An environmental management system (EMS) is a structured approach for managing environmental issues within an organization. ISO 14001 provides a standardized framework for developing, implementing, and certifying an EMS. Key elements of an EMS include establishing an environmental policy, identifying environmental impacts, setting objectives and targets, assigning roles and responsibilities, training employees, and continually improving performance. An effective EMS integrates environmental considerations into daily operations and promotes ongoing enhancements.

1. Environmental Management Systems (EMS)
and ISO 14001
Prof. Sandeep Hegde

2. What is an Environmental Management
System?
It is the tool used by an organization to manage the:
– Organization Structure
– Planning Activities
– Responsibilities
– Practices, Procedures, Processes
– Resources
for developing, implementing, maintaining, reviewing, and
correcting/improving the approach to addressing environmental issues.
It is the structured approach that incorporates environmental
considerations into day-to-day operations throughout the organization,
and is designed to promote continual improvement.

3. WHAT IS AN ENVIRONMENTAL
MANAGEMENT SYSTEM?
ISO 14001 Definition
“The part of the overall management system that
includes organizational structure, planning
activities, responsibilities, practices, procedures,
processes and resources for developing,
implementing, achieving, reviewing and
maintaining the environmental policy.”

4. ISO 14001
• ISO 14000 (specifically ISO 14001) describes one
format/structure for the planning, implementation
and checking of an EMS.
• There are other possible scenarios/options.
• ISO 14000 is important for, among other reasons,
being the one option globally developed and
understood.
• ISO 14000 actually composes a series of
standards, developed by the International
Organization for Standardization, and are
voluntary, market-driven standards.

5. To whom do the standards apply?
• The ISO 14000 standards can be applied to:
– large and small business & industry;
– service sectors (hospitals, hotels, etc.);
– government organizations;
– all types of organizations, of all sizes anywhere
in the world.

6. Becoming ISO 14001 registered
• ISO 14001 is the only certification standard.
• The registration body examines EMS for conformity
to the ISO 14001 standard.
• The EMS audit is not a compliance audit.
• Registration does NOT mean that products are more
environmentally friendly.
• Registration means the organization has a
documented EMS that is fully implemented and
meets ISO 14001 requirements.
• The registration covers processes, not products.

7. A Viable EMS
To succeed an EMS should be:
•In harmony with mission focus;
•Cost effective;
•Flexible;
•Transparent;
•Useful to the “practitioner”;
•Focused on continual improvement.

8. The Deming's Wheel - PDCA

9. The Deming's Wheel

11. General Principles
•An EMS uses the Plan-Do-Check-Act Management Model
•An EMS serves the organization and its mission, not the
reverse
•EMS is a process, not an event
•An EMS is the people & their actions, not the words &
aspirations
•Improvement rests on changing attitudes & behaviors
•“Want to, not have to”
•Start at the top, and the bottom and implement throughout

12. The Three C’s of an Effective EMS
Conformance
Meets the requirements
(implements the “shalls”)
Consistency
Various elements inter-related
(I.e., significant aspects reflected in emergency planning, etc.)
Continual Improvement
Mechanisms in place to improve, cultural change, management
commitment
(including fixing non-conformances and improving performance)

13. ISO14000
• Stress on continuous improvement by using
PDCA system.
– PLAN: Understand issues, set goals, plan actions
– DO: Implement activities and processes to achieve your
goals
– CHECK: Monitor, measure, & audit the EMS
– ACT: Continually improve the system
PLANPLAN DODO CHECKCHECK ACTACT

14. Major Components of an EMS
Environmental
Policy
Continual Improvement
Planning
Implementation &
Control
Checking & Corrective
Action
Management
Review

16. ISO 14001 Structure
Management
Review
Management
Review
Planning
• Environmental Aspects
• Legal / Other Requirement
• Objectives and Targets
• Environmental
Management Program
Checking /
Corrective Action
• Monitoring and Measurement
• Nonconformance and Corrective
and Preventive Action
• Records
• EMS Audits
Start
Implementation
• Structure and Responsibility
• Training, Awareness, Competence
• Communication
• EMS documentation
• Document Control
• Operational Control
* Emergency Preparedness
/ Response
Continual
Improvement !
Environmental
Policy

17. Steps to develop an EMS
1. Appoint A Green Manager
2. Set Up an Environmental Management System
3. Carry Out An Initial Environmental Audit
4. Define An Environmental Policy
5. Establish Environmental Objectives And Targets

18. Environmental Management Systems
• Policy (What the organization is committed to doing)
• Planning (figuring out what we want to do and why, identifying the “drivers”)
- Aspects (The company’s environmental character)
- Legal and Other Requirements (Knowing what laws and regulations apply)
- Objectives and Targets (Improvement goals)
- Environmental Management Programs (specific “how to” for objectives)
• Implementation/Operation
- Structure and Responsibility (Deploying accountability throughout the
organization)
- Training Awareness and Competence (Deploying knowledge throughout the
organization)
- Communication (getting the word out internally and externally)
- EMS Documentation (Providing direction and guidance on what to do)
- Document Control (Making sure documents in use are current and accurate)
- Operational Control (Ongoing control of significant aspects)
- Emergency Planning and Response (Management and planning for unexpected
occurrences)

19. • Checking/Corrective Action
- Monitoring and Measurement (Ongoing evaluation of the
system, including legal compliance)
- Conformances, Corrective and Preventive Action (Ongoing
fixes to the system)
- Records (Making a record to verify we did what we intended
to do)
- EMS Audits (Periodic spot checks of system itself)
• Management Review (Top management support to maintain the
EMS, fix problems, and ensure continual improvement)

20. Environmental Aspects and Impacts
ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECTS
Elements of an organization’s activities, products or services which can
interact with the environment. Examples include discharges, resource
consumption, energy usage, ecosystem alterations, etc.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
Any change to the environment, whether adverse or beneficial, wholly or
partly resulting from an organization’s activities, products, or services.
(A significant aspect is one that has or can have a significant impact on the
environment. The organization selects the criteria for significance.)

23. Environmental Objectives and Target
Objectives Targets
Reduce energy use Reduce electricity use by 10% by 2002
Reduce natural gas use by 15% by 2002
Reduce usage of hazardous chemicals Eliminate use of CFC by 1997
Reduce use of high-VOC paints by 25%
Reduce hazardous waste generation Reduce chrome wastes in plating area by 50% in 1998
Improve employee awareness of environmental issues To held monthly awareness training courses
Train 100% of employees by end of the year
Improve compliance with wastewater / discharge
permit limits
Zero permit limit violations by the end of 1997

25. Role of Aspects in the EMS
• Significant aspects drive the EMS
• EMS is designed to identify, control, manage, and
improve upon the significant aspects
• Compliance with Legal and Other Requirements is
a part of the system and does relate to the aspects
• Elements such as operational control (procedures
and work instructions), training, monitoring and
measurement, emergency planning, and setting
objectives all depend on significant aspects.

26. Documentation
• Say what you do
• Do what you say
• “Record” it (paper or electronic)
Must be:
– relevant to EMS (link to aspects)
– Usable and appropriate
– Controlled
– Reviewed and revised as “continual improvement”

27. Developing an EMS vs.
Implementing an EMS
• Developing the EMS involves preparing
documentation, establishing roles and
responsibilities, initially identifying aspects,
conducting initial training, etc.
• Implementing the EMS involves deploying
it in the organization such that it becomes
the way you operate, and survives beyond
the initial push by changing the culture

28. Getting Started-Evaluating
Where You Are
• Gap Analysis, Aspect Review, Compliance
Review
• Development Implementation Plan
(schedule, costs, resource needs)
• Management Review and go/no go

29. Getting Started- Implementation
• Filling the gaps
• Aspects analysis, policy, high level
documentation, objectives and targets
• Training at all levels, synchronizing the
organization
• Internal audits, corrective action
• Pre-Assessment, final go over
• Certification audit
• Maintenance and Surveillance; continual
improvement

30. The Long Term…
• The EMS should be maintained with the
intent that it will help improve
environmental performance
• This means making changes, measuring key
parameters and using the metrics to make
improvements
• Being committed to continual improvement
for the long term

31. Benefits of ISO 14001
• Minimizing trade barriers and related complications
• Increasing company competitiveness
• Supporting a worldwide focus on environmental management
• Reducing cost of waste management
• Lowering consumption of energy and materials
• Reducing distribution costs
• Improving corporate image among regulators, customers and the
public
• Creating a framework for continuous improvement of your
environmental performance
• Allowing a single management system and process