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Environmental Policy
A guide to implementing ISO14001.

Environmental Policy Only develop your policy after you have identified your significant aspects and impacts. You will need to include commitments to continual improvement, legislative compliance and pollution prevention. Use only generic objectives within the policy statement. It should be a signpost to where your site is going. Review the policy once the system is established, and before public issue.
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Environmental Policy
A guide to implementing ISO14001.
Introduction
The standard specifically requires that an organisation wishing to obtain certification to ISO14001 shall establish an environmental policy that is appropriate to its activities. An organisations environmental policy is the primary statement by which it can communicate its intentions with regard to environmental management. It provides a framework for an organisation that can be used to set realistically achievable objectives and targets with the overall aim of continual environmental improvement. This section will enable you to create an environmental policy that conforms to the requirements of ISO14001. The standard does not attempt to prescribe exactly what the policy of an individual organisation should look like, but it does provide guidance on what an environmental policy must include to fulfil the requirements of clause 4.2.

u approving the policy contents u signing the policy

The role-played by top management in developing, reviewing, approving and signing of the policy will be assessed during a certification audit. Details of how the policy was created and the involvement of top management should be documented in the environmental management manual. It is important to note that the organisations most senior manager should sign the policy documents towards the end of the statement. This signifies that they approve and are committed to the policy statement. Top management and their management representative(s) must also ensure that any local policies do not contradict environmental policies held at corporate level. It is important that divisional requirements are seen to cascade into the site system via the policy document. Example Policy Statement The organisation is committed to implementing the actions stated in the divisional policy. This policy is consistent with other stated corporate environmental policies.

Creation of an Environmental Policy

Clause 4.2 states that: ...top management shall define the organisations environmental policy The standard specifically states that an environmental policy is required for an organisation wishing to obtain certification to the standard. Top management (i.e. senior site manager & business managers) must be involved during the:

An Appropriate Environmental Policy

Clause 4.2(a) states that an organisations policy must be: appropriate to the nature, scale and environmental impacts of its activities, products or services The policy must reflect your organisations processes and activities. This can only be achieved following identification of your orISO14001 TOOLKIT

u development of the policy u reviewing the policy document u updating the policy document

ganisations significant environmental impacts. This can be accomplished by reviewing the:

tion of pollution through the use of risk assessment, training and action planning.

u Initial environmental review report

(see section 2)

Compliance with Legislation

Clause 4.2(c) states that an organisations policy should: include a commitment to comply with relevant legislation and regulations, and with other requirements to which the organisation subscribes Your policy must reflect your organisations management commitment to comply with all relevant legislation and other requirements to which your organisation subscribes. An example of a policy statement is shown below: Example Policy Statement The company is committed in ensuring continued compliance with all relevant environmental legislation, regulations, codes of practice and other standards to which the company subscribes.

u Register of environmental aspects and

significant impacts (see section 4) (see section 5)

u Register of site legislative requirements

During the certification audit you will need to demonstrate how your organisation considered the nature and scale of its activities, products and services during the development of its policy. The scope of the policy must also be sufficient to cover all of the organisations management units that will be audited for compliance against the standard. Example Policy Statement The site director in relation to all activities that take place at the site has defined this policy.

Commitments within the Policy

Clause 4.2(b) states that an organisations policy should: include a commitment to continual improvement and the prevention of pollution Continual improvement is the process of enhancing an environmental management system to achieve improvements in overall environmental performance in-line with the organisations environmental policy. The standard requires this year-on-year improvement, but it need not be necessarily in all areas of activity at all times. Example Policy Statement The organisation will set clear objectives and targets with the aim of ensuring continual improvement of the organisations environmental performance and management system. The following type of statement could satisfy a commitment to the prevention of pollution: Example Policy Statement The site is committed to the continued prevenISO14001 TOOLKIT

Environmental Objectives
Clause 4.2(d) states that an organisations policy should: provide the framework for setting and reviewing environmental objectives and targets

The policy document sets out the philosophy and principles for an organisation with regards to the setting of environmental objectives and targets. The policy can be used to establish specific company goals such as: Example Policy Statements The organisation is committed to: - Minimising the environmental impacts of our existing processes/activities; - Promoting ownership and control of environmental issues at all levels. It is vital however that the policy goals are not too detailed, as this would require the frequent reissue of the policy document.

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A typical policy statement should last between 3 and 5 years before review and reissue is required. However, general statements of interest, which are not backed-up by practical implementation programmes are not acceptable as objectives. The policy can define the scope of an organisations objectives and targets by establishing the areas covered by the document. It can also outline the procedure for reviewing the company objectives and targets. An example policy statement would be: Example Policy Statement The environmental aspects objectives and targets are reviewed and updated every 12 months

Example Policy Statement The environmental policy statement is reviewed annually to ensure that the policy remains relevant to company activities. The review date for the policy should also be documented in the organisations environmental management manual.

Availability of the Policy

Clause 4.2(f) states that the policy should be: available to the public

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Implementation and Communication

Clause 4.2(e) requires that the policy: is documented, implemented, maintained and communicated to all employees At all stages in the development of an environmental management system, thought must be given to the policy document. The implementation of the policy must be consistent throughout all elements of the environmental management system. The communication of the policy document to all employees is an essential stage of its implementation. A common approach is through the use of policy leaflets, posters and during team communication meetings. It is important to document the methods of communication used, as employees will be interviewed during certification audits. Top management must assign responsibility for the periodic review and updating of the policy. It is usual for the management representative to accept responsibility for ensuring this task is completed. During the review the organisation must ensure that the policy remains aligned with any higher corporate environmental policy. A statement of intent with regard to its review is often included in policy documents.

The policy document should be written in nontechnical laymans terms so that it can be informative to a wide audience. It is recommended that policy and a personally signed letter from a senior manager explaining the organisations intention with regards to environmental management be distributed to the following parties:

u Local residents to the site; u Environment Agency; u Public libraries; u Local Authorities; u Other interested parties.
An interested party is defined by the standard as an individual or group concerned with or affected by the environmental performance of an organisation. It is a requirement that the methods of distribution are documented, and that there is a procedure to monitor distribution of the policy to other interested parties who may request a copy. The actual distribution list should be treated as a record and therefore subject to the document control procedure. The remaining pages of this section give examples of real policy statements for some well known companies.

ISO14001 TOOLKIT

Environmental Policy British Aerospace Site policy

(Taken from BAe Samlesburys policy statement)

Introduction
As a major aerospace manufacturer BAes site at Samlesbury, Lancashire has a significant relevance to environmental matters. Located in a semi-rural location on the edge of the Ribble Valley, the company and its four thousand employees, who occupy 128,000-sq. mtr of buildings and 351 acres of land, have recognised that they have major role to play in protecting and maintaining the environment. The manufacturing and customer support operations at the site cover machining, treatments, fabrication and the assembly of aerostructures across a wide range of military and commercial aircraft projects. In the course of the manufacture raw materials such as metals, plastics, wood derivatives and chemicals are used and natural resources such as gas and water are consumed. This subsequently generates waste products. In carrying out its business the site consumes the following utilities:

Aims of the Policy

As a leading company at the forefront of technological innovation, British Aerospace recognises that protection of the environment requires industrial activity to be conducted in a sustainable manner. The operating divisions of BAe are fully committed to best environmental practice and each division takes responsibility for its own environmental performance. British Aerospace and Aerostructures has acknowledged these responsibilities by publishing a health, safety and environmental policy. Samlesbury site is committed to implementing the actions stated in the divisional policy. In order to achieve these objectives, the Samlesbury site is:

u Electricity u Gas u Oil u Water u Nitrogen Gas

In addition the site operations and support activities use a considerable amount of consumable materials such as tooling, stationery, paint, chemicals, etc. Therefore, it is essential that the company have an effective environmental policy and management plan if it is to maximise its contribution to the protection of the environment.

u Establishing health, safety and environmental policies for which the Site Director has ultimate responsibility and which form part of the sites business plans.

General Statement of Policy

Samlesbury site fully supports the commitISO14001 TOOLKIT

u Developing a comprehensive Environ-

mental Management System (EMS)

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ment of British Aerospace and Aerostructures to achieving the highest standards with regards to environmental matters arising out of our manufacturing activities. It is the intention of this site to be at the forefront of technology in the manufacture of aircraft components. An integral element of this sensitivity to environmental issues is that it may affect not only our employees but also our neighbours. When determining priorities for the allocation of resources, environmental objectives shall be given equal consideration with all other site objectives. All managers, supervisors and employees have duties and responsibilities under this policy, and in order to ensure these are met regular reviews of environmental performance will be carried out

which ensure compliance with all relevant environmental legislation, regulations, codes of practice and any other standard to which the company subscribes. The site is also committed to the prevention of pollution. The EMS will evaluate the sites environmental impacts resulting in the setting of clear objectives with the aim of establishing continual environmental improvement in environmental performance. The sites overall performance will be monitored by regular audits and annual reviews.

u Intent on integrating environmental management with health and safety management at the site.

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Policy Objectives
The EMS will develop over time so that all key issues pertinent to the Samlesbury site will be addressed. Initially, the EMS will pay close attention to the following policy objectives:

u Minimise the environmental impacts of

our existing processes/activities and ensure that the implications of new processes are fully assessed prior to their introduction thorised processes

u Effectively manage and control our auu Dispose of waste and effluents in a responsible and safe manner

u Reduce the likelihood of environmental

accidents and incidents through the use of risk assessments and action planning ronmental issues at business level

u Promote ownership and control of enviu Provide the necessary training and support in order to ensure that the site can fulfil the requirements outlined in this policy mise waste

u Introduce programmes that aim to miniu Minimise energy use through effective
energy management.

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Environmental Policy British Telecom Corporate Policy.

(This policy has been extracted from A report on BTs Environmental Performance 1995/96)

BT is committed to minimising the impact of its operations on the environmentally means of a programme of continuous improvement. In particular BT will: the requirements of all relevant legislation - where no regulations exist we shall set our own exacting standards; als in all operation, reuse rather than dispose whenever possible, and promote recycling and the use of recycled materials; ices, buildings and products and manage energy wisely in all operations; harmful emissions;

u monitor progress and publish an environmental performance report on an annual basis.

u seek to reduce consumption of materi-

u design energy efficiency into new serv-

u reduce wherever practicable the level of u market products that are safe to use,

make efficient use of resources, and which can be reused, recycled or disposed of safely; impact of their operations on the environment through a quality purchasing policy; tional plant so that we minimise visual, noise and other impacts on the local environment; gramme the promotion of environmental protection by relevant external groups and organisations; sions with the BT unions, the BT training programmes and encourage the implementation by all BT people of sound environmental practices;

u work with our suppliers to minimise the

u site our buildings, structures and opera-

u support through our community pro-

u include environmental issues in discus-

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u meet and, where appropriate, exceed

Environmental Policy Xerox Corporate Policy.

(This policy has been extracted from Xerox Corporation - Environment, Health and Safety 1996 Progress Report)

Xerox Corporation is committed to the protection of the environment and the health and safety of its employees, customers and neighbours. This commitment is applied worldwide. The following principles shall govern all business practices in the design, manufacture, procurement, marketing, distribution, maintenance, reuse/recycling, and disposal or products and related services:

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u Protection of the environment and the

health and safety of our employees, customers and neighbours from unacceptable risks takes priority over economic considerations and will not be compromised. a manner that safeguards health, protects the environment, conserves valuable materials and resources, and minimises risk of asset losses. facturing, distributing, and marketing products and processes to optimise resource utilisation and minimise environmental impact. at a minimum, in full compliance with applicable governmental requirements and Xerox standards. provement of its performance in Environment, Health and Safety.

u Xerox operations must be conducted in

u Xerox is committed to designing, manu-

u All Xerox operations and products are,

u Xerox is dedicated to continuous im-

ISO14001 TOOLKIT

Environmental Policy NatWest Group Corporate Policy.

(This policy has been extracted from NatWest Group - Environmental Report 1996/97)

Our environmental responsibility programme is based upon continuous improvement, consistent with current knowledge. Environmental management continues to be a corporate priority, fully integrated into our business. We believe sound environmental practice is a key factor demonstrating effective corporate management. We will seek to educate and train our staff to act in an environmentally responsible manner.

u We will conduct internal environmental

reviews and will publish the results. The reviews will measure our performance and ensure that we are meeting our policy goals as well as compliance requirements. products and services which promote environmental protection, where there is a sound business rationale. sider fully environmental implications of their businesses and the impact on them of environmental issues. We will share information with customers as appropriate. should be part of the normal checklist of risk assessment and management. As part of our credit risk assessment, where appropriate, environmental impact assessments may be required.

u We will seek to develop suitable banking

u We will encourage our customers to con-

u We recognise that environmental risks

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The NatWest Group is committed to achieving environmental best practice throughout its business activities, wherever this practicable. We recognise that the pursuit of economic growth and a healthy environment must be closely linked and that ecological protection and sustainable development are collective responsibilities in which governments, businesses, individuals and communities all have a role to play.

u We will encourage our suppliers to pur-

sue best practice. Our procurement policy will take account of this.

Through our community relations programmes we will continue to support groups which help to protect the environment and inform wider audiences of the issues involved.

Environmental Policy National Power Corporate Policy.

(This policy has been extracted from National Power - Environmental Performance Review 1998)

National Power is one of the worlds leading independent producers of electricity, with a generating capacity of around 16,000 megawatts (MW) in the UK and interests in more than 10,000 MW of capacity overseas. Since the formation of the company in 1991, we have achieved strong international growth, with the successful development of power projects in four continents: Europe, Asia, Australia and America. With many other projects under development, the pace of overseas growth will continue. At National Power, we recognise that environmental responsibility and a strong focus on the communities within which we operate, go hand in hand with improved business performance. Our culture of continuous improvement underpins the implementation of our environmental policy, which is To integrate environmental factors into our business decisions wherever we operate:

they can carry out their environmental responsibilities effectively;

u by demonstrating our commitment to

sound environmental management; complaints;

u by minimising environment incidents and u by using energy, materials and natural resources efficiently and in a more sustainable way; and

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u by promoting the adoption of good environmental management practices by our contractors and suppliers.

To review regularly at Board level, and publish our environmental performance:

u by reviewing the implementation of the

policy annually; and

u by setting high standards in open and

transparent reporting at corporate and operational levels.

u by making investments which continue

to improve our environmental performance; and environmental risks associated with our current and planned activities

To maintain our reputation for effective environmental management:

u by remaining in the forefront of the employment of best practice environmental management systems;

u by assessing, managing and controlling

u by establishing and maintaining effective

environmental management systems consistent with ISO14001 and where appropriate EMAS; and tive relationship with local communities, regulators and authorities.

To monitor compliance with environmental regulations and, where appropriate, to perform better than they require:

u by continuing to control and reduce

emissions; and

u by developing a positive and construc-

u by establishing clear, measurable environ-

mental, including sustainability, targets across the Company

To improve our environmental performance continuously:

u by raising employees awareness so that

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