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Environmental Management Systems

An environmental management system (EMS) is a set of processes and practices that enables an organization to reduce its environmental impacts and increase operating efficiency. An EMS provides a framework for organizations to achieve environmental goals through consistent review, evaluation, and improvement of environmental performance. The ISO 14001 standard provides a commonly used framework for EMS based on the plan-do-check-act cycle. Key benefits of an EMS include cost savings, scalable sustainable growth, improved compliance, and an enhanced reputation.

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72 views5 pages

Environmental Management Systems

An environmental management system (EMS) is a set of processes and practices that enables an organization to reduce its environmental impacts and increase operating efficiency. An EMS provides a framework for organizations to achieve environmental goals through consistent review, evaluation, and improvement of environmental performance. The ISO 14001 standard provides a commonly used framework for EMS based on the plan-do-check-act cycle. Key benefits of an EMS include cost savings, scalable sustainable growth, improved compliance, and an enhanced reputation.

Uploaded by

Krizzete Hernandez
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS

-a set of processes and practices that enable an organization to reduce its


environmental impacts and increase its operating efficiency

-a framework that helps an organization achieve


its environmental goals through consistent
review, evaluation, and improvement of its
environmental performance. 

>The assumption is that this consistent review


and evaluation will identify opportunities for
improving and implementing the environmental
performance of the organization. 

>Plan: Establish plans and processes for environmental performance


improvement

>Do: Implement the processes as planned

>Check: Regularly check to ensure that processes are followed and effective

>Act: Take actions to continually improve

-The EMS itself does not dictate a level of environmental


performance that must be achieved; each organization's EMS is
tailored to its own individual objectives and targets.

-helps an organization address its regulatory demands in a


systematic and cost-effective manner.

>This proactive approach can help reduce the risk of non-


compliance and improve health and safety practices for
employees and the public.

>can also help address non-regulated issues, such as energy


conservation, and can promote stronger operational control and
employee stewardship. 
BASIC ELEMENTS OF EMS

 Reviewing the organization's environmental goals;


 Analyzing its environmental impacts and legal requirements;
 Setting environmental objectives and targets to reduce
environmental impacts and comply with legal requirements;
 Establishing programs to meet these objectives and targets;
 Monitoring and measuring progress in achieving the
objectives;
 Ensuring employees' environmental awareness and
competence; and,
 Reviewing progress of the EMS and making improvements.

COST AND BENEFITS

 Real cost savings: 

>EMS programmes can not only reduce your organization’s use of resources,
they can also streamline your workflows and processes. This can translate
into lower shipping and purchasing costs, improved productivity and less
product lost due to spoilage or error.

 Scalable, sustainable growth

> Effective environmental management can have economic benefits, too.


Through the ongoing cost savings inherent in a cycle of continual
improvement your organization is better positioned to manage the challenges
of expanding your market share or moving into new territories.

 A smoother path to compliance

> An EMS based in industry-recognised best practices for environmental


management — such as those outlined in ISO 14001 — can help you comply
with future environmental regulations as they come into force within your
industry.

 An improved reputation

>Environmental issues have come to the forefront in recent years with greater
awareness amongst legislators, investors, customers, employees and the
general public. The international community is looking at ways of reducing the
impact on the environment to ensure it is protected for future generations.
Implementing a formal EMS creates greater engagement with staff and
stakeholders, and positions you as an environmental leader in your field.

EMS under ISO 14001

Figure 1: The continuous improvement cycle.

-An EMS encourages an organization to continuously improve its


environmental performance.

>The system follows a repeating cycle. The organization first


commits to an environmental policy, then uses its policy as a
basis for establishing a plan, which sets objectives and targets
for improving environmental performance. The next step is
implementation. After that, the organization evaluates its
environmental performance to see whether the objectives and
targets are being met. If targets are not being met, corrective
action is taken. The results of this evaluation are then reviewed
by top management to see if the EMS is working. Management
revisits the environmental policy and sets new targets in a
revised plan. The company then implements the revised plan.
The cycle repeats, and continuous improvement occurs.

-The most commonly used framework for an EMS is the one


developed by the International Organization for Standardization
(ISO) for the ISO 14001 standard . Established in 1996, this
framework is the official international standard for an EMS
which is based on the Plan-Do-Check-Act methodology. 
(https://www.iso.org/iso-14001-environmental-management.html LINK NG VID
PAKIDOWNLOAD )
The five main stages of an EMS, as defined by the ISO 14001
standard.

1. Commitment and Policy - Top management commits to


environmental improvement and establishes the organization's
environmental policy. The policy is the foundation of the EMS.

2. Planning - An organization first identifies environmental


aspects of its operations. Environmental aspects are those
items, such as air pollutants or hazardous waste, that can have
negative impacts on people and/or the environment. An
organization then determines which aspects are significant by
choosing criteria considered most important by the organization.
For example, an organization may choose worker health and
safety, environmental compliance, and cost as its criteria. Once
significant environmental aspects are determined, an
organization sets objectives and targets. An objective is an
overall environmental goal (e.g., minimize use of chemical X). A
target is a detailed, quantified requirement that arises from the
objectives (e.g., reduce use of chemical X by 25% by September
1998). The final part of the planning stage is devising an action
plan for meeting the targets. This includes designating
responsibilities, establishing a schedule, and outlining clearly
defined steps to meet the targets.
3. Implementation - A organization follows through with the
action plan using the necessary resources (human, financial,
etc.). An important component is employee training and
awareness for all employees. Other steps in the implementation
stage include documentation, following operating procedures,
and setting up internal and external communication lines.

4. Evaluation - A company monitors its operations to evaluate


whether targets are being met. If not, the company takes
corrective action.

5. Review - Top management reviews the results of the


evaluation to see if the EMS is working. Management determines
whether the original environmental policy is consistent with the
organization's values. The plan is then revised to optimize the
effectiveness of the EMS. The review stage creates a loop of
continuous improvement for a company

 https://www.epa.gov/ems/learn-about-environmental-management-systems
 https://www.nqa.com/en-ph/certification/systems/environmental-management-systems

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