Supplementary Explanations

The term “environmental management” refers to the process by which organizations and businesses set their own environmental policies and targets and then work to achieve them in order to voluntarily promote environmental conservation in their operations and management. A framework of systems and procedures for this purpose within a plant or office is called an “environmental management system” (EMS). Examples of environmental management systems include the Japanese Ministry of the Environment’s “Eco-Action 21” and ISO 14001, which is an international standard. There are also environmental management systems that were prepared by local governments, NPOs, and semi-commercial corporations among other bodies. On the national level, there is Eco Stage and the KES Environmental Management System Standard.