Showing papers in "Greener management international in 1998"

Backcasting: A Natural Step in Operationalising Sustainable Development(*)

Abstract: This paper presents a method for strategic planning developed in co-operation with and applied by The Natural Step network of scientists and business corporations. It includes examples from companies that have used the method in their strategic planning for sustainability. The main difference between the method presented here and other approaches is that this method is: (i) based on a framework of four non-overlapping principles of sustainability; and (ii) based on backcasting, that is, instead of trying to predict the future from today’s trends (traditional forecasting), one also tries to liberate beliefs about today’s situation and to understand what requirements and possibilities sustainability will involve in the future. The method consists of four steps. In the first step, conditions for a future sustainable society are defined. In the next step, the firm’s current activities and competences are analysed in relation to these conditions. In the third step, future possibilities for the firm are envisaged. In the final step, flexible strategies are identified that can link the present situation with the desirable future sustainable situation.

ISO 14031 and the Future of Environmental Performance Evaluation

Abstract: The international Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) is currently supplementing ISO 14001, the standard on environmental management systems, with a number of guidance documents. This chapter analyses the ISO 14031 guidelines and provides a description of the guidelines. It examines their strengths and weaknesses and positions them in terms of a three-generational model of environmental performance evaluation (EPE). The ISO 14031 guidelines can be seen as reflecting the experience of first-generation and, to some degree, second-generation approaches. The first generation of EPE comprises companies whose environmental policies are mainly reactive. Second-generation EPE is influenced by total quality management. The chapter provides a 'diamond' model to position different types of 'third-generation' indicator. The central feature of ISO 14031 is a definition and detailed discussion of three basic types of indicator that can be used to support environmental management. They are environmental condition indicators, operational performance indicators, and management performance indicators.