A Simple Guide to Set Up an Environmental Management System

Establish An Environmental Management System (Module 7)

An Environmental Management System (EMS) is .......

"That part of the overall management system which includes organizational structure, planning activities, responsibilities, practices, procedures, processes and resources for developing, implementing, achieving, reviewing and maintaining the environmental policy."

(Definition quoted from ISO 14001)

Why do you need to establish an Environmental Management ?
How to set up an Environmental Management System ?

Why do you need to establish an Environmental Management ?

It is necessary because an Environmental Management System would :-

• Help to improve the environmental performance of the organization, enhancing its creditability with financial institutions, insurance companies, regulators and customers;
  

• Increase the competitive advantages of the organization by reducing legal liabilities, minimizing business operating costs, improving corporate image and public relation;
  

• Provide a framework for systematic presentation of environmental information for decision making; and

• Facilitate response to international market demands for ISO 14000 environmental management system certification.

How to set up an Environmental Management System ?

• Most of the essential elements of an EMS - Initial Environmental Audit, Environmental Policy, Objectives & Targets and Environmental Programmes have already been discussed in the previous modules of this Guide.
  
  
• The outstanding steps involved in setting up an EMS is to bring all these elements under periodic audit and review. They are briefly described in the next "Steps To Take" section below.
  
  
• These steps aim to ensure system effectiveness and achieve continual environmental improvement.
  
  
• Work through these extra steps and you will have an EMS in place.