Systems Standards

Previous approaches focused on the specific product, its measurement , inspection to identify errors or deviations and re-work to correct these. The critical element of the current awareness is that the best and only way to ensure a quality product is to have an integrated system which addresses the critical aspects of every part of the organisation's operations.

This development was called a quality assurance or management systems approach. It gave rise to standards against which these systems can be audited. These general quality systems standards were then made more particular for aspects of an organisation's operations - e.g. environmental management, occupational health and safety, design process, etc.

Originally, the major relevant standard for environmental management was the British Standard BS7750 for Environment Management Systems (EMS).

In addition there was the European Community Eco-Management Audit Scheme (EMAS) Regulation (1836/93). This has broadly the same content as BSI 7750 except that it required the publication of verified environmental statements at certain specified times during the implementation of the system. Its scope is also not as general as the BSI 7750, being restricted to the manufacturing, quarrying, mining, energy, waste and recycling sectors and it is implemented at site level only. Note that only the UK has extended it to cover local authorities.

What EMAS adds to the ISO 14000 requirements is:

• an environmental statement verified by a third-party auditor;
• a broader range of stakeholders - notably the public and communities affected byhte operations;
• compulsory reporting of environmental indicators, including emissions data; and
• setting specific performance goals which must be met.
However, ISO set up a Technical Committee (TC207) with sub-committees which worked at developing ISO standards for
• SC1 - Environmental management systems
• SC2 - Environmental auditing
• SC3 - Environmental labelling
• SC4- Environmental performance evaluation
• SC5 - Life cycle analysis
• SC6 - Terms and definitions

The EMS standard ISO developed was close to the BS7750 (1992).

In June 1995, the ISO agreed that these could progress to Draft International Standard (DIS) stage, which means they are to be circulated to ISO member countries for approval prior to publication.

In the meantime Standards Australia has agreed to issue these DIS's as joint Australia/New Zealand Interim Standards. The five interim standards are

AS/NZS/ISO 14001 (Int)

Environmental Management Systems - Specification with guidance for use.

AS/NZS/ISO 14004 (Int)

Environmental Management Systems - General guidelines on principles, systems and supporting techniques.

AS/NZS/ISO 14010 (Int)

Guidelines for Environmental Auditing - General Principles

AS/NZS/ISO 14011 (Int)

Guidelines for Environmental Auditing - Auditing Procedures - Auditing of Environmental Management Systems

AS/NZS/ISO 14012 (Int)

Guidelines for Environmental Auditing - Qualifications Criteria for Environmental Auditors

These interim standards are due to expire on November 5, 1997.

Present Situation

In mid 1997, there is considerable discussion within Europe and the USA concerning the relative merits of ISO 14000 accreditation compared with the EMAS registration.

The sub-committees working on Eco-labelling and Life Cycle Analysis are likely to complete their drafts in mid-1997

In the USA, regulators and companies are working on a project to evaluate new performance measures, aiming to find ones which are better than the present media- specific ones at showing the broad level of performance. This is part of developing the system which can be used to simplify the regulatory process. It seems to be aiming at the similar outcome to that to the "Accredited Licensee" which is currently being used by the Victorian (Australia) EPA.

General Requirements of an EMS

The EMS standard requires a number of generally expressed requirements to be met by the organisation. These requirements include elements such as
• - establishing a company policy for environmental management including the philosophy and goals;
• - identifying, in consultation with interested parties, the significant environmental effects of the company's operations;
• - allocating responsibility and committing resources to a program to carry out the policy;
• - developing procedures, documentation and providing training to ensure the policy and program is carried out properly;
• - reviewing regularly and auditing (checking) that the system is operating effectively as it is supposed to.

Environmental Management Systems

The benefits of implementating an EMS based on the ISO 14000 series are .
• - They are recognised as being a tool that can change the corporate culture;
• - The EMS standard is part of the range of voluntary mechanisms available;

The standard does not specify particular environmental goals, but it does require the organisation to identify the significant environmental effects of its operations and to set goals and performance targets for those.

The EMS provides for

• - a systematic consideration of the environment;
• - continuous improvement in environmental activity;
• - seeks environmental benefits, not just impact reduction;
• - increases public accountability because the system requires consultation at the stage of determining significant effects;

Disadvantages arising out of an EMS that is certified to comply with BS7750 include that-

• - outsiders assume a high level of environmental performance (when the system doesn't mean that);
• - there is no requirement for a commitment to achieve 'sustainability';
• - the standard does not specify particular environmental goals;
• - Certification does not provide any absolute standard for environmental performance

The critical aspect of an EMS is the identification of the significant environmental effects and the goals and targets set by the organisation in its policy and program. The standard requires consultation with interested parties in determining these.

(This summary of benefits and disadvantages are from a presentation by Kate Short, of the Total Environment Centre, NSW, at a seminar of May 22, 1994, in Melbourne)

PEM User's Manual for EMS Implementation

PEM has produced a practical User's Manual to assist an organisation to both set up an EMS, and to keep it going. For more detail contact PEM.

On-line Manual for EMS Implementation

There is an excellent on-line EMS Implementation manual created by Dr Andreas Sturm.

To contactPEM

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Updated: May 20, 1997