In order to meet ISO 14001 requirements, the policy needs to incorporate some key aspects. When writing up the policy, it needs to be remembered what is appropriate for the organization and its operations. The policy needs to be directed at areas where your business impact the environment.

One of the primary functions of an environmental management policy is to identify the processes within your company and decide how they can be improved on. Your policy needs to state that you and your company are committed to continual development and improvement in how your operations affect the environment. In the policy you don?t need to state how this will be done, simply that you are committed to achieving it.

Part of the policy needs to be dedicated to the prevention of pollution. You don?t need to document how you are going to achieve this, just make the commitment.

The policy has to comply with legal obligations and other requirements related to environmental aspects. Environmental aspects refer to the way your company interacts with the environment and the impact it has thereon. You need to commit to and agree to abide and conform to any laws and regulations that relate to this.

The framework for objectives and goals or targets is where the policy becomes a little more detailed and involved. You need to devise and set up plans to achieve targets which relate to the improvement of your impact on the environment. Remember not to include anything in your policy that cannot be acted upon in your improvement plans.

Your environmental policy is one of the items in environmental management system that has to be a written document. This cannot be a word of mouth ?document?. These plans need to be implemented and incorporated into your operations. There have to be plans in place and resources available to enable you to make your commitments a reality. This part of your plan will continually be in need of review and change. Your company processes and environmental impact will be ever-changing.

Your employees are key in the undertaking of any part of the policy. They are the task force who will carry out the ?hard labor? as a matter of speaking. They need to understand the company policy and be clear on what impact their job has on the overall environmental impact of the company. The employees need to know what is expected and required from them in order to achieve the company goals as set out in the policy. The employees need to understand too, how the impact of the organizations process on the environment, impact on them personally as well.

This environmental policy and management system has to be made readily available for anybody who wishes to view it. They don?t necessarily need to be part of the company, the general public need to granted access if required. This is not a bad aspect as it can be used as a publicity tool for your organization. People want to know that big companies do care about more than their profits and that health and well-being of the public and the environment are important to them. Proving this will only strengthen their position in the public?s perceptions of them.

It is imperative to remember that the policy must be appropriate for the operations of your company and how your processes impact the environment. There is no use making statements about chemical waste, when you have none.

Make your policy as simple as possible so that it is clear and easily understood. Make your commitments and statements meaningful. Your policy should allow your employees and the public to understand with ease what your company intends on doing to reduce their carbon footprint and improving their environmental impact. A policy does not need to be involved and full of difficult to understand jargon in order for it to be viable. Say what you mean in as plain and simple terms as possible. Leave no room for misunderstanding. Make your plight known to all.

An environmental policy is the basis on which your environmental management system is built and operates. You need to have clear objectives and plans in order to implement processes and procedures that compliment your intentions. Your employees are key to the success of this process, in every way. They need to feel comfortable about the expectations placed on them and understand, with clarity, every aspect of the policy. A policy that is understood, will be implemented with success. Documented results and achievements will create motivation and inspiration and a unity in the pursuit of a common goal.

Yes, management draws up the policy, but they should always take into consideration the perspective of the employees and see it from their viewpoint as well. The employees are after all the worker bees, and they will also be accountable for their actions. Any employee will be proud to be part of something of this magnitude. Protecting the environment for their future generations to enjoy.

Formulate your policy with care and thought. Don?t commit to anything you can?t adhere to. Remember the policy will be amended and changed regularly as your environmental impact changes, so there is always room to include different plans and commitments at a later stage.

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This certification has grown in popularity because it is a process that can be applied to any organization in any trade.

Governments and local authorities place a lot of weight on the ISO 14001 accreditation and this is possibly why more and more companies are undergoing the process. Obtaining this certification offers them a greater chance of being awarded tenders by these authorities.

The primary aim of the certification or standard, is to help companies become environmentally friendly. The issues of environmental welfare will always be present. ISO 14001 provides a structured and defined way of dealing with these issues. ISO 14001 requires the active and proactive role to be taken by management and employees alike.

The main elements that need to be addressed:

• Managing processes and procedures
• Identifying environmental aspects which are within the control of the organization and the impact derived from these aspects

A company is basically, in layman?s terms, expected to define what it does to alleviate environmental impact, and they are required to do as they have stipulated.

Putting the processes in place is the hard part of the entire procedure. Once the systems are in place, it is easier to access where improvements need to made and how to make them.

Proper implementation of the processes and standards will make your organization more efficient. Greater efficiency and ease will ensure that your workforce does not feel as pressured to perform and can concentrate of quality of work. A happier, more relaxed workforce is one that is motivated and committed.

Commitment to your organization and your business from an outsiders perspective is also given a positive boost. Showing people that your company cares about the environment and have made a commitment to affect the environment in a less harmful way, can only build confidence and trust in your organization.

The initial outlay for the process is costly, but if you take into account the savings made on energy consumption, raw material use, and even reduction in waste, the process will pay for itself within a short period of time and your company will reap the rewards on a monetary level as well.

Those who have obtained ISO 14001 certification often receive reduced premium rates from their insurers. The system ensures that you meet the requirements set out through legislation and you become less of a risk to insurance companies.

A huge part of this kind of environmental management system is the commitment to continually improve and develop processes and results. In doing so your company minimizes impact on the environment, but you also become more efficient and the cost savings felt grow with each change.

It is always best practice to obtain the certification through a Certification body. This is proof that you have a third party evaluation of your processes and systems and they agree that you meet all requirements of the standard. Potential and current customers have peace of mind and assurance of your commitment to environmental issues.

The process of certification is not firm and steadfast. It is dependent on the size of the organization and the number of new policies and processes that must be implemented. In any event, the certification process is not one that is a quick-fix. To ensure smooth transition and implementation, your company should appoint a designated co-coordinator who takes responsibility for the process. Expect the process to last anywhere between three and six months from the initial meeting and evaluation, to the certification of your company.

The initial audit will be carried out by a lead auditor. They will evaluate your current policies, processes and procedures and provide you with a detailed report of where your current systems need to change in order to meet with requirements. Your company will be given opportunity to make changes to existing systems as per the report and once you are ready, the second audit will be carried out. This measures the efficiency of processes and procedures within your environmental management system and whether it meets with the requirements of the standard. If your company fits the bill, the auditor will recommend your company for certification. The auditor?s reports will be reviewed and if all is found to be in order, you will be awarded certification.

Your company will have to undergo surveillance audits yearly to ensure that you are still meeting all the requirements of the standard. A detailed, written report will be provided on completion and will outline whether there are any shortcoming that need to be addressed. Your company will have a certain time period in which to rectify the issues. Every three years, your company will undergo a full re-audit which will outline the strengths and weaknesses of your systems and they will assist you in identifying areas that need improvement.

The company itself has to undertake the improvements themselves, they cannot be implemented by the certification body. The aim of the certification body is to offer assistance to companies and help them to reap maximum benefits from their certification. The certification body is objective in approach.

Yes, the process seems a daunting one, but the benefits offered are fantastic. Select your Certification body with care. They hold your future in their hands. You want someone who is going to work with you on improving as opposed to just calling the shots.? Certification of the ISO 14001 standard is imperative to any company in this modern age. Everybody, who is anybody, is conscious of environmental decline and the impact organizations and industry have on it. Those who are shown to take initiative in improving the situation are favored. They are seen as responsible, answerable, and aware.

Make the decision today to obtain certification and reap the benefits.

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ISO 14001 is not compulsory for every business to undertake. This process of certification is voluntary. ISO 14001 is the environmental management system is the standard with which requirements have been established. These requirements are what companies aiming for certification, will be measured against and audited using.

ISO 14001 audits are not a measure of the impact on the environment, but rather a measure of the effectiveness of the environmental management system that the company utilizes. It is important to set achievable goals which will culminate in the achievement of ISO 14001 certification.

ISO 14001 has become a key factor for many companies, when selection of contractors is put under scrutiny. There are many countries who have made it know that they will favor ISO 14001 certified companies during any procurement process. There are a number of large companies who are undertaking practices geared towards ISO 14001 certification and there are numerous reasons for this decision. These include the ability to identify areas where energy and resource consumption can be reduced, the reduction of risk and liability, and of course conformance with regulatory requirements.

ISO 14001 is not a mean of measuring emissions, but it does negate laws and regulations by which companies must govern, with a distinct aim of reducing pollution. It is not a system-based standard as opposed to a product-based standard. It is a system that offer companies a plan to follow in order to manage the environmental impact of their operations.

There are a number of requirements that must be met, if you are to successfully begin the implementation process and aim for certification.

The company needs to have a publicly available environmental policy which is put in place by the management of the company and complied with by all. The policy should be designed to apply to the operations of the particular company and it must show commitments towards the prevention of pollution and reduction of the environmental impact.

The policy needs to be grounded in processes and procedures which identify environmental aspects and their impact. These procedures need to be compliant with government regulations and the policy itself. All objectives and targets must be documented and recorded and they must be consistent with the goals set out by the environmental policy. There must always be a continued effort to improve on the existing and prevent pollution of the environment.

The environmental management team consists of a number of employees. Each employee needs to have well-defined job descriptions and be totally clear on what their part of the process is. Each employee needs to understand the impact of their work on the environment. It is the responsibility of the company to ensure proper training is given to all employees in this respect.

The environmental management system needs to allow for easy internal communication. All reports, documents, and results need to be readily accessible by anyone in the company who may require them at any time.

It is imperative that processes and procedures are reviewed and documented regularly to ensure that there is continual improvement and that the environmental management system is effective. Management needs to ensure that an internal audit is carried out annually.

It is becoming more and more viable for companies to obtain the ISO 14001 certification as opposed to simply applying the standards to the company operations. Where your company trades is an important factor in your decision to obtain certification. Many companies who trade in Europe for instance, are required to submit their certification along with other ISO certifications such as 14001. It is becoming more and more prevalent that the public as well as companies whom you supply to are requesting this certification as proof that your company is doing their part to impact the environment less. With all the recent talk of global degradation, companies no longer want to be associated with companies who are not certified and have proof of their involvement in protecting the environment.

If you are in a trade where competition is high, you may have to consider going for certification if some of your major competitors have obtained it. You will be simply taking your company out of the equation if you don’t.

What must be remembered is that this certification can be very costly and if undertaken, there needs to be commitment from all involved, to achieve. Obtaining the certification will in the long-term ensure that your bottom line yields a higher figure. You are doing the environment which provides for industry a service, as well as your own company.

There are really no reasons why a company should not want to obtain this certification, there are no negative effects, not counting the workload. A team who works towards a common goal, in unity, will achieve success and they will understand from all aspects what their own impact and the impact of their work is on the environment, and how important it is for everyone now and in the future, to lessen this huge carbon footprint mankind is leaving in their wake. After all which company wants to be synonymous with the destruction of the planet?? I am certain none. Not really a terrific sales pitch for any company is it? Do your research, make the commitment, and achieve that certification.

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Whereas leadership relies on things that are not tangible, motivation, inspiration, attitude, decision making abilities, management refers more to the administrative process involved with achieving the goals set out. Management involves planning, communication, and implementing organizational business systems.

There are certain things that leadership needs to be ensure according to ISO 14001 requirements.

Those at the top of the management ladder need to take ownership and responsibility for the effectiveness of the management system. Of course delegation of some items to representatives will be necessary, but top management still needs to be actively involved in environmental activities.

An environmental policy needs to be established and environmental objectives put in place.

The leaders of the organization need to ensure that the requirements of the ISO 14001 environmental management system are carefully combined into the process of the organization. Environmental objectives should not overshadow organizational objectives and vice versa. Both should be equally attainable.

The responsibility of the leaders in this process is to ensure that all the resources needed for successful implementation and running of the environmental system are available. Equipment, finance, and trained staff are all necessary parts of the process.

The leader is the person who has to motivate the staff and make them aware of how important and valuable the success of the environmental management system is, and they also need to be well aware of what the requirements are. It is after all the staff who actually have to do the physical work of achieving the results and objectives are met. The importance of the environmental management system needs to clear and decisive, with no margin for error or misunderstanding.

The leadership is who in responsible at the end of the day for the implementation of a successful environmental management system and the achievement of objectives and results. They need to be able to motivate the managers and staff in such a way that these results are noticeable and the objectives obtained. They are responsible and answerable for those under their leadership meeting desired requirements and achieving.

The leadership of an organization is responsible for undertaking internal audits, corrective actions where necessary, and performing management reviews to see who needs to step it up on the performance side, and who is doing a top notch job. It is the responsibility of the leadership to continually improve the environmental management system that has been implemented.

Without the support and guidance from the leadership of an organization, the management and employees to fulfill the requirements of and environmental responsibilities that they are meant to. The leadership needs to lead from the front and be working inspiration to those who fall below them.

In any organization or group, leadership is key to the success of achieving desired results and reaching objectives. A process will never run smoothly if the leadership followed is not strong in their own convictions and dedication to achieving success.

A process such as the implementation of an environmental management system is one that is many faceted and requires a great deal of commitment and team work from all involved. Those within the team need inspiration and motivation in order to realize their potential in making the process a success. The leadership needs to make it very clear from the start what the requirements are and what is expected. Everybody needs to be fully aware of the objectives and goals that are being strives for. There is no shortcut in a process like this, and everybody needs to pull their weight and be answerable for their actions.

Leadership is the action by which everyone follows. Bad leadership will result in poor performance, and unreachable goals.

Achieving ISO 14001 certification is something that the entire company can be proud of and something that everybody must be involved in. This is certainly not a process that only one person can pull off and it must never be thought by anyone on the team that it is not their responsibility as they don?t answer for the results or the lack thereof. Every single member must be made accountable for their own actions. This will make each employee on the team very aware of any action that they undertake.

We are all aware of the importance of creating less of an impact on the environment and we should all be proud and eager to be a part of something that can lessen the carbon footprint left behind by industry. Being a part of something that is so impact full is something that we should all strive for.

To all the leaders out there who are beginning this mountainous journey to certification, take the bull by the horns, lead from the front, be accountable and make those around you accountable for their own actions. Embrace your team, you are all gunning for the same goals.

ISO 14001 is a certification that is internationally recognized and will stand your company on firm ground. Secure the future of the planet and of your business and take this leap towards a better tomorrow for all. The future of industry and of generations depend on each and every one of us. We are the masters of our own destiny, and we control the outcome in this scenario, let?s just hope it is not too late to undo that damage that has already been done. If your company has the stamina, the unity, and the dedication, you will achieve.

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Management is related to administration of business processes. It requires doing effective planning, using effective communications methodology and the effective use of organisational business systems.

Leadership relies on mostly intangible things like attitude, inspiration, personal character and decision making. These are necessary attributes and skills to motivate an organisation to achieve its objective.

Definition

ISO defines Leadership as

Leadership is the person or group of people who directs and controls an organisation at the highest level. Top management has the ability to delegate authority and provide resources within the organisation. If the scope of the management system covers only part of an organisation, then top management refers to those who direct and control that part of the organisation?

Leadership requirements

ISO 14001 requires that Leadership should ensure the following:

1. Taking accountability for the effective ness of the environmental management system.

Meaning that the top management is now responsible for the effectiveness of the environmental management system. They can delegate some of their responsibilities to a management representative but they would need to have more involvement in the environmental activities.

1. The leadership has to ensure that an environmental policy is established and environmental objectives are set up that are compatible with the strategic direction and context of the organisation. The leadership is in a position to understand the place of the environmental policy within its strategy and within the external and internal issues being faced by the organisation.
2. Leadership has to ensure that the requirements of the ISO 14001 environmental management system are integrated within the business processes of the organisation. This means that the organisations processes should be able to achieve both its organisational objectives as well as environmental objectives.
3. Leadership has to ensure that all the resources needed for the environmental management system such as trained human resources, equipment, technology and finances are available so that environmental objectives can be successfully achieved.
4. Top management has to communicate to the employees the importance of effective environmental management and conforming to environmental management system requirements. As it is the employees who have to do the actual work to achieve environmental objectives, so, the importance of environment management has to be communicated in such a way that its importance becomes clear and enshrined in their minds.
5. The leadership has the responsibility to ensure that the environmental management system achieves its planned and intended outcomes. They have to get the work done from managers and employees so that favorable outcomes are achieved.
6. They have to direct and support the persons such as managers and employees to contribute to the effectiveness of the environmental management system. It is their responsibility to get the environmental objectives achieved from their subordinates.
7. Leadership has to make sure that the environmental management system is continually improved. This is done by Corrective Actions, Internal Audits and Management Reviews etc.
8. The top management has to provide support to other relevant management roles within the organisation to demonstrate their leadership as it applies to their sphere of influence or areas of responsibility. Without support from Leadership it becomes difficult for managers and employees to effectively ensure that their environmental responsibilities are fulfilled.

Environmental Policy

It is the responsibility of Top Management to establish implement and maintain an environmental policy. The policy should have the following characteristics:

1. It should be to the purpose and context of the organisation
2. It should provide a framework and basis for setting environmental objectives
3. It should include a commitment for the protection of environment including the prevention of pollution. Other commitments can be sustainable resource use, climate change mitigation and adaptation and protection of biodiversity and ecosystems.
4. It should include a commitment to fulfill its legal and organisational environmental compliance obligations.
5. It should include a commitment for the continual improvement of the environmental management system in order to enhance environmental performance.

They should maintain the environmental policy as documented information, meaning it should be framed and affixed to walls at appropriate places so that all the employees can see and understand it. The Policy shall be communicated within the organisation through meetings and environmental trainings and finally should be available to interested parties such as Buyers, Government Agencies etc.

Organisational roles, responsibilities and authorities

It is the responsibility of Leadership to ensure that responsibilities and authorities for relevant roles for environmental management are assigned and communicated within the organisation. As the environmental responsibilities have to be carried out by employees and managers, so, the top management assigns the responsibilities for various functions to relevant employees.

Specific responsibilities that are to be assigned are

1. Responsibility for ensuring that the environmental management system conforms to ISO 14001 International Standard.
2. Responsibility for reporting to top management on the performance of the environmental management system including environmental performance achieved by the organisation.

Top Management Audit

During audit the Leadership shall have the following responsibilities

1. Demonstrate knowledge of the environmental management system objectives and provide an overview of where these lie within the organisations vision.
2. Prove that coordination of the environmental management system and other strategic goals as well as processes has been carried out.
3. Prove that they have communicated the importance of the environmental management system, progress in the area of environment as compared to objectives and the ongoing results of the system.
4. Show familiarity with the continual improvement process and show that this culture exists within the organisation.

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Other articles you that would help with your understanding of ISO14001 Environmental Management Systems

A Dummy’s Guide to ISO 14001

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