Environmental Management Systems (EMS)
Benefit your organisation and its stakeholders by taking preventative action to reduce your environmental impact
The Loreus EMS System is the complete package for implementing an Environmental Management System.
All organisations have an impact* on the environment and should attempt to operate in a sustainable manner and reduce their carbon footprint. Environmental Management Systems are the most logical and effective way of doing this. The purpose of an EMS is to control and improve an organisation’s environmental performance. In particular, an EMS will enable an organisation to manage its environmental impacts and ensure compliance with environmental legislation. An EMS can function in an organisation of any size and in any sector, whether it is a business enterprise, a public administration, or a government department.
Environmental Management Systems are based on the Deming Cycle of Continual Improvement and are similar to systems used for health, safety and quality management systems.
Firstly, the organisation is reviewed to assess its current level of environmental performance and a plan is then drawn up of how it can be improved. Next, objectives and targets are set to implement the plan. Once the system has been implemented it is checked to see if it is functioning effectively. Finally, any recommendations for improvement are implemented.
The cycle then starts again so that the system is continually improved and refined to accommodate changing circumstances.
Benefits of implementing an EMS
By having an EMS, an organisation is demonstrating to its customers, regulators and the wider community that its environmental impacts from its activities or products or services, are being managed responsibly. An EMS helps an organisation to identify and reduce its impacts on the environment and continually improve its environmental performance.
It will also bring many business benefits as the EMS:
Through the implementation of resource management, waste minimisation and environmental management systems, businesses can gain a number of benefits. These include:
Cost savings
Organisations can reduce their costs by using fewer raw materials and producing less waste. This may also lead to reduced taxes and insurance and legal bills.
Marketing and sales
Poor environmental performance is likely to discourage potential customers; good performance will widen markets and improve public relations.
Legal compliance
The volume of environmental legislation is increasing. Organisations need to keep abreast of new legislation to avoid expensive legal and remediation costs. Implementing an environmental management system will help by formalising the methods for accessing relevant legislation and monitoring and measuring critical processes.
Investment
Investors like green portfolios since they respond to ethical demands and show that a company cares.
Improved environmental credibility and stakeholder relations
The environmental performance of organisations is becoming a benchmark for general environmental performance. When tendering for contracts, an environmental statement or policy is increasingly becoming a prerequisite.
Additionally, it has been demonstrated that organisations with a good environmental track record increase their share price with respect to competing organisations in the same market. Through good environmental credentials, an organisation can further develop good stakeholder relations.
Improved PR and corporate image
The perceptions of the general public and potential customers are very important to organisations. Bad press from poor environmental performance is a key public issue. The media regularly seize on environmental issues. Positive stories regarding the environment and relationships with communities generate good PR, and can create new market opportunities.
Reduced insurance premiums A company whose behaviour produces lower risk is more attractive to insurers who may quote lower premiums. Insurance companies may ask for an environmental audit before providing cover.
The drawbacks of an EMS are that it:
- requires human and financial resources;
- takes time to convince people that it is worthwhile;
- requires good communication and training;
- can be time-consuming to implement and maintain.
The advantages of an EMS far outweigh the disadvantages and it is the most effective way for an organisation to improve its environmental performance.
