EMS Application in Businesses – Systematic Review

Abstract

This systematic review answers the question what aspects of Environmental Management System (EMS) implementation in small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) are dealt in contemporaneous literature. For this purpose, by applying keyword search queries and the follow-up screening, 26 publications were filtered out of Web of Science database, which were then analyzed in a quantitative method using bibliometric procedures, followed by a systematic qualitative review. It was based on a conceptual analysis, identifying the basic EMS implementation aspects comprised. Through synthesis of the ascertainments obtained, we conclude that the main aspects of EMS implementations in SMEs are the implementation procedure hindrances, be that internal barriers, prohibitive costs and need for their justification.