By Isis Fredericks and David McCallum                    

1. At Last: A Consistent, Internationally Recognized Model for Environmental Management

The ISO 9000 series of Quality Management standards, with over 70,000 registrations around the world, is as used by organizations as a model for a quality management system. Now make way for the new kid arriving on the block - the ISO 14000 series of standards -- the model for an environmental management system.

Environmental Management is a tool for an organization to keep aware of the interactions that its products and activities have with the environment and to achieve and continuously improve the desired level of environmental performance.

ISO 9000 is aimed at meeting customer requirements, control of the process and continuous improvement. ISO 14000 is aimed at these, and more: 'customer requirements' has expanded to include regulatory and other mandatory environmental requirements; and 'continuous improvement' is not only driven by customer expectations but also by priorities and objectives generated internally by the organization.

2. What is in the ISO 14000 Environmental Management System Model?

The ISO 14000 series of standards is comprised of several guideline standards and one compliance standard -- ISO 14001 Environmental Management Systems. Although publication of the standards is about a year away, five standards are in Committee Draft form and the Draft International Standards will be available shortly for public comment through the International Organization of Standardization (ISO) based in Geneva. When ISO 14001 is published, organizations meeting the requirements will be able to seek registration to the standard in a process similar to ISO 9000 registration.

The ISO 14000 series is modeled after the BS 7750 (Environmental Management Systems) originally published in 1992 and updated in 1994. The BS 7750 standard has been the subject of a pilot implementation program involving nearly 500 participants from various industries.

3. How do ISO 9000 and ISO 14000 Compare?

ISO 14000 does not replace ISO 9000. A company with an ISO 9000 registration has a good foundation for ISO 14000 and both are part of an organization's overall Management System. ISO 14000 also does not replace regulations, legislation and codes of practice (such as Responsible Care) that an organization has to comply with. Rather it provides a system for monitoring, controlling and improving performance regarding those requirements.

ISO 14000 is the package that ties the mandatory requirements into a management system which is made up of objectives and targets focusing on meeting and exceeding the mandatory requirements with a focus on prevention and continuous improvements.

ISO 14001 uses the same fundamental systems as ISO 9000 such as documentation control, management system auditing, operational control, control of records, management policies, audits, training, statistical techniques, and corrective and preventive action.

There are also some definite differences. Besides the similarities, ISO 14001 has clearer statements about communication, competence and economics than are currently found in ISO 9000. Also, ISO 14001 incorporates the setting of objectives and quantified targets, emergency preparedness, considering the view of interested parties and public disclosure of the environmental policy.

An organization with an ISO 9000 registration will find that they are a long way towards an ISO 14001 registration from the outset. Even though there are differences, the management system is generally consistent in both the standards. The ISO approach to management serves as a "model" which needs to be adapted to meet the needs of the organization and integrated into existing management systems. The standards have been designed to be applied by any organization in any country regardless of the organization's size, process, economic situation and regulatory requirements.

4. Why Consider Using the ISO 14000 Environmental Management System Model?

An organization may elect to comply with ISO 14001 as a:

Benefits of implementing an ISO 14001 Environmental Management System may include:

Some organizations may choose to implement an ISO 14001 program but not seek registration. Registration to ISO 14001 should be considered if it:

Registration to an ISO 9000 standard generally requires twelve to eighteen months of effort depending on the complexity of the organization and the existing systems. It is anticipated that it will take at least the same length of time to develop and implement an Environmental Management System which compiles with the ISO 14001 requirements.

5. How Do You Implement ISO 14000?

As in an ISO 9000 program, senior management commitment is required before embarking on an ISO 14000 program.

Once senior management is committed to implementing an ISO 14001 program the project planning begins. This planning includes scheduling, budgeting, assigning personnel, responsibilities and resources, and if required, retaining specialized external assistance.

Senior management needs to provide a focus for the Environmental Management System by defining the organization's environmental policy. This policy must include, among other things, a commitment to continuous improvement, prevention of pollution and compliance with legislation and regulations. It must be specific enough to form the basis for concrete actions; 'parenthood' feel-good statements are not adequate. When documented by management, this environmental policy must be implemented, and maintained and communicated within the organization and made available to the public.

Next, an initial review the organization's existing environmental program is needed. This review includes the consideration of all applicable environmental regulations, existing processes, documentation, work practices and effects of current operations.

Once the initial review is completed, a strategic or implementation plan can be developed. Implementation planning is similar to project management and the steps, scope, time-frame, costs and responsibilities need to be defined in order to develop and implement an Environmental Management System that meets the organization's targets and objectives, and promotes continuous improvement. The strategic plan sets the framework for participation of the responsible and affected parties within the organization.

Both in the initial review and on an ongoing basis, the organization's activities, products and services require evaluation to determine their interaction with the environment. Environmental issues such as noise, emissions, environmental impact, waste reduction and energy use must be identified. The organization then needs to identify the aspects which can interact with the environment and which ones it can control or influence.

The identified impacts are then used as a basis for setting environmental objectives within the organization. Objectives also need to take into account relevant legal and regulatory requirements, financial, operational and business requirements and the views of interested parties. Interested parties may be people or groups, such as neighbours or interest groups, concerned with the organization's environmental performance.

Objectives of the organization need to be determined and specific targets set. An objective is an overall goal which may be as simple as "meeting or exceeding regulations" or "reduction in energy consumption" and the targets provide quantified measurements. Objectives and targets are set by the organization, not by the ISO 14001 standard. Identifying the impacts, judging their significance and setting reasonable objectives and targets are some of the major 'environmental' challenges presented by ISO 14000.

Once the targets and objectives are set, the organization needs to implement the strategic plan. Beyond the 'environmental' challenges, management functions will have to be adapted to meet the requirements of the Environmental Management System Standard. The level of conceptual challenge this will present to ISO 9000 firms, where the corporate culture will already be changing, will be less than for non-ISO 9000 firms, but there will be some new areas that required attention.

6. Maintaining an ISO 14000 Environmental Management System

Once the Environmental Management System is implemented, it's progress needs to be continually measured and monitored. Routine measurement and monitoring must be undertaken of the activities which have been identified as having the potential for a significant impact on the environment.

Routine auditing and review are the keys to continuous improvement. Environmental as well as management components will be required in the audit program. Audits of an organization's Environmental Management System do not replace, but rather complement, the issue specific environmental audits that may be conducted externally by regulators and consultants or internally by environmental engineers or other qualified personnel. Where issue specific audits address regulatory compliance, site assessment or emissions, the Environmental Management System audits address effectiveness of the management system.

Periodic Environmental Management System audits are needed to determine if the Environmental Management System conforms to the requirements of ISO 14001, and that the program is implemented and is continuously improving.

The measuring and monitoring activities and the internal Environmental Management System audits will identify areas for improvement. Action must be taken immediately to mitigate any negative impact of the non-conformance and corrective action must be implemented, proportional to the non-conformance, to eliminate reoccurrence.

To ensure the continuing effectiveness of the Environmental Management System, management needs to regularly review and evaluate information such as the results of audits, corrective action, current and proposed legislation, results of monitoring, and complaints. This review allows management to look at the system and ensure that it is, and will remain, suitable and effective.

The management review may result in changes to policies or systems as the organization evolves and as technology advances. An organization's Environmental Management System is not a stagnant system but must continually evolve to meet the organization's ever changing needs.

7. Integrating the ISO 14000 Environmental Management System

The Environmental Management System must be integrated with the organization's other activities. If it is seen as a separate program, it will be difficult or impossible to maintain. The objectives, targets, procedures and systems must be part of routine operations related to the on-going activities of the organization.

It is important to remember that ISO 14000 is not an add on-program. Nor is it about "environmentalism" or being "green". An effective Environmental Management System is the consistent and systematic control of procedures or operations, products or services which can have a significant impact on the environment. It is obviously concerned with environmental performance, but what it is about is effective corporate management.

An organization which has effectively integrated an ISO 14001 Environmental Management System with its other business management systems is well on its way towards managing its processes with a view towards compliance, consistency and continuous improvement, and can accrue the accompanying benefits.

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