Environmental Management Systems (EMS) and ISO 14001

Prof. Sandeep Hegde

What is an Environmental Management System?

It is the tool used by an organization to manage the:– Organization Structure– Planning Activities– Responsibilities– Practices, Procedures, Processes– Resources

for developing, implementing, maintaining, reviewing, and correcting/improving the approach to addressing environmental issues.

It is the structured approach that incorporates environmental considerations into day-to-day operations throughout the organization, and is designed to promote continual improvement.

WHAT IS AN ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM?

ISO 14001 Definition

“The part of the overall management system that includes organizational structure, planning activities, responsibilities, practices, procedures, processes and resources for developing, implementing, achieving, reviewing and maintaining the environmental policy.”

ISO 14001• ISO 14000 (specifically ISO 14001) describes one

format/structure for the planning, implementation and checking of an EMS.

• There are other possible scenarios/options.• ISO 14000 is important for, among other reasons,

being the one option globally developed and understood.

• ISO 14000 actually composes a series of standards, developed by the International Organization for Standardization, and are voluntary, market-driven standards.

To whom do the standards apply?

• The ISO 14000 standards can be applied to:– large and small business & industry;– service sectors (hospitals, hotels, etc.);– government organizations;– all types of organizations, of all sizes anywhere

in the world.

Becoming ISO 14001 registered

• ISO 14001 is the only certification standard.• The registration body examines EMS for conformity

to the ISO 14001 standard.• The EMS audit is not a compliance audit. • Registration does NOT mean that products are more

environmentally friendly.• Registration means the organization has a

documented EMS that is fully implemented and meets ISO 14001 requirements.

• The registration covers processes, not products.

A Viable EMSTo succeed an EMS should be:

•In harmony with mission focus;•Cost effective;•Flexible;•Transparent;•Useful to the “practitioner”; •Focused on continual improvement.

The Deming's Wheel - PDCA

The Deming's Wheel

General Principles•An EMS uses the Plan-Do-Check-Act Management Model•An EMS serves the organization and its mission, not the reverse•EMS is a process, not an event•An EMS is the people & their actions, not the words & aspirations •Improvement rests on changing attitudes & behaviors

•“Want to, not have to”•Start at the top, and the bottom and implement throughout

The Three C’s of an Effective EMS

Conformance

Meets the requirements

(implements the “shalls”)

Consistency

Various elements inter-related

(I.e., significant aspects reflected in emergency planning, etc.)

Continual Improvement

Mechanisms in place to improve, cultural change, management commitment(including fixing non-conformances and improving performance)

ISO14000

• Stress on continuous improvement by using PDCA system.– PLAN: Understand issues, set goals, plan actions

– DO: Implement activities and processes to achieve your goals

– CHECK: Monitor, measure, & audit the EMS

– ACT: Continually improve the system

PLANPLAN DODO CHECKCHECK ACTACT

Major Components of an EMS

Environmental

Policy

Continual Improvement

Planning

Implementation &

Control

Checking & Corrective Action

Management

Review

ISO 14001 Structure

ManagementReview

ManagementReview

Planning

• Environmental Aspects• Legal / Other Requirement

• Objectives and Targets• Environmental

Management Program

Checking / Corrective Action

• Monitoring and Measurement• Nonconformance and Corrective

and Preventive Action• Records

• EMS Audits

Start

Implementation

• Structure and Responsibility• Training, Awareness, Competence

• Communication• EMS documentation• Document Control

• Operational Control* Emergency Preparedness

/ Response

ContinualImprovement !

EnvironmentalPolicy

Steps to develop an EMS

1. Appoint A Green Manager

2. Set Up an Environmental Management System

3. Carry Out An Initial Environmental Audit

4. Define An Environmental Policy

5. Establish Environmental Objectives And Targets

Environmental Management Systems • Policy (What the organization is committed to doing)

• Planning (figuring out what we want to do and why, identifying the “drivers”)

- Aspects (The company’s environmental character)- Legal and Other Requirements (Knowing what laws and regulations apply)- Objectives and Targets (Improvement goals)- Environmental Management Programs (specific “how to” for objectives)

• Implementation/Operation

- Structure and Responsibility (Deploying accountability throughout the organization)- Training Awareness and Competence (Deploying knowledge throughout the

organization)- Communication (getting the word out internally and externally)- EMS Documentation (Providing direction and guidance on what to do)- Document Control (Making sure documents in use are current and accurate)- Operational Control (Ongoing control of significant aspects)- Emergency Planning and Response (Management and planning for unexpected

occurrences)

• Checking/Corrective Action

- Monitoring and Measurement (Ongoing evaluation of the system, including legal compliance)

- Conformances, Corrective and Preventive Action (Ongoing fixes to the system)- Records (Making a record to verify we did what we intended to do)- EMS Audits (Periodic spot checks of system itself)

• Management Review (Top management support to maintain the EMS, fix problems, and ensure continual improvement)

Environmental Aspects and Impacts

ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECTS

Elements of an organization’s activities, products or services which can interact with the environment. Examples include discharges, resource consumption, energy usage, ecosystem alterations, etc.

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS

Any change to the environment, whether adverse or beneficial, wholly or partly resulting from an organization’s activities, products, or services.

(A significant aspect is one that has or can have a significant impact on the environment. The organization selects the criteria for significance.)

http://www.epa.gov/dfe/pubs/pwb/case_stu/case7/case7tables.htm

http://www.epa.gov/dfe/pubs/pwb/case_stu/case7/case7tables.htm

Environmental Objectives and Target 

Objectives Targets

Reduce energy use Reduce electricity use by 10% by 2002Reduce natural gas use by 15% by 2002

Reduce usage of hazardous chemicals Eliminate use of CFC by 1997Reduce use of high-VOC paints by 25%

Reduce hazardous waste generation Reduce chrome wastes in plating area by 50% in 1998

Improve employee awareness of environmental issues To held monthly awareness training coursesTrain 100% of employees by end of the year

Improve compliance with wastewater / discharge permit limits

Zero permit limit violations by the end of 1997

http://www.epa.gov/dfe/pubs/pwb/case_stu/case7/case7tables.htm

Role of Aspects in the EMS

• Significant aspects drive the EMS• EMS is designed to identify, control, manage, and

improve upon the significant aspects• Compliance with Legal and Other Requirements is

a part of the system and does relate to the aspects• Elements such as operational control (procedures

and work instructions), training, monitoring and measurement, emergency planning, and setting objectives all depend on significant aspects.

Documentation

• Say what you do• Do what you say• “Record” it (paper or electronic)

Must be:– relevant to EMS (link to aspects)

– Usable and appropriate

– Controlled

– Reviewed and revised as “continual improvement”

Developing an EMS vs. Implementing an EMS

• Developing the EMS involves preparing documentation, establishing roles and responsibilities, initially identifying aspects, conducting initial training, etc.

• Implementing the EMS involves deploying it in the organization such that it becomes the way you operate, and survives beyond the initial push by changing the culture

Getting Started-Evaluating Where You Are

• Gap Analysis, Aspect Review, Compliance Review

• Development Implementation Plan (schedule, costs, resource needs)

• Management Review and go/no go

Getting Started- Implementation

• Filling the gaps• Aspects analysis, policy, high level documentation,

objectives and targets• Training at all levels, synchronizing the organization• Internal audits, corrective action• Pre-Assessment, final go over• Certification audit• Maintenance and Surveillance; continual

improvement

The Long Term…

• The EMS should be maintained with the intent that it will help improve environmental performance

• This means making changes, measuring key parameters and using the metrics to make improvements

• Being committed to continual improvement for the long term

Benefits of ISO 14001

• Minimizing trade barriers and related complications

• Increasing company competitiveness

• Supporting a worldwide focus on environmental management

• Reducing cost of waste management

• Lowering consumption of energy and materials

• Reducing distribution costs

• Improving corporate image among regulators, customers and the public

• Creating a framework for continuous improvement of your environmental performance

• Allowing a single management system and process