System for integrated business environmental information management

By making use of current business information technology, such as Internet-accessible tools, and industrial environmental management tools, standards, policies and legislation an information system for environmental information management has been designed. The system is named Integrated Business Environmental Information Ž . Management IBEIM , and it includes operational, procedural and organisational support for a business’ entire environmental information management. IBEIM consists of a system architecture and an information and data content. The system architecture is designed from three thoroughly developed information models, i.e. a reference model for information aggregation and communication, an information model for data structuring, and a modularization including module interface specifications. The content is stored in a common information platform, and includes, for example, a structured knowledge system. IBEIM efficiently supports and integrates environmental Ž . information management for Environmental Management Systems EMS tools, LCA and other environmental Ž . process modelling tools, and Design for Environment DfE tools. With this system, integration communication and reports are handled in a consistent and compatible way all through an organisation of any size. IBEIM is also designed for supply chain communication. 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.