The Environmental Management System (EMS) structure recognizes that both environmental
and economic performances are directly linked with each other. The primarily objective of
implementing an EMS is to improve an organization’s environmental performance continuously.
Benefits of successful implementation of an EMS would include cost reduction in pollution
prevention activities, compliance with legislation requirements, and a better organizational image
internationally and locally. This study looks into one of the most common EMS frameworks,
namely ISO 14001 EMS. This study also investigates the relation of EMS implementation to
environmental performance improvement. Empirical findings of a recent study on the above in a
manufacturing facility which implemented ISO 14001 EMS are presented. This company had
been implemented ISO 14001 EMS since 2004 and certified in early 2005. From January 2004
until August 2010, a total of thirteen Environmental Management Programs (EMP) were
implemented. Out of the thirteen EMP implemented, five EMP were for legal compliances; four
EMP were for environmental operational control and the other four were for cost reduction through
water and chemical conservation. In August 2010, eleven EMP had already achieved the
environmental performance indicators set, compliance to legal requirements and better
environmental operational control that resulted in better environmental performance; water and
chemical conservation that led to cost reductions. The other two EMP were still on-going while
some new EMP were planned too