The impact of environmental management on overall performance: Case of Moroccan companies

Abstract

Environmental management within Moroccan companies has become a major issue, particularly with evolving regulations, consumer pressure, and the need to adopt sustainable practices. Moroccan companies are gradually adopting measures to reduce their environmental impact. The Environmental Management System (EMS) aims to integrate these considerations into company strategy and operations. The objective of this study is to analyze the impact of environmental management on the overall performance of Moroccan companies, particularly environmental, economic, and social performance. To do this, a qualitative study based on a survey conducted among a sample of Moroccan companies that have implemented environmental management practices and interviews with environmental managers were conducted. Based on a sample of 68 companies, we found benefits of environmental management on company performance, namely: Reduction of polluting emissions, Improvement of product and process quality, Reduction of operational costs through better resource management, Improved relations with stakeholders, Better brand image and regulatory compliance, Access to new markets. On the other hand, we concluded that there are constraints and difficulties, particularly among small and medium-sized enterprises: High initial costs for implementing environmental management practices, Poor integration of environmental concerns into decision-making processes, Lack of training and awareness among employees, Difficulties in adapting to regulatory requirements, Priority given to economic profitability, Moroccan environmental laws are still in the consolidation phase.

JEL Classification: 013, 044.

Paper type: Empirical review.