What is the point in your Manufacturing Company having an Environmental Management System (EMS) and complying with ISO 14001?
ISO 14001 is a voluntary international standard that specifies a process for controlling and improving a company's environmental performance.It gives a company the opportunity to demonstrate its environmental credentials by displaying its understanding of on site processes and activities,determining how these impact on the environment and then addressing these problems through an action plan for ongoing improvement.
The four main principles of ISO 14001 are:
1. Understanding the issues
2. Developing a policy
3. Implementing the policy
4. Auditing the policy
The standard is designed to support a third party certification.
Neither a competency nor a performance standard,it is a tool that shows that a company has an environmental management system(EMS)in place.A critical part of an EMS is to demonstrate a commitment to improving the processes on site.The company (especially the Directors)has to clearly demonstrate that it is committed towards legally complying with all relevant environmental legislation and pollution control.
Why obtain ISO 14001?
Not only does obtaining ISO 14001 help towards creating a more sustainable environment,it demonstrates that a company has an understanding of environmental regulations and can help towards winning new business.If a company is in possession of an environmental policy it may influence whether a company wins a contract from an ISO14001 accredited customer.
In practical terms,the objectives of the management systems are met in different ways depending on the type of industry and their methods.Therefore the environmental risks and responsibilities for each individual company will be different.Each company will have to implement their environmental management system through a series of separate programmes,which are likely to include the following:
1. Monitoring programmes to ensure compliance with the requirements of licences and consents(such as to discharge waste water or to emit exhaust gases).
2. Employee training and environmental awareness to staff.
3. Development of job descriptions and accountabilities.
4. Waste management and waste minimisation.
5. Emergency response(contingency planning)to spillages,leaks or fires.
6. Environmental auditing,including non-compliance corrective action and reporting.
In the case of Jasun Filtration,the company manufactures air filtration products to improve environments,but in doing so creates an environmental impact through energy consumption and waste production.As our products clean the environment,it would be hypocritical of us not to address these impacts.By using the framework developed through the standard we can now measure and minimise the effects of our working practices on the environment.
Implementing ISO 14001 can result in:
• Tightening up waste streams, and reducing the amount going to Landfill.
• Thus increase recycling of waste.
• Reducing waste costs.
• Lower taxes and running costs through green fleet management.
• Reduced congestion charge costs on certain company vehicles.
• Working with suppliers recycling packaging e.g. drums.
It can also:
• Help create a better environment.
• Instantly show customers a company’s status regarding organisation and Environment.
• Enable companies to trade with customers who require ISO 14001 accreditation.
• Ensure compliance with current and upcoming legislation.
• Work with suppliers recycling packaging.
Conclusion
Implementing ISO 14001 can be time consuming and incur some initial costs but the benefits outweigh the expense.We found some of the financial savings and impacts were perceived as small but when assessed and measured they added up - almost to the point of legislative obligation.Looking at the wider picture,adopting an Environmental Working Strategy not only helps reduce the drain on world resources but also creates a better working environment for employees.
