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Environment Management Systems (EMS)

An environmental management system (EMS) is a structured framework for managing an organisation's significant environmental impacts.

Key issues

Businesses must take responsibility for the environmental impacts of their activity. An EMS can be the practical tool to help them manage, evaluate and improve environmental performance in a verifiable way.

An EMS can help companies reduce emissions, comply with environmental regulations,improve their resource efficiency and reduce bottom line costs. The chosen EMS must be appropriate for the size, complexity, nature and risks posed by the business.

When implementing an EMS organisations should consider the value of adopting a recognised standard or scheme, such as ISO 14001, the EU Eco Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) or the British Standard BS 8555.

If a recognised standard or scheme is adopted then organisations should aim to achieve certification to provide independent recognition of performance by auditors accredited by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS).

We look to UKAS to ensure a consistent approach and level of competence by certification bodies. An EMS should promote continuous improvement to protect the environment and help fight climate change, benefiting not only ourselves but future generations.

The Environment Agency’s role

  1. We encourage businesses to adopt a formal EMS in our risk-based approach to regulation through the Operator and Pollution Risk Appraisal (OPRA) scheme.
  2. We help maintain public confidence in formal EMS by working with government, business, UKAS and the certification industry to ensure continuous development and to maintain and reward improved standards.
  3. Where a certified EMS is not considered appropriate we encourage sites to apply appropriate management guidance, such as Getting the basics right¹and take account of the operator performance aspects of our OPRA scheme.
  4. We led the remas projec2, which analysed performance data from IPPC regulated industrial sites in the UK and Europe, to assess the effectiveness of EMS. The findings of the IEMA-ENDS survey of EMS users3, carried out in 2006 helped confirm the 'remas' conclusions. We are considering these conclusions as we work with industry in developing EMS tools suitable for small and medium enterprises that we regulate.

Effective EMS

An effective EMS will:

  • be implemented at a strategic level and integrated into corporate plans and policies so that all staff know their environmental responsibilities;
  • assess the organisation’s environmental impacts and identify opportunities to reduce pollution to;
  • air and water, and produce less waste;
  • set clear objectives and targets to minimise the significant environmental impacts;
  • record environmental performance against targets and industry performance indicators to encourage continual improvement;
  • ensure compliance with environmental legislation and take action to prevent and correct cases of non-compliance;
  • ensure good resource management and encourage sustainable development;
  • identify key interested parties and communicate company environmental performance to them clearly.

References

Information sources for EMS

Types of EMS