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Environmental Management Systems
An Environmental Management System (EMS) is a framework that assists an organisation to manage its environmental impacts using a whole organisational approach (with knock on social and economic benefits), both in terms of reducing and ameliorating significant negative impacts and improving positive impacts. It often has positive implications for improving an organisation’s image as well as their bottom line.
An EMS is a voluntary undertaking that can be both informal and formal. The formal route involves external verification and accreditation of an organisation’s system. In the UK, BS EN ISO 14001 is the most widely used standard and the most popular within the UK, followed by the Eco Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) as well as BS8555 (Guide to the phased implementation of an environmental management system including the use of environmental performance evaluation).
All of the EMS standards are based upon continuous improvement and follow the Denning Cycle of: plan what you’re going to do, do what you planned to do, check to ensure that you did what you planned to do, and act to make improvements. At the heart of their success is senior level commitment, leadership and effective management.
For further information on implementing EMS read the Buildings and Estates Section. You will also find this EAUC Paper on the take up of EMS useful.
Next Section: Corporate Social Responsibility
An EMS is a voluntary undertaking that can be both informal and formal. The formal route involves external verification and accreditation of an organisation’s system. In the UK, BS EN ISO 14001 is the most widely used standard and the most popular within the UK, followed by the Eco Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) as well as BS8555 (Guide to the phased implementation of an environmental management system including the use of environmental performance evaluation).
All of the EMS standards are based upon continuous improvement and follow the Denning Cycle of: plan what you’re going to do, do what you planned to do, check to ensure that you did what you planned to do, and act to make improvements. At the heart of their success is senior level commitment, leadership and effective management.
For further information on implementing EMS read the Buildings and Estates Section. You will also find this EAUC Paper on the take up of EMS useful.
Next Section: Corporate Social Responsibility
