Environmental Management Systems (ISO 14001) from IMS (Northern)

What is an Environmental Management System (EMS)?

An environmental management system is a documented management process that assists an organisation to control and reduce impact, a result of business activity, on the environment. ISO 14001 provides a framework to allow controls to be exercised in a structured and managed way.

By deciding to install an environmental management system, your organisation is stating that you care about the environment and are determined to play your part in environmental protection and conservation.

Benefits of an environmental management system include:

• minimum business impact on the environment
• competitive edge through commitment to reducing environmental impact
• potential cost savings
• economical use of resources
• improved efficiency
• improved regulatory relations

Many organisations now integrate environmental protection into their business management structure through Integrated Management Systems for quality, health & safety and environmental (QHSE) management.

Is it Relevant to your Organisation?

All businesses, regardless of size or function have an impact on the environment by the mere act of trading from day-to-day. Therefore an environmental management system is as relevant to one organisation as it is to another. ISO 14001 is flexible to meet the needs of all organisations regardless of size, structure or industry.

In consideration that all business activity has consequential environmental impact, any effective environmental management system includes the following components:

• a clear analysis of the environmental issues affecting the organisation and its current performance in relation to these;
• a plan for environmental action with clear objectives, targets and procedures through which these will be achieved; and
• regular auditing of the effectiveness and suitability of any EMS put in place to ensure continual improvement.

Why use IMS (Northern) Ltd

IMS Northern will assist with the development and implementation your environmental management system within a sensible timescale, ensuring that all the necessary components are in place for reduced environmental impact. Your system will be developed through the use of documented procedures written with the aim of improved business as well as environmental management.

Assistance is available to the level you require, with development and implementation of a full environmental management system, or restricted to support in specific areas of the environmental management system.

Training courses available through IMS (Northern) include:

• Environmental Awareness
• Environmental Aspects and Impacts
• EMS Internal Auditing