What is an Objective? What is a Target?

Environmental objectives are goals that you would like to meet in the future.

Targets are the means for providing verifiable evidence that you have actually met the objective.  For
example, your environmental objective may be to reduce the generation of hazardous wastes.  Your
may then set your target at 20 percent reduction within 12 months.  In the parlance of ISO 14001,
objectives are “documents” whereas targets are “records.”  Documents can be modified while
records cannot.  For example, you can modify your objectives, but you cannot change having
missed your targets.

In setting your targets, make sure you are not overly ambitious—especially during the first year of
implementation.  Set a target that is realistic and reasonably easy to achieve in the first year.  You
don’t want your organization to fail the first time it tries to meet an environmental target.  Failure can
be very demoralizing to your team members.  It is much better to set an achievable target and meet
it the first year and then set progressively more aggressive targets in following years.

Remember that the fundamental basis of an effective environmental management program consists
of top-down support and bottom-up involvement.  Always get senior management to buy in on the
objectives and targets, and make sure you communicate the objectives clearly to the employees. 
After all, the employees are the ones who are going to make it happen.

Some Good Examples

Here are some examples of environmental objectives:

 Minimize raw material use.

 Minimize releases of air contaminants to the environment.
 Comply with all applicable environmental laws.
 Use recycled products where feasible.
 Stop purchasing chemicals that contain carcinogens.
 Safeguard the environment for future generations.
 Be a responsible neighbor.
 Foster openness with employees and the public.

Examples of environmental targets:

 Reduce sanitary waste from routine operations by 25 percent by 2014, using a 2005
baseline.
 Recycle 45 percent of sanitary wastes from all operations by 2014 and 50 percent by 2020.
 Reduce fleet petroleum consumption by 20 percent by 2014, using a 2000 baseline.
 Ensure that 75 percent of new light-duty vehicles purchased each year are alternative-fuel
vehicles.

Listed below are some examples of environmental objectives and specific target dates:
 Objectives Targets Involved Parties
Set water use
Production and
baseline by
maintenance staff
12/1/2012.
Reduce water Engineering
Benchmark each
consumption. department
plant by 3/1/2013.
Accounting
Put program in place
department
by 7/1/2013.
Production and
Train all employees
maintenance
by 9/1/2012.
Shipping and
Reduce chemical spills. Reduce number of
receiving
spills 50% by
Environmental
1/1/2013.
training group
Evaluate alternatives Product
Stop buying chemicals
by 1/1/2013. development group
that contain
Set purchase policy Purchasing
carcinogens.
by 3/1/2013. department
Improve employee Train employees
All staff
awareness. within a year.
 

Depending on the objectives, different groups of employees will be involved.

For the water consumption objective, all production and maintenance personnel must be involved in
the process since they are the end users of water.  Engineering staff will be required to set the
baseline and come up with engineering solutions (such as automatic shutoff valves and individual
water meters) to help conserve water.  Maintenance staff will be trained on more efficient ways of
cleaning the facility.  Accounting staff will be responsible for billing the production department for
water usages.

In the case of reducing chemical spills, you must get the support of everyone who handles
chemicals.  Set up an awareness program so that all your employees understand the safe handling
procedures and the various reporting requirements in the event of a spill.  For example, you may
want to assign someone in the receiving department the responsibility of reviewing the material
safety data sheet/safety data sheet for safe storage requirements before a new chemical is stored in
the warehouse.

In the case of buying chemicals that do not contain carcinogens, the product development group and
purchasing department will take the lead role.  Someone in the product development group must
evaluate various alternatives to ensure that they do not affect the quality of the final products. 
Purchasing agents must look for vendors of acceptable alternatives. Senior management will then
have to approve the new policy.

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