Businesses of all shapes and sizes can benefit from having a well-structured EMS. When integrated into the organizational structure, an EMS will identify opportunities to prevent pollution, mitigate occupational hazards, and provide an opportunity to be more efficient and organized.

What is an Environmental Management System?

An Environmental Management System is a set of guidelines and procedures that enable an organization to address environmental concerns throughout its structure. It provides a systematic way for an organization to evaluate and manage the immediate and long-term impacts its products, services, and processes have on the environment.

An EMS helps an organization achieve objectives such as:

• Improving compliance with environmental legislation
• Reducing potential risks and liabilities
• Enhancing business image
• Preventing pollution and conserving energy resources
• Discovering waste-minimization opportunities
• Increasing operational efficiency

Most Environmental Management Systems incorporate key elements of the popular “Plan, Do, Check, Act” model, which include defining goals, conducting strategic planning activities, implementing an environmental policy, training staff, and monitoring performance. They also feature ongoing objectives and methods for measuring and improving progress.

ISO 14001 International Standards

A common form of an EMS is the ISO 14001:2004 standard set forth by the International Organization for Standardization – a consortium comprised of the national standards institutes from 149 countries around the world. This federation specifies the requirements for state-of-the-art products, services, processes, materials, and systems, and for good managerial and organizational practices.

ISO 14000 refers to a family of voluntary standards and guidance documents to help organizations address environmental issues. ISO 14001 is the international standard that describes a series of specific technical requirements related to Environmental Management
Systems.

While not mandatory, an organization may elect to have its management system independently audited and confirmed as being in conformity with the ISO 14001 standard. This certification helps ensure that the organization’s EMS contains the most recent internationally accepted practices and procedures for identifying and managing environmental impacts.

IN-DEPTH:

• Learn about Denver’s citywide EMS program.
• U.S. EPA’s Environmental Management Systems resources.
• Learn more about the International Organization for Standardization.