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The ISO 14001 standard sets out criteria for any organisation that needs practical tools to manage its environmental responsibilities. The Environmental Management System (EMS) outlined in this standard maps out a framework that organisations can follow to enhance environmental sustainability. The ISO 14001 standard is designed for any type of organisation, irrespective of its sector, size or activity.
Scope of Environmental Management System; Main goal in detail
The aim of the ISO14001 standard is to assure the company management, its employees, and external stakeholders that the environmental impact is being monitored, measured and improved. The standard aims to create the intended outcomes of enhanced environmental performance, achieving environmental objectives and fulfilling compliance obligations. Since the standard provides so much value to the environment, the organisation and interested parties, it becomes essential to understand its scope statement. A scope statement is a document that describes all the essential elements of a project, including its acceptance criteria, project requirements and assumptions. The project scope is utilised as a template for reference so that stakeholders and employees can accurately measure the project's success. In this article, the scope of ISO 14001 certification is described in detail.
Scope of ISO 14001 certification is related to organisation’s issues
The fourth clause of the ISO 14001 certification is dedicated to the context of the organisation. As the environmental issues of an organisation vary, depending upon the industry, activity and size, the scope statement will differ from organisation to organisation.
Clause 4.1 requires the organisation to identify and understand any issues that can impact its environmental performance. These issues could be minor, major, internal or external, depending on the environment in which the organisation resides. Clause 4.2 requires the organisation to identify and list the needs and expectations of all relevant interested parties.
Once the organisation has successfully determined its internal and external issues and identified the needs of relevant parties, it becomes easier to define the physical and organisational boundaries of the EMS.
Defining the boundaries is one of the ISO 14001 scope example
It is essential to define the boundaries as it affects the applicability of EMS. Boundaries are measurable and auditable characteristics that are related to the organisation's environmental objectives. Boundaries help to determine the limits and exclusion of the organisation's EMS; That’s the reason why ISO 14001 auditing is consequential for prosperous managers. Having clearly defined boundaries allows management to appropriately delegate tasks, produce desired results, and eliminate unnecessary waste, within a fixed set of roles, responsibilities and time. As the scope must include all aspects under the organisation's control, an ill-defined scope statement with improper boundaries can negatively impact its environmental performance. The scope is meant to be a factual statement of an organisation’s business processes or operations.
ISO 14001 discussion; How does not using boundaries reduce turnovers?
An inappropriately exclusive or narrow scope statement can undermine the organisation’s credibility as its ability to achieve the intended outcomes reduces. The disadvantage of not including appropriate boundaries in a scope statement is that it negatively reduces the functionality and value of the project.
On the other hand, a clearly defined, inclusive and detailed scope statement guarantees a clear understanding of the EMS between all interested parties. It also allows for the appropriate handling of scope creep or the addition of new features or functions within the organisation.
Scope of iso 14001; Specifying appropriate methods
To ensure that the scope statement of the organisation’s EMS is inclusive, clause 4.3 summarises the factors that are required to determine the scope of the EMS following the requirements of ISO 14001. Essentially, clause 4.3 of ISO 14001 certification reminds organisations to consider the context, compliance obligations and controlling or influencing factors when establishing the scope. It asks organisations to re-check if all significant aspects have been included in the scope. The method of maintaining the scope is not prescribed in the ISO 14001 certification, therefore, the organisation would need to determine the most suitable method of documentation. Examples of popular methods include a written description, inclusion on a site map, a webpage, an organisational diagram or a public statement of conformity. Lastly, clause 4.3 asks organisations to make the scope available to interested parties.
Benefits of ISO 14001 for industries; Scop of environmental management
The most significant benefit of ISO 14001 certification is that it improves the organisation's image and credibility. Futuristic managers are informed about ISO 14001 cost annually and strive to improve their organisation. It assures all stakeholders, including customers, that the organisation is committed to managing its environmental impact. This commitment is showcased through the company's demonstrable EMS which identifies and controls all possible environmental impacts.
Additionally, one of the most important benefits that are derived from the implementation of ISO 14001 is that the organisation is provided with a framework to comply with various environmental requirements. It can be overwhelming to individually address the legal requirements of every national, international and industry-specific environmental law. By implementing an EMS based on ISO 14001, the organisation maintains compliance with various legal, regulatory and contractual obligations.
What happens without environmental management system?
As a consequence, there is improved cost control. Without the implementation of an EMS, organisations may find it financially draining to deal with environmental incidents. Environmental incidents cost companies a lot of resources through reparations, cleanup, liabilities and fines. The EMS efficiently identifies, controls and reduces the occurrence of environmental incidence, further reducing costs by working to conserve energy and input materials.
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