ENVIRONMENTAL

MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS
INTRODUCTION
 INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR STANDARDS
(ISO)

Quality Management Systems completed in 1987

successfully. Increasing emphasis on ENVIRONMENTAL
ISSUES were instrumental in ISO’s decision to develop
Environmental Management Standards.
1991 - ISO formed the Strategic Advisory Group
on the Environment (SAGE)

1992 - SAGE led to the formation of Technical

Committee (TC) 207
TECHNICAL COMMITTEE (TC) 207

To develop standards for an

Environmental Management
MISSION System, which was identified
as ISO 14000
ISO 14000 SERIES
STANDARDS
 Organizational Evaluation
Standards

Environmental Environmental Environmental

Management Auditing Performance
System Evaluation
14010 General
14001 Specification Principles 14031 Guidelines
14011 Audit
14004 General
Procedures
Guidelines 14012 Auditor Criteria
 Product Evaluation
Standards

Environmental Environmental Labeling Life Cycle Assessment

Aspects in 14040 Principles and
14020 Basic Principles
Product 14021 Self Declaration Framework
Standards 14041 Goals and
14022 Symbols Definitions
14023 Testing and 14042 Impact
Guide 64 EAPS Verification Assessment
Guide 14024 Third Part 14023 Improvement
Assessment
 ORGANIZATIONAL
EVALUATION STANDARDS
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
SYSTEM
ISO 14001 (Environmental Management Systems –
Specifications with Guidance for Use) gives the
element that organizations are required to conform to
if they seek registration

ISO 14004 (Environmental Management Systems –

Guidelines on Principles, Systems, and Supporting
Techniques) provides supplementary material. It is for
information only and is not to be used for registration.
 ENVIRONMENTAL AUDITING
ISO 14010 (Guidelines for Environmental Auditing –
General Principles on Environmental Auditing) provides
information for internal or external auditing. The audit is
a systematic documented verification process of
objectively obtaining and evaluating evidence to
determine whether activities, events, conditions,
systems, etc., conform to criteria and communicate the
information to the organization

ISO 14011 (Guidelines for Environmental Auditing – Audit

Procedures – Auditing of Environmental Management
Systems) provides information on how to plan and
conduct an audit. Some topics are audit team, audit
plan, implementation and report.
 … continued
ENVIRONMENTAL AUDITING
ISO 14012 (Qualification Criteria For
Environmental Auditors Performing
Environmental Management System Audits)
covers information on auditor qualifications,
training, and personal attributes and skills.
 ENVIRONMENTAL PERFORMANCE
EVALUATION

ISO 14031 (Guidelines on Environmental

Performance Evaluation) presents information
on recording information to track performance
it helps the organization meets the
requirements of ISO 14001
PRODUCT EVALUATION
STANDARDS
ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECTS IN PRODUCT
STANDARDS
Guide 64 (Environmental Aspects in Product
Standards) is designed to help writers develop
product standards. Writers should carefully
consider the environmental consequences
when developing criteria, elements, and
characteristics that go into the standard.
 ENVIRONMENTAL LABELING

ISO 14020 (Environmental Labeling – Basic Principles for

All Environmental Labeling) provides guidance on the
goals and principles that should be used in all
labeling programs. Product improvement is a
desirable benefit but not the objective of the
standard.

ISO 14021 (Environmental Labeling – Self-Declaration of

Environmental Claims: Terms and Definitions) applies
to organizations that are declaring that their product
has an environmental attribute such as being
recyclable or energy efficient.
 …continued
ENVIRONMENTAL LABELING
ISO 14022 (Environmental Labeling – Symbols) provides a
standard set of symbols for use by organizations.

ISO 14023 (Environmental Labeling – Testing and

Verification Methodologies) provides information on the
appropriate methods to use to confirm the genuineness
of the product as stated by the environmental label.

ISO 14024 (Environmental Labeling – Practitioner

Programs, Guiding Principles, Practices, and Certification
Procedures for Multiple Criteria Programs) establishes
criteria for third-party labeling or seal programs.
 LIFE-CYCLE ASSESSMENT

ISO 14040 (Life-Cycle Assessment – Principles and

Framework) provides an overview of the practice,
applications, and limitations of LCA.

ISO 14041 (Life-Cycle Assessment – Goals and

Definitions/ Scope and Inventory Analysis) is
intended to provide guidelines for the preparation,
conduct and critical review of the life-cycle inventory
analysis.
 …continued

LIFE-CYCLE ASSESSMENT
ISO 14042 (Life-Cycle Assessment – Impact Assessment)
is intended to use the results of the inventory
analysis to evaluate the significance of potential
environmental impacts.

ISO 14043 (Life-Cycle Assessment – Improvement

Assessment) is intended to provide information to
improve the total environmental performance of a
product system.
 ENVIRONMENTAL
MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS
MODEL
 Environmental Policy

Planning

Management Continual Implementation and

Review Improvement Operation

Checking and
Corrective Action
 EMS MODEL

Begins with environmental policy, which is

followed by planning, implementation and
operation, checking and corrective action,
and management review
The approach follows the PDSA cycle.
Logical sequence exists in achieving
CONTINUAL IMPROVEMENT.
Overall aim: support environmental
protection and prevention of pollution in
balance with socioeconomic needs.
 DEFINITIONS
Global surroundings in which an organization
Environment operates

Element of an organizations activities,

Environmental Aspect products or services that can interact with the
environment

Any change, whether adverse or beneficial,

Environmental Impact wholly or partially resulting from an
organizations activities, products or services.

Overall environmental goal, arising from the

Environmental
policy statement, that an organization sets for
Objective itself and which is quantified when practical.

Detailed performance requirement and

Environmental Target should be quantified when practical.
REQUIREMENTS OF ISO
14001
 1. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

Brief description of the company

Include manual control and

distribution

KEEP IT AS SIMPLE AS POSSIBLE – it

will work better when it is easy to
follow.
 2. ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY

An organizations Policy Statement should

be based on its mission and values.

A policy statement should show

management commitment, leadership,
and direction for the ENVIRONMENTAL
ACTIVITIES.
 …continued
2. ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
An initial environmental review is suggested which includes the
following:
• Identification of legislative and regulatory requirements
• Identification of environmental aspects of its activities, products, or
services that can have significant impact and liabilities
• Identification of existing activities with suppliers
• Identification of existing management policies and procedures
• Evaluation of past performance with regard to the above
• Feedback from investigation of previous incidents of noncompliance
• Identification of opportunities for competitive advantage
• Identification of benchmarking opportunities

Having this information will help the organization develop its

Environmental Policy.
 …continued
2. ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
The policy must:
• be relevant to the organization's nature.
• ensure that management is committed to continual
improvement and prevention of pollution.
• include a commitment to comply with relevant
regulations and legislations.
• provide a framework for setting and reviewing
environmental objectives and targets.
• must be documented, implemented and
maintained.
• available to the public.
 3. PLANNING
3.1 ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECTS
Environmental aspects of an organization’s activities,
products or services (which can be controlled and
influenced) be identified in order to determine the
environmental impact by:
•What are the environmental aspects of the
organization’s activities, products and services?
•Do the organization’s activities, products and services
create any significant adverse environmental impacts?
•Does the organization have a procedure for evaluating
the environmental consideration?
•Does the location of the organization require special
environmental consideration?
 3. PLANNING
…continued
3.1 ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECTS

• How will any intended changes or additions to activities,

products, or services affect the environmental aspects and
their associated impacts?
• How severe are the potential environmental impacts if a
process failure occurs?
• How frequently will the situation arise that could lead to the
impact?
• What are the significant environmental aspects, considering
impacts, likelihood, severity, and frequency?
• Are the significant environmental impacts local, regional, or
global in scope?
 3. PLANNING
3.2 LEGAL AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS
The standard requires an organization to have a
procedure to identify and have access to all legal and
other requirements to which it subscribes.
According to ISO 14004, issues to be considered in the
procedure should include how the organization:
• Accesses and identifies legal and other requirements
• Keeps track of legal and other requirements
• Keeps track of changes to legal and other
requirements
• Communicates relevant information about legal and
other requirements to employees.
 3. PLANNING

3.3 OBJECTIVES AND TARGETS

The organization shall establish and maintain
these objectives and targets at each relevant
function and level.

They shall be consistent with the policy

statement, specially in regards to the
prevention of pollution.
 3. PLANNING
…continued
3.3 OBJECTIVES AND TARGETS
This clause requires organizations to consider:
• The best technological option to mitigate an aspect
• Economic viability of an option
• Cost-effectiveness of the option
• Appropriateness of the option to the situation
• Affordability of the option, given the organization’s
financial, operational and business situation
• Views of interested parties such as: employees,
regulatory agencies and any other stakeholders
 3. PLANNING
3.3 ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PROGRAM(S)
Establish and maintain a program for achieving the objectives
and targets. This requirement can be achieved with a
simple form requiring completion of following items:
• State the objective/target
• State the purpose
• Describe how the objective or target will be achieved
• State the program leader
• Designate departments and individuals responsible for
specific tasks
• Establish the schedule for completion of tasks
• Establish the program review, which will include format,
content, and review schedule.
4. IMPLEMENTATION AND OPERATION

4.1 STRUCTURE AND RESPONSIBILITY

Roles, responsibilities, and authorities shall be
defined, documented and communicated for all
personnel affecting EMS. A management
representative must be appointed and given
the authority to ensure that standards are
being met and to periodically report to the
senior management regarding the status of
EMS with the aim of improvement.
 4. IMPLEMENTATION AND OPERATION
4.2 TRAINING, AWARENESS N COMPETENCY
Training needs should be evaluated on regular basis,
usually annually, to ensure their effectiveness. There
are two types of training:
• General Awareness includes the importance of
conformance to the EMS, the relationship of significant
environmental impacts to the employees’ work
activities, employee roles and responsibilities, and
potential consequences of failing to follow specific
operating procedures.
• Personnel performing tasks that can cause significant
environmental impacts shall be competent based on
education, training or experience.
4. IMPLEMENTATION AND OPERATION
…continued
4.2 TRAINING, AWARENESS N COMPETENCY
At a minimum, this training should include:
• Record of training needs assessment
• Task competency requirements
• Training procedures
• Training plans
• Records of training delivered to specific employees
4. IMPLEMENTATION AND OPERATION

4.3 COMMUNICATION

The standard requires that procedures shall be

established and maintained for internal
communication among all employees.

Effective communication up, down, and laterally should

ensure that questions are answered and that
understanding is complete and accurate.
4. IMPLEMENTATION AND OPERATION

4.4 ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION

The organization shall establish and maintain

information, in paper or electronic form, to
describe the core elements of the system and
their interaction and provide direction to
applicable related documents.
4. IMPLEMENTATION AND OPERATION

4.5 DOCUMENT CONTROL

This element requires that procedures be established
and maintained to control all EMS documents.
Provisions must be made for the review and approval
of documents for adequacy before they are issued
and after any changes.

The purpose of document control is to ensure that

appropriate and current issues of documents are in
place at all locations. Obsolete documents must be
removed and destroyed or stored in a safe place if
retention for legal purposes is necessary.
4. IMPLEMENTATION AND OPERATION
…continued
4.5 DOCUMENT CONTROL
The best document control system is the simplest one
that meets the needs of the organization and ISO
14000. if the organization has an existing system such
as ISO 9000, it can be used as a model.

ISO documentation can be viewed at four levels.

It is important to note that the system should be an

efficient one and not a bureaucratic one – keep it
simple.
4. IMPLEMENTATION AND OPERATION
…continued
4.5 DOCUMENT CONTROL
Level 1 – Policy
It is the EMS manual that includes the environmental
policy with policies responding to each clause.
Organizational charts and other forms of
documentation can be used to clearly define core
elements of the system and how they relate to Level
2 Procedures. The organization may wish to list
environmental aspects; objectives; targets; and
legal, regulatory, and other requirements at this
level.
 4. IMPLEMENTATION AND OPERATION
…continued
4.5 DOCUMENT CONTROL
Level 2 – Procedure
It describes what the organization does to meet Level 1
Policies

Level 3 - Practice
It describes the work instructions by which operating
personnel perform their tasks. They are step-by-step
instructions dealing with activities required by the
standard. Organizations involved with TQM or ISO 9000
will already have these activities documented.
4. IMPLEMENTATION AND OPERATION
…continued
4.5 DOCUMENT CONTROL
Level 4 – Proof
It is the location of all forms, records, drawings,
and so forth that represent the objective
evidence or proof of the performance of the
EMS.
4. IMPLEMENTATION AND OPERATION
4.6 OPERATIONAL CONTROL
This element aligns operations and activities with the
identified significant environmental aspects, environmental
policy, and environmental objectives and targets. The
organization will plan these activities to ensure that the
procedures:
• Cover situations where their absence could lead to
deviations from the policy and the objectives and targets.
• Stipulate operating criteria which are the details and
instructions that would normally be included in any process,
procedure, or step-by-step work instructions.
• Cover the identification of environmental aspects of goods
and services and communicate relevant procedures and
requirements to suppliers and contractors.
 4. IMPLEMENTATION AND OPERATION
4.7 EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE
Procedures are required to identify and respond to and should
prevent or mitigate the environmental impact of potential
accidents and emergency situations. Emergency plans should
include:
• Emergency organization and responsibilities of key personnel
• Details of emergency services such as fire department and spill
cleanup services
• Internal and external communications plans
• Actions to be taken for the different types of emergencies.
• Information on hazardous material and their impact, including
information about equipment and protective clothing
• Training plans and testing for effectiveness
…continued
4.7 EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE
These procedures shall be reviewed and revised, if
necessary, especially after an emergency. A checklist for
lessons learned could include:
 Did we follow procedures?
 If not, why and how did we deviate?
 What did we do that was right?
 What did we do that was wrong?
 What procedural changes would result in a more
effective response?
5. CHECKING AND CORRECTIVE ACTION
5.1 MONITORING AND MEASURING
Effective decisions usually require quantifiable data. The
organization is required to monitor and measure the key
characteristics of its objectives and activities in order to
assess its performance in meeting environmental
operations and targets.

Procedures must be in place to control, regularly calibrate,

maintain, and record all EMS equipment, whether it
belongs to the organization, employee, or an outside
agency

Procedures are also required to periodically evaluate

compliance to relevant regulations.
5. CHECKING AND CORRECTIVE ACTION
5.2 NONCONFORMANCE AND CORRECTIVE AND
PREVENTIVE ACTION
Procedures are required to define responsibility and authority
for:
1. Handling and investigating nonconformance
2. Taking action to mitigate any impacts
3. Initiating corrective and preventive action.

The process should include

• Identifying the root cause of the nonconformance
• Identifying and implementing the necessary corrective action
• Implementing or modifying controls necessary to prevent a
recurrence
• Recording any changes in the written procedures
5. CHECKING AND CORRECTIVE ACTION

5.3 RECORDS

Procedures are required for the identification,

maintenance, and disposition of environmental
records such as training, audits, equipment
calibration, and review. Records shall be legible,
identifiable, and traceable to the activity, product or
service. They should be readily retrievable;
protected against damage, deterioration, and loss;
and provided with retention times.
5. CHECKING AND CORRECTIVE ACTION
5.4 EMS AUDIT
The purpose of this audit is to ensure that the EMS
conforms to plans and is being properly implemented
and maintained. Internal or self audit and external audit
information should be distributed to senior management
to assist in management review process.

Audit procedures should cover the scope, frequency and

methodologies and responsibilities and requirements for
conducting audits and reporting results.

The audit schedule should be based on the importance of

the element and results of previous audits.
 6. MANAGEMENT REVIEW
Management review and revision, if applicable,
is required to ensure the continuing
suitability, adequacy, and effectiveness of
EMS. The intent of this clause is to involve
top management in the EMS continuous
improvement process. Management must
evaluate the feedback data and make
improvements to the system.
 …continued
6. MANAGEMENT REVIEW
ISO 14004 recommends that the review include:
• Review of environmental objectives and targets
• Review of environmental performance against legal
and other requirements
• Evaluation of the effectiveness of the EMS’s elements
• Evaluation of the continued suitability of the policy in
the light of changing legislation; changing
expectations; changing requirements of interested
parties; changes in activities, products, and services;
new technology, lessons learned; market preferences
and expectations; and effectiveness of reporting and
communication.
BENEFITS OF EMS
 GLOBAL
There are three global benefits:
1. Facilitate trade and remove trade barriers
2. Improve environmental performance of planet earth
3. Build consensus that there is a need for environmental
management and a common terminology for EMS.

The proliferation of national and regional standards has led to confusion

and to trade barriers. This international standard will serve to unify
countries in their approach to labeling, environmental
management, and life-cycle assessment. This approach will help to
remove trade barriers and facilitate trade.

As the EMS is implemented worldwide, it will increasingly satisfy

concerns for environmental protection in trade discussions and
agreements.
 ORGANIZATIONAL
An organization benefits from an EMS in the following ways:
• Assuring customers of a commitment to environmental
management
• Meeting customer requirements, the primary reason for
organizations to become certified
• Maintaining a good public/community relations image
• Satisfying investor criteria and improving access to capital
• Obtaining insurance at reasonable cost
• Increasing market share that results from a competitive advantage
• Reducing incidents that result in liability
• Improving defense posture in litigation
• Conserving input materials and energy
• Facilitating the attainment of permits and authorization
• Improving industry/government relations