General Motors (GM) notes that the requirement for an EMS (Environment Management System) should not be considered in terms of the EMS being a replacement for existing resource conservation and pollution prevention programs already in place at supplier facilities. General Motors' EMS contains additional requirements, which emphasize environmental performance, cost reduction, and increased frequencies of activities such as auditing. General Motors expects its global EMS to provide a framework to support environmental cost reduction and improved environmental performance, to meet stakeholder expectations, and to bring regulatory flexibility and competitive advantage.
As a responsible corporate citizen, General Motors is dedicated to protecting human health, natural resources, and the global environment. This dedication reaches further than compliance with the law to encompass the integration of sound environmental practices into our business decisions.
The following environmental principles provide guidance to General Motors personnel worldwide in the conduct of their daily business practices.
- General Motors is committed to actions to restore and preserve the environment.
- General Motors is committed to reducing waste and pollutants, conserving resources, and recycling materials at every stage of the product life cycle.
- General Motors will continue to participate actively in educating the public regarding environmental conservation.
- General Motors will continue to pursue vigorously the development and implementation of technologies for minimizing pollutant emissions.
- General Motors will continue to work with all governmental entities for the development of technically sound and financially responsible environmental laws and regulations.
- General Motors will continually assess the impact of our plants and products on the environment and the communities in which we live and operate with a goal of continuous improvement.
Recommendations
Top management shall define the organization’s environmental policy and ensure that it:
Is appropriate to the nature, scale and environmental impacts of its activities, products....
