12. A Model of Product-Oriented Environmental Management System for Agri-Food SMEs

In this chapter, a POEMS model specifically tailored to companies operating in the agri-food sector is described. The framework was developed from a traditional Environmental Management System (ISO 14001 standard), integrated with a Quality Management System (ISO 9001 and ISO 9004 standards) in order to allow the satisfaction of external customer and other stakeholder expectations concerning product requirements. Considering that the main obstacle firms face in performing POEMS is organising cooperation and close interaction between the different actors involved in the product chain, organisational capabilities are necessary, so that the proposed model integrates the “Deming cycle” (Plan-Do-Check-Act—PDCA Cycle) and the “Capability cycle” in which capability is intended as “the ability to coordinate, deploy and legitimate resources to perform tasks”. Furthermore, the product-orientation of the Integrated Management System is guaranteed by the inclusion of a simplified-LCA and by the identification of the most appropriate environmental product label or declaration.