Lean environmental management integration system for sustainability of ISO 14001:2004 standard implementation

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to present a model for integrating Lean Principles with
ISO 14001 Environmental Management System.
Design/methodology: To achieve the objective of the study, the methodology used in this
study is based on preliminary literature review of ISO 14001 standards and Lean Principles as
well as certain case reports from various proponents and authors of ISO 14001 and Lean as
noted in various articles and journals and some books.
Findings: The findings of this study are a new model called Lean Environmental Management
Integration System (LEMIS) has been developed and leads to the creation of these
measurement standards for evaluating the organization, making its environmental efforts more
realistic, focused and attainable.Research limitations/implications: Future research should be conducted case studies in this
direction are required to be conducted for examining the feasibility of amalgamation and
implementing ISO 14001:2004 standards with the philosophy of Lean Principles to enable the
achievement of world class standards.
Practical implications: This model helps to eliminate any wasteful processes in the
organization’s implementation of the ISO 14001 standard thus leading to higher environmental
performance. Integrating the standard with Lean principles through LEMIS model helps to specify these performance measures making the standard achieve sustainability and continual
improvement.
Originality/value: This study presents a unique approach of integrating the two main models,
namely Lean Principles and ISO 14001 Environmental Management System, as a single
framework benefiting contemporary organizations.