["Business Strategy and the Environment, EarlyView. ", "\nABSTRACT\nEnvironmental management systems (EMS) are widely recognized across industrial sectors as integrated tools for sustainability and regulatory compliance. Although most studies focus on single‐industry cases, multi‐sectoral EMS assessments are limited. This critical narrative review synthesizes EMS implementation across four carbon‐ and energy‐intensive sectors: manufacturing, energy, construction, and chemical/pharmaceuticals, offering multifaceted insights. It identifies sector‐specific challenges and examines how ISO 14001, along with complementary tools such as the circular economy, cleaner production, life cycle assessment, and pollution prevention, fosters sustainability by improving resource efficiency, reducing energy use, and reducing waste and water use. The review also highlights emerging EMS applications, including green building certifications in construction and green finance in energy. The integration of the Internet of Things (IoT) and big data analytics enhances EMS through real‐time monitoring and predictive analytics. This study addresses a key gap by combining cross‐sector insights, identifying EMS implementation challenges, and evaluating the role of advanced technologies and sustainability tools in enhancing EMS performance. The review reveals that successful EMS implementation across sectors is consistently associated with the integration of ISO 14001 with complementary sustainability tools and digital technologies, whereas financial constraints, limited technical capacity, and weak institutional support remain the most common barriers to implementation. The findings provide practical guidance for policymakers, industry practitioners, and researchers seeking to strengthen EMS implementation and develop more effective sustainability strategies across industrial sectors.\n"]