This study focuses on assessing management's perceptions of Environmentally Responsible Manufacturing and the Environmental Management System (EMS) - the formal corporate system often held responsible for implementing ERM. This focus on management is needed given the importance of management support to any corporate-wide undertaking. The findings show that under certain conditions, which are widely applicable, there is a general lack of agreement between the various managerial levels about the EMS and its effects. Furthermore, top management, in several cases, does not have a very positive view of EMS and ERM. The result is the emergence of a potential obstacle to the widespread acceptance of ERM and EMS.