In the past, businesses have tended to ignore environmental issues so they can reduce production costs and stay competitive in the marketplace (Roarty, 1997). Short-term profitability has been the goal, and this has spawned a materialistic culture which had little concern for the environment. However, among consumers, there is a growing trend towards green, and so it is becoming more profitable for manufacturers to sell environmentally friendly products both domestically and in the international marketplace. A push and pull situation has developed, where the pull of the market place is being reinforced by the push from environmental legislation which is continually requiring higher environmental standards be met by these companies. It is now becoming more profitable to sell products that raise environmental standards.
In todayÆs business climate, a host of environmental and waste management regulations have emerged which cannot always be solved from within a particular business. This has led to the emergence of environmental management companies specializing in such issues and developing plans which allow manufacturing and industrial companies to comply with regulations and complete the necessary environmental impact reports (Forrester, 2003). These independent consultants can suggest different ways manufacturers can comply with environmental regulations and save them millions of dollars. This is particularly important because of the ever-changing nature of environmental policies and guidelines.
The environmental management business is necessary to help businesses deal with both national and international regulations in the face of a global economy (Anonymous, 2003). Experts in environmental management issues must deal with a broad range of environmental issues including air and water quality, noise and light pollution, ecology, flood risk assessment, and the environmental capacity of areas to handle development of in...