An Environmental Management System (EMS) is a framework that helps an organization achieve its environmental goals through consistent review, evaluation, and improvement of its environmental performance. The EMS itself does not dictate a level of environmental performance that must be achieved; each organization’s EMS is tailored to the its own individual objectives and targets.
An EMS helps an organization 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. An EMS can also help address non-regulated issues, such as energy conservation, and can promote stronger operational control and employee stewardship.
Basic Elements of an EMS include the following:
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Reviewing the organization’s environmental goals;
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Analyzing its environmental aspects & impacts and legal requirements;
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Setting environmental objectives and targets to reduce environmental impacts and comply with legal requirements;
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Establishing programs to meet these objectives and targets;
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Monitoring and measuring progress in achieving the objectives;
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Ensuring employees’ environmental awareness and competence; and,
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Reviewing progress of the EMS and making improvements.
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Identifying potential environmental emergencies and determining preparedness plans to cope up with these emergencies.
Benefits of EMS
- Enhanced compliance – EMS minimizes the environmental liabilities through well-designed mitigation procedures.
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Resource conservation – It maximizes the efficient use of resources.
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Pollution prevention – It reduces waste generation by proper planning.
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Enhanced image – It demonstrates a well-accepted corporate image.
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Enhanced employee morale – It motivates awareness of environmental concern among all levels of employees.
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Positive workplace culture perspective – It ensures that organizations maintain compliance with government environmental regulations.
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Improved environmental performance – It increases better understanding of environmental impacts of business activities.
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Finally, a good work environment and quality workforce increase skill and efficiency resulting in higher productivity at less cost and higher profits.
- have hand-holding in providing consultancy and trainings for effective implementation of such standards to any type of organisation.