The Impact of Business Improvement approach Lean Six Sigma on the EnvironmentIntroduction

The purpose of this paper is to describe how an established business improvement approach, such as Lean Six Sigma, can have both a positive and negative impact on the environment. Further, that by understanding this impact such an approach can be used to better effect by organisations from any business sector. As, many thousands of companies globally already use Lean Six Sigma as part of their business strategy; it is therefore considered of value to raise awareness of these benefits and disadvantages to the environment. A final aim is to clarify why that for Lean Six Sigma to be sustainable in the long term, it is prudent for organisations to use a combined approach with environmental practices to maximise overall benefits.