Environmental Management Systems
What is an EMS?
An Environmental Management System (EMS) is “Part of an organisation’s management system used to manage environmental aspects, fulfil compliance obligations, and address risks and opportunities”.
The goal of an EMS is the “Improvement of the organisation’s environmental performance (its ability to manage its environmental aspects.)”
Why consider implementing an EMS?
The expectation of organisations today is evolving beyond just maximising economic returns to stakeholders. Organisations must understand, measure and manage the impacts of their decisions on society and the environment. Sustainability is increasingly the lens through which organisations are now judged, by their customers, employees, investors, governments and society.
The development and implementation of an effective EMS will help any organisation to adapt to both the changing context in which it operates and changing demands from customers and other stakeholders.
A successfully implemented EMS should be viewed as an investment not a cost. There is a significant Return on Investment to be gained through an effective EMS, due to reductions in resource use, costs, risk and enhanced reputation, leading to increase sales, margins and profits.
How Act Sustainably can help.
Our team of qualified lead EMS auditors have the environmental, technical and regulatory knowledge to offer professional and high value consultancy in a range of Environmental Management Systems, including;
- ISO 14001 Environmental Management
- ISO 50001 Energy Management
- BS8555
- Green Dragon
ISO 14001 Environmental Management
ISO 14001:2015 environmental management systems certification helps organisations make their environmental practices more sustainable.
Better environmental practices can improve brand reputation, save money, engage employees and satisfy stakeholders and the wider community as a whole that you operate to recognised international best practice standards.
ISO 14001:2015 environmental management system certification can benefit any organisation, large or small, in any sector.
Certification to this standard is a continual best practice improvement tool. It is an opportunity for your organisation to demonstrate your environmental responsibility to your customers and potentials customers, stand out from the competition and show proof of your commitment to the environment.
The ISO 14001:2015 standard was designed to make it easier for organisations that have to comply with more than one management system standard.
ISO 50001 Energy Management
ISO 50001 energy management systems certification will provide your organisation with a framework for better managing your energy usage and improving efficiency of your energy management system. This will lead to a reduction in energy consumption and bills whilst simultaneously reducing carbon emissions and meeting government reduction targets.
ISO 50001 energy management systems certification can benefit any organisation, large or small, in any sector. It is one of the wider family of ISO management systems certification international standards.
It is also acts as a means for organisations who qualify for Phase 3 of the UK government’s Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme (ESOS) to demonstrate energy commitment.
The ISO 50001 standard is an internationally recognized and which will act as proof that your organisation is a responsible business. Achieving certification to this standard will help you meet regulatory and statutory requirements.
ISO 50001 focuses exclusively on energy and requires an ongoing, sustained improvement in energy efficiency and reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.
It requires organisations to continually improve energy performance which includes greater energy efficiency, better energy use and consumption. Certification will protection you from rising energy costs and reduced availability.
The ISO 50001:2018 standard was designed to make it easier for organisations that have to comply with more than one management system standard which makes integrating easier.
BS8555
BS 8555 provides an effective way for organisations to spread the costs of implementing a generic environmental management system.
In addition to improved legal compliance, many organisations report increased employee morale that results from knowing that you are environmentally aware.
BS 8555 has six key phases, each of which has been divided into a number of key stages.
If you choose BS8555 certification, your organisation works towards achieving the criteria defined for each of the stages, which in turn form the basis of the inspection for each phase.
Completion of the sixth phases leads to registration against a recognized environmental standard (ISO 14001 and/or EMAS).
The six phases of BS8555 include:
- Establishing a baseline
- Identifying and assuring compliance with legal and other requirements
- Developing objectives, targets and programs
- Implementation and operation of the EMS
- Checking, audit and management reviews
- Environmental Management System acknowledgement
Green Dragon
The Green Dragon Standard can support your organisation in implementing an Environmental Management System (EMS), which is appropriate to the nature and scale of your activities.
There are five Levels within the Green Dragon Environmental Standard.
- Level 1: Commitment to Environmental Management
- Level 2: Understanding environmental responsibilities
- Level 3: Managing environmental impacts
- Level 4: Environmental Management Programme
- Level 5: Continual environmental improvement
Whether you are beginning your journey towards certification or transitioning to a new standard, our experts will guide you through the process.
Have a question?
To schedule a telephone call to discuss your requirements for the IEMA Environmental Management in Construction please click below.
