What is an Environmental Management System?            
                  
          In its simplest of terms, an Environmental Management System (EMS) is an approach to identifying the ways in which the environment
          is impacted by our work activities. An Environmental Management System helps to set priorities for action, and it challenges each and
          every employee to continually look for ways to lessen those impacts, and to protect the environment. 

          An EMS is defined as a self-correcting and continual improvement system that seeks to reduce environmental impacts associated with a
          facility's activities while helping to ensure compliance with environmental regulations. It provides a structured method for incorporation
          of environmental considerations into day to day operations while promoting continual improvement of the environment and therefore,
          human health. 
                                                                                           
        Objectives        

          Environmental management systems written to 
          the ISO14001 standard do not require a predefined
          minimum level of performance. For example, they
          do not prescribe that you recycle all your waste
          chemicals, take at least 90% of your travel by 
          public transit, or purchase all your products from
          sustainable resources. Of course, if you want
          to commit to these objectives, then they can
          form part of your EMS, but it is up to you. 
                         
          What an EMS does require is that you look at your company and identify what your significant environmental impacts are, and what your
          legal requirements are. This establishes where you are now. Once identified, you then can write an environmental policy that describes
          your commitment to continuous environmental improvement as a minimum. The rest of the management system involves setting
          objectives and targets to progressively improve your environmental performance and meeting legal requirements. 

        SMART Objectives

        All businesses need to set objectives for themselves or for the products or service they are launching. Setting objectives are important.
          It focuses the company on specific aims over a period of time and can motivate staff to meet the objectives set. A simple acronym used
          to set objectives is called SMART objectives.

        SMART stands for:

          1.  Specific - Objectives should specify what they want to achieve.
          2.  Measurable - You should be able to measure whether you are meeting the objectives or not.
          3.  Achievable - Are the objectives you set, achievable and attainable?
          4.  Realistic - Can you realistically achieve the objectives with the resources you have?
          5.  Time - When do you want to achieve the set of objectives?

          In addition to writing your Environmental Management System Manual, EMS Documentation Services provides you with
          assistance in developing your EMS, which includes helping you identify your significant environmental impacts and legal 
          requirements, writing your environmental policy, and even providing help with setting objectives and targets.  
 
          Your EMS Manual and procedures will describe in detail your system for performing each of these important functions 
          plus your system for continuous improvement of the environment.
                                                                                
                  

       Frequently Asked Questions 

 

         1. How big does an organization need to be to successfully implement an EMS?

 

         EMS have been implemented by organizations ranging in size from a couple of dozen employees to many thousands
         of employees. The elements of an EMS are flexible by design to accommodate a wide range of organizational types 
         and sizes.

 

       2. Will an EMS help us to prevent pollution?

 

         A commitment to preventing pollution is a cornerstone of an effective EMS and should be reflected in an organization’s
         policy, objectives and other EMS elements.

 

       3. To implement an EMS, do we have to start from scratch?

 

         Much of what you have in place now for environmental management probably can be incorporated into the EMS. 
         There is no need to “start over”.

 
       4. How will an EMS affect my existing compliance obligations?

 

         An EMS will not result in more or less stringent legal compliance obligations. But an EMS should improve your efforts 
         to comply with legal obligations, and, in some cases, may lead to more flexible compliance requirements.

 

       5. Do we need to be in 100% compliance in order to have an EMS?

 

         No. The concept of continual improvement assumes that no organization is perfect. While an EMS should help your
         organization to improve compliance and other measures of performance, this does not mean that problems will never occur.
         However, an effective EMS should help you find and fix these problems and prevent their recurrence.

 

       
       
       Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC)            

       Certify your manufacturing operations with the most trusted environmental label in the certification marketplace. Having the 
         most rigorous and consistently implemented chain-of-custody program in the world, the Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC) 
         Chan of Custody program ensures, through independent auditing, that product claims can be verified from the forest to the 
         customer. The integrity of FSC's promise to customers makes FSC the gold standard.   

         EMS Documentation Services makes it easy for you to have a ducumented FSC Chain-of-Custody system. We provide both
         FSC documentation and guidance in setting up your FSC system. Our services save you and your staff countless hours of time 
         which allows you to focus more on your core business.
          
         Companies who seek to express their environmental and social values by using forest products from responsible sources increasingly
         see FSC as a brand enhancement. Whether it's a product label on an item of furniture, recognition of FSC in a green building standard,
         or the placement of the FSC logo on an annual report cover, FSC is strengthening brands all over the world.
          
         To bring your customers an additional level of "green" manufacturing options, call today to have us send you an FSC Order Form
         and information packet. Or click HERE to order.

         Today's Environment         

         Read Today's Environment, a bi-weekly commentary
         by George Andersen  that  explores  the  world  of
         environmental  management. Subjects cover
         EMS  standards, training, sustainability,
         ISO14001, and certification.  

         For an in-depth look at these and other related
         topics, check out a special twenty part series,
         currently in process, that covers each of the 
         steps for implementing your Environmental
         Management System.                                  

         This Weeks Post
         
        Management Review