It is part of the overall management system that includes
- organisational structure and planning activities
- responsibilities, practices, and procedures
- processes and resources
for developing, implementing, acheiving, reviewing and maintaining the environmental policy.
An environmental management system (EMS) is built upon a set of environmental actions and management tools. Those actions depend on each other to achieve a clearly defined goal: environmental protection.
An EMS is a continual cycle of planning, implementing, reviewing and improving the environmental performance of an organisation. It helps to initiate environmental management in all areas.
Among the working steps you find:
- Elaboration of an environmental policy
- Initial analysis and inventory of the environmental aspects associated with the company's activity
- Planning the management system
- Environmental action programme to meet specific objectives
- Training and awareness programmes for all employees
- Implementation of the system
- Inventory of the legislative requirements
- Internal monitoring of the EMS and audits
- Internal and external communication
- Independent verification
The whole system functions with a view to continuously improve the environmental performance of an organisation.
