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Organisations in every sector are under immense pressure to deal with the environmental impacts caused by their processes, activities, services, or products. It is due to the increasing environmental consequences around the world including climate change, air quality deterioration, and pollution of water bodies. For this reason, the ISO (International Organisation for Standardisation) designed the ISO 14001 standard to enable organisations to control their impacts. However, it needs to have an integrated environmental management system at the core of its business management system.

The purpose of this blog is to help you understand the importance of an integrated system in your business. Here, you will know about the Environmental Management System or EMS, the benefits of integrating it into your business management, and how to get the ISO 14001 certification with it. Let’s take a look.

What is an Integrated Environmental Management System (EMS)?
The integrated EMS is a consolidated framework that provides a holistic approach to organisations for achieving their environmental goals. The term ‘integrated’ is used because the EMS should be connected or interlinked to all processes of the business to ensure that environmental impacts caused by each are managed.
In simple words, an integrated EMS provides organisations with a practical approach to carrying out their operations while ensuring protection and sustainability. It hence promotes a balance between the progress of business and the environment.

Why Does Your Business Need to Implement the Integrated EMS?

To understand why you need to implement an integrated EMS in your organisation, learn about its explicit benefits.

• Improved communication and coordination among your employees/teams regarding environmental management practices
• Integration of information and knowledge on environmental aspects from various departments or processes which enables informed decision-making
• Improved confidence of customers, employees, investors suppliers, and other stakeholders which strengthens their relationships with your business
• Improved corporate reputation as well as public confidence
• Compliance with essential regulatory requirements and environmental laws that saves your business from costly litigations and penalties
• Reduction in the use of resources resulting in cost-savings
• Increased awareness of employees regarding environmental impacts which enhances their responsibilities

Key Components of the Integrated EMS

You need to consider these key aspects while implementing the integrated EMS.
• A systematic approach to reviewing the environmental goals of your business
• A definite scope of the EMS based on the environmental impacts and necessary compliance obligations
• Set of environmental objectives as well as targets regarding the reduction of environmental impacts
• Plans or strategies to achieve the objectives and reach the targets
• Training programs, skill development, and awareness sessions for the employees
• Proper approach to review the performance of the EMS and make improvements to it

Steps to Get Your Integrated EMS Certified with ISO 14001

Follow these 5 simplified steps to get your integrated EMS certified with the international standard, ISO 14001.

1. Get the top management team on board: First, make sure that the top management team of your organisation commits to improving your business’s environmental performance. They should be involved right from the first step i.e., formulating an environmental policy. The policy will be the cornerstone of the integrated EMS.

2. Planning and preparation: You need to plan the implementation procedure of the EMS considering the environmental issues, policy, compliance regulations, and predetermined targets of your business. The planning typically involves setting up an action plan for addressing each of them. After making the plan, you need to prepare your business for implementing the EMS which involves getting the required resources, designating responsibilities to teams, deciding a timeframe, and outlining the steps or milestones of the implementation procedure.

3. Implementation of the EMS: Following the plan and using the resources (including employees), implement the integrated EMS. You may also require investing in technologies, training, awareness and learning programs. Other crucial tasks involved in the implementation procedure are documentation of EMS processes and setting up reporting and communication lines.

4. Evaluation of the EMS performance: Once the implementation is complete, you need to monitor the operations of the EMS and evaluate whether it achieves your business’s objectives and meets targets. If it is found inefficient in achieving any goal or target, corrective measures should be implemented.

5. Review: The top management should periodically evaluate the various processes of the EMS to ensure that it is operating effectively. They should do so to ensure that it aligns with the organisation’s policy and consistently enhances environmental performance.

Concluding Note

Businesses need an integrated environmental management system at the core of their management structure to manage the environmental impacts caused by their activities, processes, and products/services. It is specifically referred to as an ‘integrated’ system as it is interconnected with multifaceted aspects of the business including the operational aspects, policies, administrative aspects as well as people. Hence, the EMS will work together with the other systems to address the impacts caused by your business and will strike a balance between your growth and environmental performance.

Do you need to implement an integrated EMS in your organisation? We, at Compliancehelp, are a team of dedicated ISO consultants in Australia who can guide you to integrate it smoothly by following the above steps. To learn more about the integrated EMS or to get in touch with our consultants, feel free to call!