Topic 4

Environmental Management
Systems

Chapter 32
The Concept
So, what exactly are they?
 Developing an EMS
Create an environmental policy
Set objectives and targets
Implement a program to achieve
objectives
Monitor and measure its effectiveness
Correct problems
Review the system to improve it and
overall environmental performance
 Standard
A documented agreement containing
technical specifications or other precise
criteria to be used consistently as a rule,
guideline or definition of characteristics to
ensure that materials, processes products
and services are fit for their purpose
 EMAS: Eco-Management and
Audit Scheme
currently voluntary but could become mandatory
site-based and originally confined to industrial
activities but has been extended to any
organization that has an impact on the
environment
makes adherence to a formal EMS and auditing
mandatory and requires that organizations make
independently verifiable public statements about
their environmental performance
 EMAS Specific Objectives
promote continuous improvements in
environmental performance by
establishing policies, programs and
management systems;
perform systematic, objective, and
periodic evaluation of these elements;
provide relevant information about these
activities to the public
 EMAS Requirements
Adopt an environmental policy
Conduct an environmental review
Set environmental objectives
Introduce an environmental program
and EMS
Set-up an environmental auditing
program
Prepare an environmental statement
 ISO 14000
1979: ISO 9000 management standards for quality
management and quality assurance systems
1991: investigation into whether an international
environmental standard could:
Promote a common approach to environmental management
Enhance an organizations ability to attain and measure
improvements in environmental performance
Facilitate trade and remove trade barriers
1993: Preparation of separate ISO after concluded that
the knowledge required for EM is distinct enough to
warrant
 Evaluation& Management ProductSupport
AuditingTools SystemStandards Tools
LifeCycle
AuditingGuidelines EMS Assessment
ISO14010 Specification ISO14040
ISO14011 ISO14001 ISO14041
ISO14012 ISO14042 *
Environmental Environmental
Performance EMSGuide Labelling
Evaluation ISO14004 ISO14020 *
Guidelines ISO14021
ISO14031 ISO14024 *
TermsandDefinitions
ISO14050
Environmentalaspectsofproduct
Tobeusedbyother
standards
standardswriters
Guide64
 ISO 14001 Specification
0 Introduction 4.4.3 Communication
4.4.4 EMS documentation
1 Scope
4.4.5 Document control
2 References 4.4.6 Operational control
3 Definitions 4.4.7 Emergency preparedness
4.0 Specification & response
4.0 General 4.5 Checking and corrective
action
4.2 Environmental policy
4.5.1 Monitoring &
4.3 Planning measurement
4.3.1 Environmental aspects 4.5.2 Non-conformance &
4.3.2 Legal & other corrective & preventive action
requirements 4.5.3 Records
4.3.3 Objectives & targets 4.5.4 EMS audit
4.3.4 Env mgt program 4.6 Management review
4.4 Implementation and
operation
4.4.1 Structure & responsibility
4.4.2 Training, awareness, &
competence
 Commitment&
Environmental
policy

Management Planning
review

Continual
Improvement

Checkingand Implementation
corrective and
action operation
 Environmental Policy
Statement of intentions and principles in
relation to overall environmental
performance
Provides a framework for setting and
reviewing environmental goals and
objectives
 Planning
Identify environmental aspects of
activities, products and services
Determine which are associated with
significant environmental impacts
Identify and track legal and other
applicable requirements
Establish objectives and targets
Establish an EMS
Identifying Aspects and Impacts

Activity Aspect Impact

Handlingoilor Accidentalspillage Contaminationof
hazardousmaterials soilorwater
Product Aspect Impact
Countlesselectrical Electricityuse Contributionto
devices globalwarming&
airpollution
Service Aspect Impact
Vehicle ReleaseofVOCs Airpollution
maintenance
 Evaluating Significance
Likelihood of Consequences Significance
Occurring of Occurring
Low Low

High Low

Low High

High High
Data Analysis Tools
 Legal & Other Requirements
What might be:
legal requirements?
other requirements?
How could they be tracked?
 Objectives and Targets
Need to:
reflect environmental policy and the identified
significant impacts
consider financial, operational, and business
requirements
be set by the organization for each relevant
function and level of the organization
be specific
be achievable
where practicable, be quantifiable
have deadlines
 Which is which?
Reduce the use of chemical solvents and
substitute biodegradable cleaners

Reduce the use of chemical solvents 80%

by 2004
 EMS
Must:
designate responsibility for achieving
objectives and targets at each relevant
function and level
provide the means for fulfilling objectives and
targets
designate a time frame within which they will
be achieved
 Commitment&
Environmental
policy

Management Planning
review

Continual
Improvement

Checkingand Implementation
corrective and
action operation
 Implementation & Operation
Structure and responsibility
Training, awareness and competence
EMS documentation
Document control
Operational control
Emergency preparedness and response
 Checking & Corrective Action
Measure, monitor and evaluate
environmental performance
If problems occur, apply corrective action
Maintain environmental records to
demonstrate conformance of EMS to ISO
14001
Audit the EMS
 Management Review
Ensure EMS continuing suitability,
adequacy and effectiveness
Consider audit results, changing
circumstances, commitment to
continual improvement
Address possible changes to policy,
objectives
 ISO 14001
Benefits
international standards help
level the playing field
reduce duplicity, conflicting
requirements of different
markets
satisfy stakeholder interests
lower insurance rates-due
diligence
internal benefits - reduce costs
pollution prevention, not end-
of-pipe
Concerns
increased costs
create trade barriers
does not ensure better
environmental performance
registration issues
inconsistent interpretation of
standards
 Criticisms of ISO 14000
Does it help implement Agenda 21 or any international
environmental convention?
Can ISO 14001 become an international trade standard
without operative participation from governments or
NGOs?
How will an ISO14001 certified company demonstrate
that it has good environmental performance?
How do governments, workers, and the public get
access to the environmental information prepared by an
ISO 14001 certified company?
 EMAS vs. ISO 14001
Component EMAS ISO 14001

Develop an environmental policy Yes Yes

Conduct preliminary environmental review Yes No

Set targets Yes Yes
Develop an environmental program Yes Yes
Conduct environmental audits Yes Yes of EMS only
Publish an environmental statement Yes No
Make program publicly available Yes No
Obtain independent validation Yes Yes
Produce register of effects Yes No but register of
aspects similar & id
legal requirements
Control contractors and suppliers Yes No
Certifiable organizations All kinds All kinds
Developed by European Committee for ISO
Standards
Recognized In Europe Worldwide
 ISO Certification Numbers

Source:ISO
Source:ISO
 Other Relevant Initiatives
OSHAs Voluntary Protection Program
CERES
Agenda 21
Malcolm Baldridge National Quality Award