Efficiency and development prospects of standardized environmental management systems

The objective of this study was an attempt to answer the research question, whether implementation of an environmental management system determined an increase in organizational effectiveness. The article describes the role of environmental management systems in improving management processes in organizations. The reference to effectiveness was made here in economic and organizational terms. Moreover, development prospects of standardized environmental management systems were presented. The results of analyzes of primary and secondary data showed that the management systems, which were effectively planned and implemented, contributed to achievement of many benefits, among which there were: cost rationalization, increase in employees' environmental awareness, improvement of the management system as well as improvement of the organization's image among particular groups of stakeholders.