The advantage of this framework is that it could be applied to a chemical company or an electric utility, even though their activities have different environmental profiles. Eventually it will be. To date, the most visible progress has been made on pollutant releases. In some countries and companies, information is beginning to emerge on nonproduct output and energy use. In very few countries and companies, information on inputs is appearing.
Many companies are skeptical.
Some information, particularly quantitative data on inputs, is closely guarded by firms as confidential business information. In some cases, firms are willing to share aggregated environmental performance indicators for the whole corporation, but resist more detailed disclosure at the facility, process, or product levels. Reaching agreement on the specifics of an environmental performance reporting scheme will be difficult and will take time, but it is possible. As yet, these questions cannot be fully answered. The four key EPIs are core elements of such a framework and present evidence of how this system is beginning to emerge.