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Setting the scene and discussing key drivers
An EMS is a framework that assists an organisation to manage their environmental impacts, 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 its bottom line.
It is a system of procedures and documentation to manage the environmental impacts of an organisation. It should be appropriate to the organisation, and need not be long or complex.
Developing an EMS starts with an understanding of an organisation's impact on the environment. An environmental policy statement is a clear statement of objectives outlining an organisation’s intentions to minimise its impact on the environment. It demonstrates commitment and provides a starting point for action. An audit of existing consumption and management of energy, waste and water sets out an organisation’s understanding of its impact on the environment, and identifies objectives and targets for improvement, with a view to implementing an effective EMS or adopting a sound sustainability policy.
An EMS is a voluntary undertaking that can be both informal and formal. The formal route involves external verification and accreditation. 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 that you did what you planned to do, and act to make improvements¹. (This is also discussed in the Leadership and Management section).
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It is a system of procedures and documentation to manage the environmental impacts of an organisation. It should be appropriate to the organisation, and need not be long or complex.
Developing an EMS starts with an understanding of an organisation's impact on the environment. An environmental policy statement is a clear statement of objectives outlining an organisation’s intentions to minimise its impact on the environment. It demonstrates commitment and provides a starting point for action. An audit of existing consumption and management of energy, waste and water sets out an organisation’s understanding of its impact on the environment, and identifies objectives and targets for improvement, with a view to implementing an effective EMS or adopting a sound sustainability policy.
An EMS is a voluntary undertaking that can be both informal and formal. The formal route involves external verification and accreditation. 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 that you did what you planned to do, and act to make improvements¹. (This is also discussed in the Leadership and Management section).
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