SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC

The aim of the paper is to map the understanding of the sustainable development concept in Czech enterprise and to discuss the EMS significance for its promotion in business practice. The paper summarizes the research carried out in 2005 by the Czech Environmental Management Centre and by the Czech Environmental Information Agency. The paper aims at the understanding of sustainable development concept in business sphere, analyzing the level of EMS implementation in Czech enterprises and discussing essential advantages of EMS (as understood by the businesses) for the promotion of sustainable development concept. Attention is paid to the use of other voluntary tools contributing to the promotion of this concept in business practice (mainly environmental accounting).