Motivating Factors in the Implementation of ISO 14001 in the Packaging Industries in Northern Region of Peninsular Malaysia

This research is conducted to identify a number of factors that motivates an organization to adopt the ISO 14001 standards. This study is conducted amongst the packaging industries within Northern Region of Peninsular Malaysia. The local industries support the adoption of the ISO 14001 Standard as the Malaysian Standard in 1998 and its revision in 2004. However, the awareness on the importance of the ISO 14000 series standards intended for the industries is still limited. The results from the questionnaire survey show that there are 81% of the companies aware of the ISO 14001 standards but only 23% of them are ISO 14001 certified. The mean value calculated indicates that concern of top management to the environment is the main motivating factor to implement the ISO 14001 standards. It is followed by meeting clients’ needs factor, enhancement of corporate image and credibility factor, improving competitive edge factor, overcoming trade barriers factor, conforming to head office environmental practices factor, potential cost savings and benefits factor, improvement of employee welfare in the area of environmental health factor and finally meeting Malaysia’s environmental regulations factor. Among the motivating factors, only meeting clients’ needs factor and conforming to head office environmental practices factor show the significant impact to the ISO 14001 standard certification. It is due to the small sample size of data used in the statistical analysis. Finally, the motivating factors are ranked according to their strengths obtained in the statistical analysis.