Horry, Rosemary;
Booth, Colin A;
Mahamadu, Abdul-Majeed;
(2023)
Environmental management systems in the architecture, engineering and construction sectors.
Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Engineering Sustainability
10.1680/jensu.23.00031.
(In press).
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Abstract
Implementing and using environmental management systems (EMSs) in the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) sectors has received worldwide attention but never through a phenomenological lens. This study investigates the ‘lived experiences’ of experts who have implemented and used ISO 14001 in AEC organisations based in the UK. Using a qualitative research strategy of semi-structured interviews, extensive analysis of the conversations reveals several themes – namely, participants believe that ISO 14001 is not just an environmental business tool, ISO 14001 offers a means of delivering sustainability, ISO 14001 accreditation opens doors for business accruement and, moreover, ISO 14001 is more than a badge, rather it is a modern-day business necessity. The study also reveals that not all organisations asking for ISO 14001 have the accreditation themselves. Based on this evidence, and contrary to previous studies that have proposed that EMSs are chiefly implemented to save costs and comply with legislation, it seems that box ticking as part of the tendering process is now the major motivation for organisations to attain and maintain International Organization for Standardization accreditation. Further, concerns are expressed that some organisations are unwilling to state their sustainability objectives or embed their operations within an EMS that will be audited because it could emphasise their poor performance to stakeholders.
| Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Title: | Environmental management systems in the architecture, engineering and construction sectors |
| Open access status: | An open access version is available from UCL Discovery |
| DOI: | 10.1680/jensu.23.00031 |
| Publisher version: | https://doi.org/10.1680/jensu.23.00031 |
| Language: | English |
| Additional information: | This version is the author accepted manuscript. For information on re-use, please refer to the publisher’s terms and conditions. |
| Keywords: | business performance construction EMS environmental impact ISO 14001 sustainability |
| UCL classification: | UCL UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of the Built Environment |
| URI: | https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10184326 |
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