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&
AuditingTools
AuditingGuidelines
ISO14010
ISO14011
ISO14012
Environmental
Performance
Evaluation
Guidelines
ISO14031

Management
SystemStandards
EMS
Specification
ISO14001
EMSGuide
ISO14004

ProductSupport
Tools
LifeCycle
Assessment
ISO14040
ISO14041
ISO14042
Environmental
Labelling
ISO14020
ISO14021
ISO14024

TermsandDefinitions
ISO14050
Tobeusedbyother
standardswriters

Environmentalaspectsofproduct
standards
Guide64

*
*
*

ISO 14001 Specification

0 Introduction
1 Scope
2 References
3 Definitions
4.0 Specification
4.0 General
4.2 Environmental policy
4.3 Planning
4.3.1 Environmental aspects
4.3.2 Legal & other
requirements
4.3.3 Objectives & targets
4.3.4 Env mgt program

4.4 Implementation and

operation
4.4.1 Structure & responsibility
4.4.2 Training, awareness, &
competence

4.4.3 Communication
4.4.4 EMS documentation
4.4.5 Document control
4.4.6 Operational control
4.4.7 Emergency preparedness
& response

4.5 Checking and corrective

action
4.5.1 Monitoring &
measurement
4.5.2 Non-conformance &
corrective & preventive action
4.5.3 Records
4.5.4 EMS audit

4.6 Management review

Commitment&
Environmental
policy
Management
review

Planning
Continual
Improvement

Checkingand
corrective
action

Implementation
and
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

Countlesselectrical Electricityuse
devices
Service
Vehicle
maintenance

Aspect
ReleaseofVOCs

Impact
Contributionto
globalwarming&
airpollution
Impact
Airpollution

Evaluating Significance
Likelihood of
Occurring

Consequences
of Occurring

Low

Low

High

Low

Low

High

High

High

Significance

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
review

Planning
Continual
Improvement

Checkingand
corrective
action

Implementation
and
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 endof-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

All kinds

All kinds

European Committee for

Standards

ISO

In Europe

Worldwide

Certifiable organizations
Developed by
Recognized

ISO Certification Numbers

Source:ISO

Source:ISO

Other Relevant Initiatives

OSHAs Voluntary Protection Program

CERES
Agenda 21
Malcolm Baldridge National Quality Award