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Published:
Mar 10, 2024Keywords:
Article Details
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Main Article Content
Evaluation of Environmental Management System for Small and Medium Enterprises in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania
Abstract
A system that manages environmental issues of Small and
Medium Enterprises (SMEs) from the time of acquisition of raw
materials up to disposal of the product is not well clear,
especially in Tanzania. Most of the studies have been conducted
in the field of environment management but few of them address
the evaluation of the management of SMEs activities with respect
to the environment. Although the nature of activities of SMEs has
little noticeable environmental implications at the individual
level but the impact is large due to diversification and labour
intensity of these SMEs. SMEs employ about 20% of the total
labour force in Tanzania. Thus, the consequences on the
environment are therefore very high. In this study both
quantitative and qualitative research methods have been used to
evaluate the awareness on Environmental Management Systems
(EMS), the extent of implementation of EMS, tools used in EMS
and Factors that hinder effective EMS. Descriptive and Factor
analysis have been used as techniques for analyzing data. The
study found a low level of awareness, whereby about 59% of
respondents were slightly aware, on EMS, tools used for EMS
were found to be more reactive tools than proactive tools.
Whereas about 60% of SMEs are inappropriately and
inadequately implementing elements of EMS according to ISO
14001. The study found critical factors with high influence on
hindering the implementation of EMS including inadequate
environmental consciousness of top leaders. It is recommended
that more efforts should be invested in creating awareness,
impacting the knowledge and skills of implementing the EMS as
per ISO 14001 requirements at all levels of SMEs.
