Environmental management systems and product innovation in polypropylene firms towards eco-efficiency / Wan Khamaruddin Wan Musa

This thesis presents the results of a study that evaluated thirty five polypropylene firms in Malaysia regarding their potential and factual contributions to the establishment of Environmental Management Systems (EMS) ISO14001:2004 for eco-efficiency. The sample includes innovations in products, environmental management program EMS ISO 14001:2004, government regulations and firms’ eco-efficiencies. Firms that are successfully certified with IS014001: 2004 standard are expected to demonstrate continual improvements in their environmental performances and controls on its significant environmental impacts of its activities, products and services, and achievement of their set environmental objectives and targets. Innovation on product through the establishment of environmental management systems (EMS) is believed to be the best solution to reduce the environmental impact of industrial activities and supports firms to promote and enhance their best practices for environmental performance. Therefore, environmental programs and innovations are needed not only for eco-efficiency and environmental performances, but to meet with the global and market pressures towards sustainable businesses. This study also discusses on the environmental issues by Polypropylene (PP) products that forces firm to demonstrate the best environmental practices while differentiating in the global market. As a petroleum by-product, PP contributes to oil dependency, and contribute to air, land and water pollution. Most of them are not biodegradable and remains present in landfills indefinitely…