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Environmental management systems
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An Environmental Management System (EMS) provides a structured way for an organisation to manage its environmental impacts.
An EMS is based upon the Plan-Do-Check-Act methodology where a systematic process is used to first determine sustainability objectives through an organisational policy statement, identify the environmental impacts and areas of legislative risk, put in place formal controls and training for these and continually audit and improve performance.
An Environmental Management System is typically used to manage consumption of resources such as energy, raw materials and water, reduce / prevent pollution, ensure legal compliance and drive continual improvement.
There are different methodologies that you can employ to implement Environmental Management Systems. However, there are a number of published Environmental Management System standards that have been widely adopted by the vast majority of organisations.
The three main Environmental Management System standards are ISO 14001, the Eco Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS), and BS 8555. Workplace Law can help you implement these standards in your organisation.
ISO 14001
ISO 14001 is the most popular and recognisable Environmental Management Systems standard in the world. The ISO 14001 Standard has a number of clauses, with each one specifying the key requirements which, when fully implemented in a systematic way, will produce a management system that will effectively manage an organisation’s environmental issues. ISO 14001 can be externally certified to give assurance to stakeholders that the Standard has been complied with; however, this is entirely optional.
The way in which the ISO 14001 Standard can be adopted is flexible – it does not set absolute requirements for how you or your organisation should interact with the environment – the boundaries of the system are set by you. However, it does include a commitment to legal compliance, pollution prevention and continual improvement.
BS 8555
BS 8555 is a British Standard that differs from ISO 14001 and EMAS in that it provides a staged approach to implementing an Environmental Management System. The staged approach means that its implementation is often more manageable for smaller organisations with less of a budget for environmental management. The Standard enables an organisation to implement each stage in turn and, if required, get each stage externally certified.
Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS)
The Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) is an environmental management tool developed by the European Union and has been available for participation by companies since 1995. It was initially established by European Regulation 1836/93, although this has been replaced by Council Regulation 1221/2009.
It is broadly similar in application and scope to ISO 14001 but is seen as more stringent since it requires an organisation to annually report externally its performance against the environmental performance set out within the boundaries of the system. This could include externally publishing data on energy use, carbon emissions, use of water and quantities of pollutants emitted.
For large corporations this could work quite well since many of them report externally on sustainability performance anyway. EMAS enables this reporting to be integrated with the management system to give quality assurance on external data publication.
Why choose Workplace Law?
Workplace Law has extensive experience in advising clients in all aspects of Environmental Management Systems. We can help you identify the most appropriate system for your organisation, and work with you to implement the various stages of the system to prepare you for verification by an independent auditor (if desired).
Personal relationships are important to us: we never forget that every client, every sector, and every solution is different.
In addition, the multi-disciplinary nature of our practice – encompassing HRM and health and safety management systems – means we can advise you seamlessly on related standards such as ISO 9001 and OHSAS 18001 and integrated management systems.
Benefits
Environmental
- Identification and control of environmental risks.
- More efficient sourcing and use of natural resources.
- Understanding, managing and reducing sources of pollution.
- Reducing waste.
- Managing the consumption of energy and water more efficiently.
- Compliance with environmental legislation.
- Continual improvement on environmental performance.
Management
- Clearly defined senior management responsibility for environmental performance.
- Effective allocation of resources.
- Integration of environmental issues into the business process.
- Improved management of environmental liabilities.
- Performance management of environmental data.
- Market development and new business opportunities.
- Communication of environmental performance.
Stakeholders
- Improved relationship with regulatory authorities.
- Customer and supply chain management.
- Potentially lower insurance premiums.
- Management of local community relationships.
- Staff morale.
Financial
- Reduced risk from environmental related financial liabilities.
- Strengthened customer relationships.
- Developing new business.
- Cost savings from raw material, energy, water and waste efficiency programmes.
Case studies
In 2012 Workplace Law was asked to develop and deliver a property management-focused sustainability training course for BNP Paribas Real Estate UK. This is a branch of BNP Paribas bank, which provides a number of property services including development, management and investment of property portfolios across the UK.
Workplace Law was appointed in the final quarter of 2012 to assist Shelter with the implementation of an ISO 14001 Environmental Management System (EMS). Shelter wished to reduce its environmental impact, secure funding and make operational cost savings.
"In 2009 Chaps Ltd recognised that it needed to improve its health and safety systems. We changed our Health and Safety consultants to Workplace Law in order to give us a fresh approach towards our management of health and safety and to gain specialist construction advice.
"By using their expertise and experience Simon and Maria have guided us into developing a health and safety system that has achieved CHAS accreditation and given our customers and principle contractor’s confidence in our management of health and safety. They have always been available to offer advice when needed and to provide independent site inspections and audits which are often required by our customers.
"Both Simon and Maria continue to support Chaps Ltd and have become an important, integral part of our Health and Safety Management System."
Suzanne Jackson, HR Director, Emprise:
“Workplace Law has made a difference to the quality of the service we can provide to our staff. And because of the customised service from Workplace Law, the costs have come down.
“We’re now into the second year and we’re pleased with the level of service which is always turned around quickly with any queries being answered straight away.”
Testimonials
