The Effectiveness of Implementing Environmental Management System - ISO 14001 in Food Manufacturing Companies: A Case Study of a Sri Lankan Food Manufacturing Company

Abstract

This paper aims to explore how an Environmental Management System (EMS) based on ISO 14001would assist to enhance the performance of a Food Manufacturing Company. The research objectives were to assess the current environmental aspects and related impact and define mitigation measures to minimize such aspects while focusing on the applicable legislative requirements for the industry and the existingmitigation measures. Different types of waste generatedduringtheprocesses were identified basedonUnitedNationsEnvironmentalPlan(UNEP) cleaner production methodology and baseline data related to waste generation were analysed using Pareto charts. An Environmental Aspect Impact Register was prepared for each division to identify environmental hazards based on risk assessment criteria given in ISO 31010 Standard and the results compared before and after risk levels using the T- test.

Analysis of the environmental aspect impact register results concluded that implemented mitigation measures were effective on particular causes at 95% confidence level and adopting Environmental Management Systems (EMS) in this company had made apositive impact on the identified performance indicators including environmental performance indicators and financial indicators. It further recognized that there was more positive impact on water saving as the quantity of water used in the manufacturing processes had already reduced.