Environmental management systems, regulation and the pulp and paper industry: ISO 14001 in practice

Environmental management systems involve a self-regulating, self-correcting approach to environmental improvement which is based on the established principles of total quality management and continuous improvement. Their potential benefits have captured the attention of government regulators and industry alike, particularly in relation to ISO 14001. However, there remain several unresolved questions about their practical application, especially when viewed as an alternative regulatory tool. For example, what evidence is there that such management systems deliver tangible improvements, are there sufficient incentives for companies to adopt them, how many companies have actually done so, and how and to what extent can they increase regulatory flexibility? Three years after the introduction of ISO 14001, this article addresses these questions by examining the experiences of one Australian industrial sector, that of pulp and paper manufacturing.