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Environmental Management Systems (ISO 14001)

ISO 14001 is an internationally accepted standard that sets out how you can go about putting in place an effective Environmental Management System (EMS). This standard was first published in 1996 and specifies the actual requirements for an environmental management system. It applies to those environmental aspects which the organization has control and over which it can be expected to have an influence.

 

ISO 14001 may be implemented in any organization, regardless of size, location or income. The aim of the standard is to reduce the environmental footprint of a business and to decrease the pollution and waste a business produces.

 

The standard is designed to address the delicate balance between maintaining profitability and reducing environmental impacts. However, with the commitment of your entire organization, it can enable you to achieve both objectives.

 

As a conclusion, the purpose of this international standard is to enable an organization to develop and implement a policy committing it to prevention of pollution, compliance with legal and other requirements, and continual improvement.

 

The realization of this commitment will be a management system that recognizes and manages the primary environmental issues through awareness and assessment of applicable legal requirements, objectives for improvement, assignment of responsibilities, competent personnel, communications, procedures, controls and monitoring, emergency response capability, self correction and assessment, and internal reviews. These processes are to be based on the Plan-Do-Check-Act cycle.

 

The new revision of the standard ensures that environmental management is now completely integrated and aligned with the business strategies of the organizations. 

 

The new version of the standard also provides ‘risk-based approach’. This focuses the organisational resources, on the areas which are most likely to cause concern.

 

Benefits:

  • Increase the utilization of resources and materials

  • Reduce the output of wastages and harmful materials

  • Increasing profits through potential process improvements and energy conservation

  • Reducing environmental liability

  • Remain competitive via eco-efficient products

  • Customer, investor, public and community assurance by demonstrating commitment

  • Recognizing and complying with environmental laws and regulations

  • Assisting the attainment of permits and authorizations for local trade

  • Improving cost control through conserving input materials and energy

  • Reducing incidents that result in liability, therefore reduces insurance costs

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