Lenore Goldman

The challenge of the '90s is to create sustainable societies in which business and government can satisfy our current needs without diminishing the prospects for future generations. Business managers today are seeking guidance in the new ways of thinking that are called for to meet this challenge. This book takes a major step in that direction by helping business people identify what can be done to reduce the impact of their companies on the environment. It shows how to systematically set priorities and create an action plan for implementing improvements. It will also help sell an impact reduction program to top management. In contrast to the current practice of ""compliance auditing, "" a process focused on meeting governmental regulations, this Elmwood Institute guide shows how to conduct an ""eco-audit"" - a complete examination of an organization in relation to its long-term ecological sustainability. Such an audit scrutinizes every aspect of the organization and its operations, including product design and manufacture, management techniques, corporate culture and goals. Ecomanagement is the first book to provide a comprehensive and practical guide to the new era of business ecological responsibility. It features a framework for companies planning to design their own audits, and offers thirteen checklists to guide managers through the audit process, covering such topics as energy, materials, wastes, finance, marketing, transportation, and international business relations.