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Question: Discuss about the Environmental Management System. Answer: Environmental management system or EMS refers to management of environmental programmes of the corporate organisations in a documented, systematic and planned manner. The aim of the EMS by these organisations is to achieve reduction in carbon footprint and other pollutants and wastes. The aim of this assignment is to reflect on the selected readings. It outlines my reflection of the two readings, Strategies on implementation of waste-to-energy (WTE) supply chain for circular economy system: a review and A new concept for enhancing energy recovery from agricultural residues by coupling anaerobic digestion and pyrolysis process. I have critically analyzed these two readings and expressed my learning from them. I have learnt from this aspect that, according to the first article EMS is a process of monitoring and reduction of wastes and pollutants and involves use of modern technology. I can point out that the concept has become so important that it is enforced internationally by rating organisations like International Organisation for Standardisation(ISO) 14001. I have experienced that the practice of EMS involves using of information technology to gain information about the environment and taking steps to preserve it(iso.org 2017). This forms the basis of the EMS Model which emphasises on the Plan-Do-Check-Act abbreviated as the PDCA cycle. The model stresses on planning of environmental management steps and formation of strategies to preserve the environment and reduction of wastes. The next element of the PDCA model is to doing the required things to support environmental planning like arranging for finances and obtaining stakeholders participation. The final step is to execute the plans and strategies to protect the environment. The PDCA model also has provisions to check the laws and policies pertaining to environment and incorporate them in the organisational EMS model(Zhu, Cordeiro and Sarkis 2013). I have also learnt from the article Strategies on implementation of waste-to-energy (WTE) supply chain for circular economy system: a review that Environment Management System or EMS has several advantages to the organisations which adopt and apply them. First EMA helps the organsiations to reduce their emissions of harmful wastes which contribute to health of the community. For example, companies can use the Waste to Energy(WTE) method as shown in the figure below to recycle wastes to reduce greenhouse gas emission and benefit the community by reducing pollution(Pan et al. 2015). I feel this act of the companies help them to create a positive image in the market. This enhanced goodwill helps the organisations to attract new customers and business partners which lead to their business expansion. Figure 1. Diagram showing waste to energy setup (Source: Waste-to-Energy: How It Works - Deltaway Energy. 2017) I experienced from the article A new concept for enhancing energy recovery from agricultural residues by coupling anaerobic digestion and pyrolysis process that environment management system that I can state is that it helps in reduction of expenditure and help the companies to become more sustainable. The companies today can develop their EMS to reduce their carbon emission and cut down energy expenses. They can install modern machinery which helps them to recycle wastes to use it to produce energy. For example, companies can install integrated bio-refinery as shown in the figure below where they can generate bio-methane and use it as an alternative of non renewable sources of energy like coal and petrol(Monlau et al. 2015). I learnt that the companies can consume this energy to reduce its purchase of energy from energy distribution companies. They can also sell the surplus energy to other companies and earn extra revenue. Thus, I can infer from the discussion that EMS can help the companies to reduce their wastes, become energy efficient and earn extra revenue by selling renewable energy. Figure 2. Bio methane gas plant (Source: New Zealand Digital Library. (2017) Environment Management System has several advantages to the companies using it but also has certain limitations. EMS involves installation of modern machinery capable of recycling wastes. Moreover setting up of energy production facilities require setting up of new plants(To and Lee 2014). These two factors according to me require huge investments in technology, machinery and human resources to operate in the initial phase by the companies. A third challenge faced by EMS is that is a new area of technological development and requires extensive research and innovations to be adopted by all the companies. For example, companies in order to recycle wastes companies either require buying combined recycling plants or have to lease it from waste management companies. Both these options attract high investments which small companies cannot afford to spend Figure 3: installation of waste management plants in big and small companies (Source: Author) I can reflect that multinational companies in have the financial resources to experiment with WTE methods but small companies cannot afford t take such risks. I can opine that the multinational companies have huge financial and technological strengths to acquire these modern machineries. However, the smaller companies are not able to accumulate such huge capital to install these machineries. This according to me is led application of EMS mostly in the big companies(Zhu, Cordeiro and Sarkis 2013). I can reflect that EMS is important to reduce environmental pollution and should be accepted by all the companies. The companies can use techniques like Waste to Energy(WTE) process to recycle wastes to generate energy instead of disposing them and causing environmental pollution. They can also use integrated bio-refinery technology to produce biomethane and reduce their expenditure incurred to obtain thermal energy from coal or petroleum. I can recommend that small companies should be provided with assistance to acquire machineries and adopt EMS. The reduction in their energy expenditures due production of a portion of their energy supply would prove the effectiveness of EMS and WTE methods. References: Monlau, F., Sambusiti, C., Antoniou, N., Barakat, A. and Zabaniotou, A., 2015. A new concept for enhancing energy recovery from agricultural residues by coupling anaerobic digestion and pyrolysis process.Applied Energy,148, pp.32-38. New Zealand Digital Library. (2017). Nzdl.org. Retrieved 31 August 2017, from https://www.nzdl.org/cgi-bin/library.cgi Pan, S.Y., Du, M.A., Huang, I.T., Liu, I.H., Chang, E.E. and Chiang, P.C., 2015. Strategies on implementation of waste-to-energy (WTE) supply chain for circular economy system: a review.Journal of Cleaner Production,108, pp.409-421. To, W.M. and Lee, P.K.C., 2014. Diffusion of ISO 14001 environmental management system: global, regional and country-level analyses.Journal of cleaner production,66, pp.489-498. Waste-to-Energy: How It Works - Deltaway Energy. (2017). Deltawayenergy.com. Retrieved 31 August 2017, from https://www.deltawayenergy.com/wte-tools/wte-anatomy/ Zhu, Q., Cordeiro, J. and Sarkis, J., 2013. Institutional pressures, dynamic capabilities and environmental management systems: Investigating the ISO 9000Environmental management system implementation linkage.Journal of environmental management,114, pp.232-242.