ISO 14001 Environmental Management System

An EMS provides a framework for managing environmental responsibilities so that they become more efficient and more integrated into overall operations.

This framework allows an organisation to understand, describe and control its significant impacts on the environment, reduce the risk of potentially costly pollution incidents, ensure compliance with environmental legislation and continually improve its business operations.

Environmental impact is becoming an increasingly important issue across the globe with pressure to minimize that impact coming from a number of sources:

Governments/Regulators: concerns about the environment and climate change have lead to increasingly complex regulations covering power consumption, pollution and emissions.

Trade Associations: are recommending EMS as a way of proving compliance to processes and standards.

Supply Chain: pressure is now being exerted by many large organizations, especially amongst original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) who expect their suppliers to adopt environmentally friendly practices.

Social: poor environmental practice is being reported on a daily basis. This can affect share prices and stakeholder confidence.

Financial: adverse Environmental incidents can be costly through the cost of cleanups or the payment of penalties. There is also an increasing pressure to become more efficient and cost effective to reduce operating costs.

Organisations face many different pressures, such as growing global markets, an ever increasing need to stay abreast of technology and at the same time, a widespread drive for a more efficient, cleaner world.

Environmental issues have come to the forefront in recent years with greater awareness amongst legislators, insurers, financiers, shareholders, customers, employees and neighbours. Concern for the environment has forced the international community to look at ways of reducing the impact on the environment to ensure it is protected for future generations. These have mainly taken the form of legislation and regulations. Breaches of such legislation and disregard for the environment generally are becoming costly in terms of liability, publicity and health.

So Environmental Management Systems are relevant to every organization including:

  • single site to large multi-national companies
  • high risk companies to low risk service organizations
  • in manufacturing, process and the service industries; including local governments
  • in all industry sectors including public and private sectors
  • original equipment manufacturers and their suppliers

EMAS builds on the requirements of ISO 14001, and BS 8555 breaks down the requirements of ISO 14001 into manageable steps. Environmental Management Systems are autonomous, with no prerequisite for existing management system registrations. They are also more compatible than ever before. Integrating your systems give limitless potential while adding value and efficiency to any organisation.

What are the benefits?

There are a range of benefits associated with operating an effective EMS:

Financial

  • Provide cost savings through the reduction of waste and more efficient use of natural resources (electricity, water, gas and fuels.)
  • Ensure that the organization is better placed to avoid future fines and penalties from not meeting environmental legislation by identifying environmental risks and addressing the weaknesses.
  • Reduce insurance costs through demonstrating better risk management

Operational/ Internal

  • Improve overall performance and efficiency.
  • Tighten production processes, yielding better efficiency and reduction in the risk of incidents.
  • Remove uncertainty and consistency by managing disruption and waste.
  • Help clarify staff responsibility
  • Improve internal communications and morale - often leading to sound environmental solutions suggested by staff, who are the ultimate owners of the business processes

External

  • Lead to a better public perception of the organization and a competitive advantage, leading to improved sale opportunities
  • Lead to better community awareness of the impact of your activities on the local residents (noise, smell, dust, vibration, etc.)
  • Demonstrate commitment to the environment and provide confidence to your customers, trade partners, stakeholders, regulators and local authority
  • Demonstrate an innovative and forward thinking approach

In addition, third party verification:

  • Ensures that your EMS is consistent according to set protocols.
  • Provides a degree of credibility and integrity when it comes to reporting and publishing environmental information.
  • Demonstrates an organization’s commitment to environmental transparency and accountability.

Benefits of ISO 14001

Many people may consider the practicalities of environmental care to be beyond individuals but, in reality, it is very easy for everyone to reduce environmental damage. The smallest measures can make a significant difference, such as reducing the volume of waste generated or by using resources more efficiently.

Many actions also have tangible financial benefits. Savings can be made in most organisations just by looking a little more closely at the way things operate. We are, of course, talking about decisions that not only address environmental concerns but also make sound business sense. Certification to ISO 14001 is an option that will ensure maximum benefits are obtained from resources available to a business. Commitment from the organisation, coupled with the experience of a certification body, can realise considerable benefit including the prevention of pollution, an increase to the bottom line and a competitive advantage.

ISO 14001 can be a used as a tool for ensuring compliance to the extensive environmental legislative requirements, reducing your risk of prosecution and fostering more awareness amongst employees.

ISO 14001 certification

Environmental standards make good business sense and gaining certification requires commitment. Companies must describe what they intend to do, adhere to their procedures and record their efforts to demonstrate compliance and improvement.
An environmental management system (EMS) may be structured in a similar way to a quality management system or as part of existing management systems.

The focus of the EMS is prevention of pollution, compliance with legislation and continual improvement of your environmental performance. It focuses on controlling your environmental aspects or the way that your activities products and services interact with the environment; for example, emissions to air, land or water. You will set objectives, targets and implement a programme to improve your environmental performance which often leads to financial benefits.

Organisations are also required to pay particular attention to the identification of applicable legislation, regulations and other requirements. It is particularly important to identify how the legislation affects you so that compliance measures can be adopted and periodically evaluated ensuring requirements are understood by employees and implemented effectively.

An effective EMS relies on the involvement of staff throughout the organisation, the fostering of an ‘environmental culture’, effective training and a commitment of resources.

If you are interested in implementing the ISO 14001 Environmental Mangement System call us on 01462 731242.

 

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