The CBI Environmental Management Handbook

Challenges for Business

Ruth Hillary

• Publisher: Routledge
• Year: 2016
• Print ISBN: 9781853836374
• eBook ISBN: 9781134194698
• Topic: Business
• Subtopic: Management
• Index: Business

A guide to all aspects of environmental management for businesses. The volume offers information on state-of-the-art techniques, trends and developments taking a user's perspective, capturing key viewpoints and drawing together best practice through the use of case studies. These display the practical implications of the topics under discussion and are set out to enable users to relate their information to their own experience.

Section VI
Environmental Management Systems

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1

Bite-sized Chunks of EMS for Smaller Firms

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Matthias Gelber,

14000 & ONE Solutions

Challenges of EMS implementation for smaller companies

Small companies are facing increasing pressure from regulators and suppliers to improve their environmental performance. However, pressures associated with time, resources and competence often lead to many small companies putting the environment low on their agenda. Few small companies have investigated the inherent business benefits of operating an effective EMS, which could help them avoid inefficiency and enhance legal compliance.

Inertia within such small firms is extremely difficult to overcome due to various obstacles and barriers associated with implementation, including:

• perceived lack of time

• lack of policy and documents

• lack of understanding of EMS requirements

• lack of sufficient regulatory and legal knowledge

• economic constraints

• difficulty in defining economic benefits.

Project Acorn

Empowerment – Engagement – Partnerships

The Project Acorn Approach

‘The only way to eat an elephant is in small manageable bites’

Project Acorn uses a phased EMS implementation approach that breaks down the internationally accepted standard, ISO 14001, into five levels. An optional sixth level allows companies to develop systems for public reporting and accountability, with the possibility of registering under the European EMAS Regulation. BSI and 14000 & ONE Solutions deliver the pilot project, with support from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and DETR.

At each level of the EMS implementation individuals receive training so that they can develop their company’s system and environmental performance indicators. These will allow them to track and report (internally or externally) on their company’s environmental performance over time, and benchmark performance in critical areas.

After each level of the scheme has been implemented the company is assessed to ensure that the requirements of each level have been met. If the company is successful it is awarded a certificate of achievement so that it can demonstrate progress to its key customers and other interested stakeholders. At the end of level 5 an audit will be conducted to ensure that the company’s EMS meets all of the requirements of ISO 14001. If successful the company receives an ISO 14001 certificate.

If a company progresses to level 6 then the external audit will verify the data and the system against the requirements of EMAS.

What are the six levels of the scheme?

Project Acorn provides a staged route to ISO 14001 certification and/or EMAS registration. In addition, it is one of the aims of the pilot project to develop environmental performance indicators to reflect the environmental aspects of activities, products or services. Project Acorn will focus on resource efficiency. Smaller companies will be motivated to drive forward the environmental agenda if there is the opportunity to contribute to the bottom line and thus enhance senior management support.

The advantage of the staged approach is the ability for smaller companies to get recognition for the intermediate achievements of progress while implementing ISO 14001. Making an EMS work within those companies needs significant time in order to tailor the system to their needs and for them to gain real ownership of it. Smaller companies appreciate clear guidance on every step they need to take on the journey of EMS implementation and can learn from the experience of other companies. The staged approach will avoid the waste of misdirected resources as there will be periodic checks of progress.

The six levels of the model are:

1. Top management commitment to the project, conducting a baseline assessment.

2. Legal, customer and market requirements.

3. Confirmation and management of significant environmental aspects.

4. Launching an effective EMS.

5. Checking, audit and management review.

6. Data verification, public reporting and EMAS registration.

These levels are very closely aligned with the logical progression of an ISO 14001 implementation project. The inclusion of continual improvement and culture change from day one will immediately ensure appropriate levels of ownership and performance focus. This will give smaller companies systems that work and which deliver performance improvements.

Working for shared goals

One of the main drivers of Project Acorn is the supply chain relationship element. Many larger companies that support Project Acorn have been involved in environmental initiatives for some time, often resulting in third-party certification to ISO 14001 and/or registration to EMAS. However, as their system matures it becomes apparent that the environmental impacts of the products they manufacture or the service they deliver are often rooted in the components, materials and services supplied to them by other companies within their supply chains. These larger companies therefore have a vested interest in improving the environmental performance of their supply chains. Some of the mentors participating in Project Acorn are Severn Trent, Vauxhall, Wessex Water, CGNU, Cable & Wireless, BT and ASDA.

Project Acorn facilitates communication through a customer-supplier partnership addressing the environmental concerns of all parties. The Project Acorn approach has received recognition from participants because it offers practical support for smaller companies, facilitates supply chain communications and leads to improvements for the mentor company. Environmental management that contributes positively to the business relationship between suppliers and large customers will carry significant weight and motivation. For mentors, Project Acorn will support their goal of supply chain management and the contribution to corporate sustainability goals.

EPE and performance indicators

Development of the new international standard for environmental performance evaluation (EPE), ISO 14031, has added impetus to an already growing realisation that systematic and creditable performance measurement is a necessary element if environmental management is truly committed to continual improvement.

The application of ISO guidance on EPE will help add value to Project Acorn businesses by enabling them to track their resource consumption, compliance with customer requirements and by setting SMART targets to key performance indicators.

Wider application

Project Acorn aims to turn an obligation to environmental management into an opportunity for your business by:

• empowering your organisation by giving you the training, tools and ownership;

• engaging you by providing the right conditions for smaller companies;

• partnership with you, your customers and Project Acorn.

The Project Acorn vision is a model that improves environmental performance with added value for those who participate. In the future more mentors and suppliers will be using the Project Acorn model, and other delivery agents and certification bodies will make the approach widely available in the marketplace. Telephone helpline and Web support will be available. If you are interested in becoming part of the current Project Acorn pilot, please contact: Fiona Gibbons, Project Co-ordinator, contact point at BSI for Project Acorn. Tel: [phone]; E-mail: [email protected]

Matthias Gelber, Technical Director of 14000 & ONE Solutions Ltd, is an internationally recognised expert on environmental management systems and environmental performance evaluation. He acts as head of the International Network for Environmental Management Delegation at ISO TC207 (SCI, SC4). He is...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Half Title
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Table of Contents
• Foreword
• Introduction
• Section I: Sustainability and Biodiversity
• Section II: Climate Change
• Section III: Financial, Legal and Insurance Issues
• Section IV: Products, Producer Responsibility and Final Disposal
• Section V: Mobility, Transport, Communication and IT
• Section VI: Environmental Management Systems
• Section VII: Energy Management
• Section VIII: Pollution Prevention, Air, Water and IPPC
• Section IX: Technology and Innovation
• Section X: Planning Challenges, Contaminated Land
• Section XI: Measuring and Reporting Environmental Performance and Stakeholder Dialogue
• List of Acronyms and Abbreviations
• Useful Contacts
• Index of Advertisers
• Other Earthscan Titles of Interest