an important tool in the 
framework of  EMS as it offers a structured approach 
for the calculation of  environmental loads linked with 
the life cycle of  a distinct product, service, or process. 
In EMS frameworks, it contributes to the identification 
of  various inputs, which include raw materials, and 
energy, as well as the outputs which include emissions 
and wastes at every process step of  the product life 
cycle, namely extraction of  raw materials, production, use 
and disposal of  the product (Ferrari et al., 2021). Such 
information allows for the evaluation of  environmental 
impacts in terms of  carbon footprint, water intensity, and 
pollution. Integrating LCI with an organization’s EMS 

will help organizations to make informed decisions on 
how to reduce the amount of  resources used and wastes 
produced as well as enhance their energy efficiencies 
effectively improving their sustainability. It is also helpful 
in matters concerning compliance with environmental 
laws and requirements, production of  reports, gaining 
eco-labels, or conforming to the ISO 14001 standard. 
Finally, it helps business entities to adopt measures of  
effectively anticipating environmental change and hazards 
that in turn enhance environmental performance hence 
long-term goals of  sustainable development. 

Matrix Model
The adoption of  the matrix model under an EMS includes 
a more dynamic and flexible approach to addressing 
organizational environmental performance in various 
organizational units. The EMS, through the matrix 
structure, can correlate the organization’s environmental 
goals and objectives with different departments and 
ongoing projects thus guaranteeing the achievement 
of  sustainability and compliance objectives across 
production, purchasing, and administrative functions. 
This approach enhances integrated working as resources 
are utilized in the best way possible, accountability on 
environmental issues is given across functional units, and 
on matters to do with the environment there is efficiency 
in communiqué (Schwarz et al., 2021). The matrix also 
promotes improved decision-making regarding the 
existing issues arising from EMS as it presents a detailed 
indication of  how environmental impacts interact with the 
processes, resulting in a systemized administrative strategy 
toward environmental concerns in the organization. 
Figure 5 shows the matrix model applied in a case by 17 
organizations of  Jonkoping and their comparison with 
Norrbotten and Vasterbotten on different organizational 
aspects to analyze the significant environmental aspect. 

Figure 5: Matrix model used by organizations in Jonkoping



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Am. J. Environ. Clim. 4(1) 37-51, 2025

Process of  Identifying Significant Environmental 
Aspect (SEA) 
The process of  identifying SEA in an EMS context is a 
systematic approach used to determine the environmental 
needs appraisal of  an organization, its products, or 
services (Quebral Jr & Barcellano, 2024). It starts with the 

consideration of  all the activities that have an impact on 
the environment hence entails the following; energy used, 
wastes produced, and emissions related together resultant 
from different operations (Craik & Gu, 2022). Figure 6 
shows a bar graph that represents the ratings of  various 
environmental aspects that help in determining the SEA.

Figure 6: Environmental aspect ratings for various aspects

Figure 7: Pollution prevention potential ratings

The subsequent step is to assess whether these aspects 
have some influence on the environment, for better or 
worse, based on some factors; such as the ambiance, 
water contamination, and dwindling of  natural 

resources, among others. Figure 7 shows the ratings of  
an organization according to the efforts made by it to 
prevent pollution which can minimize the impact on 
environmental aspects.

Next, the occurrence of  each aspect is evaluated in terms 
of  its frequency and the size of  the effects that take 
place in the organization. Figure 8 shows a graph that 
calculates the frequency of  occurrence and its ratings in 

an organization about an environmental aspect which is 
an integral part of  identifying the SEA and processing it 
through EMS.



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Am. J. Environ. Clim. 4(1) 37-51, 2025

Figure 8: Frequency of  occurring ratings in the process of  identifying SEA

Figure 9: Community Concern ratings

Following the legal and regulatory demands is also 
important as any non-conformity can dramatically 
increase the relevance of  some of  those aspects. 
Moreover, stakeholders’ opinions are taken into account, 
because even if  some more important issues are missed 

by the organization, it will receive feedback from its 
external partners. Figure 9 shows the community 
concerns regarding the organization’s functions and its 
impact on the environment, this calculates the community 
complaints and identifies the SEA according to that.

Last but not least, a risk and opportunity analysis is 
carried out, and aspects are ranked according to their 
relevance. This overall method guarantees that the efforts 
of  organizations are directed at mitigation of  significant 
environmental aspects, then enhancing sustainability and 
compliance.

Impact of  EMS on Organizations and Environmental 
Sustainability
Environmental Performance Improvement
EMS has a proven track record for enhancing energy 
consumption, waste, and pollution minimization in 
many industries. For instance, Toyota was able to adopt 
and incorporate waste reduction through the use of  

EMS where it was able to reach a state of  no waste to 
landfill where most of  its wastes are recycled or disposed 
of. EMS was adopted by 3M and implemented in a 
way that helped the company develop new approaches 
to pollution prevention, and significantly decrease the 
emissions (Leitão et al., 2019). When it comes to space 
systems, ISO 14031 serves a very important function 
of  giving a framework for assessing and reporting 
environmental performance (Ociepa-Kubicka et al., 
2021). The implementations of  this standard assist space 
agencies and companies in containing the effects of  
their activities on space, for instance, effective resource 
consumption and reduction of  unnecessary space debris 
(Dejrah, 2024). The impact of  ISO 14031 on space-



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related environmental management can therefore be seen 
through the integration of  the standard in an attempt 
to improve sustainability and get better environmental 
results in space programs (Voinea et al., 2020). 

Competitive Advantage and Innovation
EMS results in new development of  cleaner technologies 
and products due to the fact that the companies that 
practice the system have to undertake sustainability 
measurements. For instance, EMS has been implemented 
by Philips to innovate energy-savvy lighting products; 
the firm has transformed the market with sustainable 
strategies (Chen et al., 2020). This is also supported by 
ISO 14031 and CFT which increases the competitiveness 
of  companies in the more developed sectors. The 
environmental management and audit standard, ISO 
14031, contains procedures for assessing and improving 
environmental performances, a system that enables 
aerospace and hi-tech companies to understand the 
essence of  environmental management and reduce the 
impacts on the environment (Herghiligiu et al., 2019). CFT 
reduces the utilization of  resources in production lines 
and implements the best practices that would improve 
production. All these tools contribute to the growth of  
new solutions in cleaner technologies to improve the 
sustainability of  firms and to gain a competitive advantage 
by responding to the growing demand for sustainable 
products and services in the market (Bravi et al., 2020). 

Employee Engagement and Corporate Culture
The employees’ concerns about environmental issues 
are perhaps one of  the most important impacts of  EMS 
in developing a sustainable organizational culture. EMS 
encourages employees to embrace efforts in a way that 
boosts the development across the different sectors of  the 
firm (Adebayo et al., 2020). At Unilever, EMS is integrated 
into corporate culture by involving the employees in 
sustainability goals for instance emissions and waste 
management through training and other activities (Tegon, 
2021). The EMS integration of  CFT in Boeing enhanced 
the operations’ efficiency and minimized wastage while 
the utilization of  ISO 14031 would enable the aerospace 
organization to evaluate its environmental performance 
effectively. (Baxter, 2021). This approach has also helped 
in improving environmental performance and fostering a 
culture of  change and improvement in organizations as 
well as employees.

Economic Benefits 
The company that has been able to achieve EMS and 
CFT with a considerable Return on Investment is 
General Electric, as the firm has been able to reduce 
energy bills and wastage through the help of  EMS and 
CFT (Кубатко et al., 2021). They automate processes, use 
fewer resources, and reduce expenses hence increasing 
the company’s profits. Similarly, ISO 14031 helps in 
attaining economic benefits because of  environmental 
risks in space system programs (Karaeva et al., 2023). ISO 

14031 is a guideline to the assessment and improvement 
of  environmental performance and therefore allows 
space agencies to identify areas that might be at risk or 
prone to other challenges. It minimizes the chances of  
compliance and environmental-related mishaps which are 
usually costly to the company (Feoktistova et al.). Thus, it 
minimizes potential adverse effects and helps to ensure 
stable financial performance, therefore, ISO 14031 can 
be described as an effective tool for monitoring the 
economic effects of  environmental management within 
the framework of  the high-tech and space industries. 

CONCLUSION
EMS is a crucial framework that can help in improving 
sustainability and reducing the level of  harm to the 
environment. The EMS incorporates CFT, ISI 14031, 
matrix model, and LCI tool to obtain the environmental 
frameworks and have quantitative standards. The role 
of  CFT is to point out and manage the opportunities or 
threats connected with the environment and ISO 14031 
has a system that can be followed to monitor and evaluate 
these in a bid to enhance the environmental results. 
Through the integration of  these tools in EMS, more 
industries have been able to develop new technologies 
and strategies that are sustainable to global needs. The 
application of  EMS in industries also assists in the 
management of  environmental pollution and the growth 
of  organizations.

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