CHAPTER 6

ENVIRONMENTAL
MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

WHAT IS EMS
EMS is a set of processes and practices that enable an organization to
reduce its environmental impacts and increase its operating efficiency.
It is a framework that helps a company achieve its environmental goals
through consistent control of its operations.
An EMS helps a company address its regulatory demands in a systematic and
cost-effective manner. This proactive approach can help reduce the risk of
non-compliance and improve health and safety practices for employees and
the public.

It is also an important system approach towards achieving sustainable

development & maintaining the balance btw env, society and economy.

 Formal EMS emerged in early 1990s to provide organizations with a

proactive, systematic approach for managing the potential env.
consequences of their operations.

EMS should also identify key resources and stakeholders of responsibility

for determining & implementing env. Policy.
The system for env. mgt have been formalized in the ISO 14000 series of
quality standards.

OBJECTIVES OF EMS IMPLEMENTATION

To improve corporate image of an organization
Help organization to establish a systematic way to introduce
environmental issues into every aspects of the companys operations
Offers an organized approach to manage environmental issues.
To enable an organization to comply with the current and impending
legislation.

Improving the environmental performance of the organization in reducing

pollution, minimizing the use of resources and protecting the natural
environment.

TYPES OF EMS
1. British Standard BS 7750 was one of the first to appear. It
became the basis for the ISO 14000 standard.
2. International Standard Organisations -ISO 140000 series std
3. European Union standard Eco-Management and Audit
Scheme (EMAS).
4. Responsible CARE: an environmental management process
used by the chemical industry.

EMS & ISO 14000 SERIES OF STD

EMS promotes env. conservations.
It is an important approach for business & industrial sectors to comply
with when it comes to environmental related regulations.
International Standard Organisations (ISO)
ISO set a voluntary international std measures in 1996 to help
companies, organizations & governments measures & attain
improvement on env. Performance.
These std have a common approach to env. mgt & reduce barriers in
trade by allowing easier cross-broader complience.
ISO has established an ISO 14000 series of std for env mgt.
ISO technical committee (ISO /TC) 207: Env,. Mgt is responsible for
developing & maintaining the ISO 14000 family stds.

 ISO 14000 STANDARDS

ISO 14000 family of std for env. Mgt provide practical toolbox to assist in
implementation of actions supportive to sustainable development.
Mechanism for sustainability have been developed between the ISO
14000 & ISO 9001 std to facilitate their use by organizations that wish to
implement both environmental & quality mgt systems.
ISO 14000 family is designed to be implemented according to the same
PLAN-DO-CHECK-ACT (PDCA) cycle underlying all ISO mgt systems std.

Table 1 : List of ISO 14000 family standard

EMS COMPONENTS

SUCCESS FACTORS FOR EMS

Top management should have a clear understanding on what are critical
success factors in their implementation of EMS.
Success factors:
- leadership and support
- learning and training,
- internal analysis
- sustainability
- management commitment
- employee empowerment
- Rewards
- feedback & review
Top management should put greatest effort in identifying environmental
aspects, environmental management system (EMS) documentation, training,
EMS audits, operational control, environmental management program,
objectives and targets, and document control

BENEFITS OF EMS