Environmental Management Systems (EMS)
Level 5
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Points to Consider
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Unit 4
Inplementing an Environmental Policy
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Using the above structure, the following specific points should be considered in writing the policy document:
- Ensure the policy statement contains realistic and achievable objectives and targets, do not include claims that cannot be justified or verified.
- Avoid bland statements and waffle.
- Avoid performance pledges such as, to reduce energy consumption by 5% in the next year.
- Use broad statements of intention.
- Make sure everyone who may read it (employees, customers, suppliers, the local community and general public) can easily understand the policy.
- The policy document should not be longer than one side of A4 paper.
The following is an example of 'deliverables' that can be used in a policy.
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'Deliverables' Contained Within Site Policies
- Continual reduction of environmental impact
- Meet regulatory requirements
- Improve soundness of processes
- Improve soundness of products
- Use materials economically as possible
- Use energy economically as possible
- Use water economically as possible
- Set improvement targets on solid pollution
- Set improvement targets on gaseous pollution
- Set improvement targets on liquid pollution
- Noise pollution
- Make plans and budgets to achieve targets
- Report progress to employees
- Report progress to the public
- Employees must be responsible
- Managers must support policy implementation
- Train employees
- Promote best practice where possible
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The following policies demonstrate how the policy requirements discussed above apply in practice. One of the policies is for a company which has certification to ISO 14001, the other for a company which registration to EMAS.
www.henrybooth.co.uk/environm.htm
www.thomas-swan.co.uk/envstate.htm
www.hp.com/abouthp/environment/contents/envfacts/mgtpoly.htm