Using The Process Approach To Build An Environmental Management System

Do you want to create an effective Environmental Management System (EMS) for your organization? Look no further! Using the process approach can greatly enhance your efforts in building a successful EMS that will not only streamline your operations but also minimize your environmental impact.

Understanding the Process Approach

The process approach is a management strategy that focuses on viewing organizational activities as interconnected processes that contribute to the achievement of objectives. Applying this approach to environmental management enables organizations to systematically identify and control the environmental aspects and impacts associated with their activities, products, and services.

By adopting a process-based approach, organizations can develop more efficient and effective ways of managing their environmental responsibilities. This approach is in line with international standards such as ISO 14001 – the globally recognized standard for EMS.

The ISO 14001:2015 Implementation Handbook: Using the Process Approach to Build an Environmental Management System

by Milton P. Dentch(Kindle Edition)

4.1 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	2998 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	167 pages
Lending	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Paperback	:	108 pages
Item Weight	:	7.4 ounces
Dimensions	:	7.44 x 0.22 x 9.69 inches

FREE

The Benefits of Using the Process Approach

Implementing an EMS based on the process approach offers several benefits for organizations:

• Enhanced Environmental Performance: The process approach enables organizations to identify and manage their environmental aspects and impacts in a systematic manner, leading to improved environmental performance and reduced negative effects on the environment.
• Increased Efficiency: By understanding the interconnectedness of processes within the organization, the process approach facilitates the identification of opportunities for improvement and enables organizations to streamline their operations, leading to increased efficiency and cost savings.
• Integration of Environmental Considerations: The process approach helps organizations integrate environmental considerations into their day-to-day operations, ensuring a more sustainable approach to business.
• Clearer Accountability: With a process-based EMS, roles, and responsibilities are clearly defined, ensuring that everyone in the organization understands their environmental responsibilities and contribution to achieving environmental objectives.

Implementing the Process Approach for Your EMS

To effectively implement the process approach for your EMS, follow these steps:

1. Identify Your Organization's Processes: Start by identifying all the key processes within your organization that have an impact on the environment. This may involve conducting a thorough review of your operations and activities.
2. Map Out Each Process: Once you have identified the processes, create process maps or flowcharts to visualize each process from start to finish. This will help you understand the sequence of activities and identify areas where improvements can be made.
3. Identify Environmental Aspects and Impacts: For each process, determine the associated environmental aspects (such as emissions, waste generation, or resource consumption) and the potential impacts they have on the environment.
4. Set Objectives and Targets: Based on the identified aspects and impacts, set specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) objectives and targets to improve your environmental performance.
5. Implement Controls: Develop and implement controls and procedures to manage the identified aspects and impacts. This may involve implementing best practices, training employees, or investing in new technologies.
6. Monitor and Measure Performance: Regularly monitor and measure your environmental performance to ensure that your objectives and targets are being achieved. Use this data to drive continuous improvement.
7. Review and Update: Periodically review and update your EMS to ensure its effectiveness and alignment with changing environmental conditions, regulations, and business goals.

The process approach offers a valuable framework for building an effective Environmental Management System. By adopting this approach, organizations can enhance their environmental performance, increase efficiency, integrate environmental considerations into their operations, and ensure clear accountability. Follow the step-by-step process to develop and implement your EMS, and you'll be on your way to creating a sustainable and environmentally responsible organization.

The ISO 14001:2015 Implementation Handbook: Using the Process Approach to Build an Environmental Management System

by Milton P. Dentch(Kindle Edition)

4.1 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	2998 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	167 pages
Lending	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Paperback	:	108 pages
Item Weight	:	7.4 ounces
Dimensions	:	7.44 x 0.22 x 9.69 inches

FREE

This book explains how an organization can use a management system to both control and improve its environmental performance. It provides guidance in building the environmental management system (EMS) in support of the organization’s operations---linking the management system to the requirements of ISO 14001 to support third-party certification to ISO 14001:2015.

Included in the text are best practices as well as common pitfalls and weaknesses the author has observed in various organizations. He is an environmental auditor and EMS internal auditor trainer and consultant. He has audited EMSs of over 100 companies to ISO 14001.

For those organizations already certified to ISO 14001:2004, the book highlights the changes required to upgrade to the new 2015 version.

In addition, included on an accompanying CD are comprehensive check sheets to be used by internal auditors in auditing an EMS's conformance to ISO 14001:2015.