Title: Benefits of ISO14001 certification in the Republic of Macedonia

Authors: Aleksandar Jolevski

Addresses: Graduate Program in Quality and Safety Systems, University 'St. Kliment Ohridski', 1vi Maj bb, 7000 Bitola, Republic of Macedonia; Faculty of Biotechnical Sciences, Partizanska, nn, 7000 Bitola, Republic of Macedonia

Abstract: ISO14001 is an international management system with main goal to help all types of organisations in improving their environmental performance. ISO14001 is a relatively new security system in Macedonia. This study presents the experiences of managers about ISO14001 implementation, obtained through the survey in a sample of industrial firms. Most ISO14001 certified firms are small or medium-sized organisations. ISO14001 certification is more intense in the last four, five years. The ISO14001 registered organisations have increased effectiveness in terms of: the commitment to preventing pollution and environmental management, estimated environmental risks, the overall competitive advantage, compliance with environmental regulations, access to new markets and the involvement of key stakeholders. The ANOVA method does not determined significant differences in the effectiveness of ISO14001 between different types of business activities, except for the performance: public education, involvement of key stakeholders, insurance costs, access to capital and access to new markets.

Keywords: ISO 14001; EMS; environmental management systems; environmental standards; benefits; ANOVA; effectiveness; industrial firms; Republic of Macedonia; environmental performance; environmental pollution; environmental risks; environmental regulations.

DOI: 10.1504/IJESD.2013.052983

International Journal of Environment and Sustainable Development, 2013 Vol.12 No.2, pp.168 - 183

Received: 29 May 2012
Accepted: 13 Nov 2012

Published online: 28 Jan 2014 *

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