Until recently, only large manufacturing companies in the chemical or other polluting industries were likely to require an environmental management system. Not so in the 21st century – now all companies need to be aware of their environmental aspects and to demonstrate control of their impacts.
Einstein said, “The environment is defined as - everything that isn’t me”. That makes it a very broad subject area that encompasses just about every operational activity of business, through entire life cycles from raw material sourcing to manufacturing processes, to finished product output and even to end-of-life disposal. Cradle to grave. Service companies too, must control their consumption or resources and manage their “footprint” on the planet.
Here, the main considerations in business will include:
1. Good environmental practices are entirely parallel with efficiency and lead to maximum profitability. Investment in environmental management is therefore likely to be self-funding in the medium term.
2. Compliance with the law is a minimum standard. If your company produces waste of any description, general, hazardous or packaging, there are criteria that must be met to demonstrate their proper segregation, handling and recycling or disposal. This applies equally to liquid effluent and emissions to air.
3. An environmental management system (EMS) goes well beyond the familiar areas of waste management. It examines manufacturing practices for efficiency, minimises wastage of all consumables and considers conservation of energy, water and even inputs of time and effort too, in tailored, practicable ways that are relevant and acceptable to individual companies.
4. An EMS can be a simple set of assessments and procedures run entirely in-house as a management tool. For the larger establishment, who perhaps have blue-chip or environmentally aware clients, are in peer groups who have adopted good environmental practices, require IPPC (Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control) licensing, or are looking for status in the city sufficient to attract investment, it may be prudent to work towards a system that can be accredited to the ISO 14001 standard. Such a system runs in parallel with the ISO 9001 and 18001 series of accreditations for quality and safety management and can be wholly integrated where these already exist.
COMPLY UK can provide access anywhere between entry-level and a fully externally verified environmental management system.
Support with training programmes, internal audits and liaison with all stakeholders (including clients, Local Authorities and the Environment Agency) in environmental matters can also be provided.
In summary, the advantages of a well designed EMS include:
Compliance with environmental law
Competitive advantage
Highlighting of wasted resources
Public relations benefits
Improved relationships with regulators and enforcement agencies
New marketing potential
Cost savings through efficiencies
Avoidance of fines or adverse publicity
Beneficial to clients by “reflection”
Reduced insurance premium potential
Increased attraction of investment
The starting point is a painless initial on site environmental assessment by a fully qualified environmental auditor……
RIDDOR Guidelines - New Edition