ISO 14000 Standards and the US Construction Industry

Abstract

Construction activities generate a myriad of negative effects on the environment. ISO 14000, the series of environmental management standards released by the International Organization for Standardization in 1996, has been introduced as a tool that can aid in reducing these impacts. The implementation of these standards is focused on the establishment of an environmental management system (EMS) that can guide an organization toward achieving its own environmental goals. Certification for the ISO 14001 standard has been successfully implemented at an international level, mostly in Europe and Asia. Different types of companies have achieved ISO 14000 certification, including those performing construction work. However, up until 2002, only one construction group has received certification for its subsidiaries. Benefits such as minimization of environmental impacts, marketing opportunities, and cost savings have been identified. Some parties, however, argue about the standards' applicability in the US construction industry, stating that ISO 14000 is not economically feasible and that significant or proven environmental benefits cannot be associated with the standards' usage. Therefore, the main goal of this article is to analyze ISO 14000 standards and their current status in the US construction industry, identifying advantages and setbacks of the application of this EMS in the organizational structures of US construction firms. The information is based on a literature search and a case study of a construction contracting firm certified for the standards. The article concludes that the positive aspects of certification outweigh the negative aspects and recommends added government support and the combined use of ISO 14000 with other environmental systems and matrices.

The benefits associated with ISO 14001 certification for construction firms: Turkish case

“…On the contrary, the firm is enthusiastic to fulfill the environmental commitment and get competitive advantage against competitors in the construction industry [18]. Valdez and Chini (2002) USA, Construction firms Study based on single firm -The positive aspects of ISO 14001 is identified such as making commitments to environmental responsibility, improvement in environmental performance, increasing employee awareness, generating benefits like monetary savings and creating new marketing opportunities [19]. environment, enhancing public image and improving workers health and safety [3].…”

“…Since it was the first construction company to obtain certification in the US, auditor in charge of the process did not have previous construction experience or background. Another difficulty that has been experienced is maintaining people invested in the program and making sure that the program is consistently implemented in the entire company [19].…”

Linking environmental impact assessment, environmental management systems and green procurement in construction projects: lessons from the City Tunnel Project in Malmö, Sweden

“…About 90% of the construction companies had implemented or were about to implement an EMS in 2006 (Gluch et al, 2007). Valdez and Chini (2002) argue that the positive aspects of ISO 14000 certification in construction companies outweigh the negative aspects such as the costs of implementation. The positive environmental effects when companies introduce EMSs include improved environmental performance in the organisation, increased environmental awareness among employers and increased interest in environmental issues among subcontractors.…”

“…The positive environmental effects when companies introduce EMSs include improved environmental performance in the organisation, increased environmental awareness among employers and increased interest in environmental issues among subcontractors. Increased government support and incentives to promote the adoption of EMSs in the construction industry has thus been recommended (Ofori et al, 2000;Valdez and Chini, 2002).…”

Evaluation of environmental management resources (ISO 14001) at civil engineering construction worksites: A case study of the community of Madrid

“…Today, construction firms are motivated to implement the ISO 14001 EMS as a way of doing the following: (i) adapting to environmental legislation (Fundación Entorno, 2003); (ii) improving the public image of their firm (Turk, 2009); (iii) improving environmental performance (Fryxell and Szeto, 2002); (iv) increasing environmental awareness of employees (Fryxell et al, 2004;Turk, 2009;Matouq, 2000;Valdez and Chini, 2002) as well as to meet market demands.…”