Do you wish to implement an environmental management system? Then the international ISO 14001 standard contains all the requirements your company or organization needs to meet to realize this. But how do you get started? We explain it to you step-by-step.
1. Record all environmental aspects and impacts
An important part of this ISO 14001 standard is the mapping of the various environmental aspects and the environmental impact associated with it.
Thus, an environmental aspect is an neutral given, an environmental impact is an positive or negative change of the environment. Each environmental aspect can result in one or more environmental impacts. So be sure not to limit yourself to only the negative environmental impacts! Here are some examples of environmental aspects and environmental impacts:
The above are just a few examples. In identifying the various environmental aspects (and associated environmental impacts), an organization can look at:
- emissions to air;
- discharges to water;
- land-based discharges;
- use of raw materials and natural resources;
- use of energy;
- energy emissions;
- generation of waste
- use of space;
- ...
Life cycle perspective
It is important, when identifying the various environmental aspects, to consider the life cycle perspective of a product or service should be taken into consideration since each step in the life cycle of a product or service can be a significant environmental aspect.
2. Take into account exceptional situations
When mapping the various environmental aspects, one should also consider abnormal conditions (e.g., startup or shutdown of a plant, maintenance of a plant, etc.) and foreseeable emergencies (e.g., fire, accidental discharges to water, accidental emissions to the atmosphere, etc.).
3. Environmental aspects analysis
Once all environmental aspects and associated environmental impacts have been identified, the important environmental aspects to be determined. For this purpose, there should be criteria (frequency, magnitude, severity, exposure, etc.) should be recorded to evaluate and classify the various environmental aspects.
After this, subsequent management measures and actions be determined to address key environmental issues.
How can Phronesys help you?
Phronesys has a team of qualified consultants (Lead Auditor ISO 14001:2015 / Environmental Coordinator Level A or B) who can assist your organization in preparing an environmental aspects analysis.
In addition, Phronesys has an in-house developed cloud application that allows you to manage the environmental aspects analysis from A to Z:
- Determine criteria/factors to evaluate environmental aspects;
- determining significance levels to classify environmental aspects;
- identify the various environmental aspects (incl. abnormal conditions and foreseeable emergencies);
- determine management measures and actions to address key environmental issues.
- ...
Would you like advice on developing your organization's environmental impact analysis (MAA)? Please feel free to contact us for personal advice.