ISO 9000 GUIDE
-
Management System Certification
-
IRCA
and the Role Of Auditor Registration
-
About
ISO 9000
- The Structure Of QS-9000
- AEROSPACE
 Environmental Management
Systems
- Information Security
Management Systems
Environmental
Management Systems
In the
modern world, business face many different pressures, such as
growing global markets, an ever-increasing need to stay abreast of
technology and at the same time, a widespread appetite for a more
efficient cleaner world. Environmental issues have come to the
forefront in recent years with greater awareness amongst
legislators, insurer, financiers, shareholders, customer, employees
and neighbors. Concern for the environment as whole has inspired a
multitude of measurement to protect it and mitigate the effects
business and industrial operations have on the environment, mainly
in the form of legislation. Breaches of such legislation are
becoming costly in terms of liability, publicity and health. This
has forced the international community to look at ways of reducing
the impact on the environment, to ensure it is protected for future
generations.
Many people may
consider the practicalities of environmental care to be beyond
individuals but in reality, it is very easy for everyone to reduce
environmental damage. The smallest measurement can make a
significant difference, such as reducing the volume of waste
generated by traveling or working and using resources more
efficiently. There is also a collective result. If everybody and
every business decided that they could make a worthy contribution,
then huge progress would be achieved to protect the world's
environment. Many actions also have tangible financial benefits.
Turning a heating thermostat down by just one degree at home or work
can have a large impact on the expenditure of a domestic home or a
business. Imagine the amount of saving to be made in a small, medium
or large business by just looking a little more closely at the way
things operate. We are, of course, talking about decisions that not
only address environmental concerns but also make sound business
sense. A reduction in heating costs saves money an d results in less
power having to be generated and natural resources used.
Under today's
legislation, implementing environmental management systems can help
to reduce the risk of prosecution. ISO 14001: 1996, which replaced
British Standard 7750, and EMAS (Eco-Management and Audit
establishing a management system that can help to prevent or
minimize pollution risks, meet legal requirements and improve
business performance.
Certification to
ISO 14001 and EMAS is an option that will ensure the maximum
benefits are obtained from resources available to a business.
Commitment from the company, coupled with the experience of a
certification body, can realise considerable benefits. These include
a reduction in operating costs, a competitive advantage, more
awareness amongst employees and the knowledge that effort is being
made to address the environmental responsibilities which we all
have.
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