The book is based upon a very successful implementation of an Environmental management system at the Machines division of ABB Industrial Systems AB in Västerås, Sweden.

This project work was managed by an engaged and enthusiastic project group of 4 persons with start January 1996. After a couple of thousand hours work the certificate for the Environmental management System ISO 14001 was achieved in February 1997. This was one of the first certificates of this kind in Sweden. The environmental result has since then been developed in a very positive way.

Among reduced environmental impact it may be mentioned reduction of the emissions to air with 65%, reduction of the energy consumption with 50%, reduction of disposals for landfill with 70% and reduction of emissions to water with 50-100%. The author Anders Allander has a mission to spread knowledge about how to perform this. He turns to the society and to the industry in order to let even them to succeed in a similar good way with their environmental activities. This book is a way to reach out with this mission.

Beside a radically reduced environmental impact the efforts of the Machines division have resulted in extent cost reductions. Already after the first year after the certification it was achieved a cost reduction of 3,5 million SEK/year for the Machines Division that has 300 employees. This means a profit of 150% of the invested capital. This means a cost reduction of 10 000 - 15 000 SEK/employee and year. For 1998 the result is still better - a profit of 4,7 million SEK/year. This means that the Pay Back time for this project became 0,7 years - which means one of the most profitable projects of the Machines Division during the latest years. The investment in order to achieve this result is 3,5 million SEK. A Pay Back of 0,7 years means an annual profitability of 150% of the utilized capital which is definitively better than the 5 - 10% interests that may be achieved from the banks. Totally accumulated 1996-2001 this is 36 million SEK which means 30 millions SEK after that the investment capital is subtracted. This accumulated sum of money is increased with 35 million SEK/year.

Also see what one of the most reliable environmental magazines Nytt om 9000 writes abou the book

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Our work is documented in this book The road to environmental certification - Complete edition that many with me consider to be the best on the market treating project work for ISO 14001.

The book is unique in the way it does not only treat environmental work in general terms. It demonstrates in a concrete and realistic way of what is possible to obtain. It is full of interesting examples from the real activities of the Machines Division, that have resulted in a very well working environmental management system. This book is recommended to all serious environmental workers.
It describes all of the phases needed to implement an environmental management system.

It is organized in clauses, chapters and points according to the 6 core elements of the environmental management system. For each one of the core elements it is in a concrete way described what project work to be done in order to fulfil the requirements of the system and also somewhat still better.

Besides this there are a couple of chapters for environmental results and economical results of the environmental management system and also some more useful information for the project work.

It is filled with calculation models, diagrams and colorful, symbolic pictures in order to in an easily understandable way describe for the readers how such a work may be performed. It is written at a high scientific level at the same time as it is amusing and easily understandable due to all of its illustrations. The book also describes the environmental result one year after the implementation of the system. All this makes it somewhat extent - 400 pages.

The book consists of the 6 core elements together with time plans, investments and profitability examples etc. This book is complete and consits of all information for the project work and implemental work. It also includes the continual improvement process during 5 years after the certification.

The book consists of many data bases. As an example the following one for electricity may be studied. There it is shown environmental impact per MWh measured in ET points, EDIP-points, EPS 2000 etc. It is also demonstrated how much emissions of CO2-equivalents (GWP 100) each energy source causes. It is also shown the same data for acidification in SO2 equivalents and Photochemical oxidants VOC emissions etc..etc... Data bases according to this are very useful when comparing different environmental aspects which each other.

Indexes Environmental Impact

Another useful database is corresponding values for metals according to below . There itis demonstrated the corresponding environmental impact ker kg metal. It also is shown reduced environmental impact when recycling the metals. These figures gives negative figures which menas that we get back some environmental impact.

Occupational Health and Safety System

There however are many more data bases in the book.

The book is an English version of the Swedish book Vägen till Miljöcertifiering that had its first edition published in July 1997.

The book has become a success and now is spread widely over industry, universities and other educational institutes and also in many other organizations of the society. See to it that also you utilize this opportunity to understand and appreciate Environmental management Systems.

The author Anders Allander wishes you all an interesting and also amusing reading.