Environmental management systems (EMS) are increasingly being used by organizations around the world to help integrate environmental considerations into day-to-day decisions and practices. EMSs are the part of the overall management system that includes organizational practices, procedures, processes and resources for developing, implementing, achieving, reviewing, and maintaining the environmental policy. They provide a framework for managing environmental responsibilities, including regulatory compliance. By improving overall environmental performance and placing more emphasis on pollution prevention, they can also help organizations move beyond compliance. From a business perspective, companies often find that EMSs can make them more competitive by improving their efficiency.