CICS Guide to ISO Environmental Management Systems

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1 CICS Guide to ISO Environmental Management Systems Author: Mandy Rymill

2 What is an Environmental Management System (EMS)? With growing legislation and consequent enforcement by government agencies, and increasing public interest in and awareness of sustainability issues, the environment is at the top of the agenda for most companies. An EMS is a system that allows a business to manage its impact on the environment in a comprehensive and systematic manner. Having an Environmental Management System (EMS) not only shows your stakeholders that you are committed to the environment, it also provides important cost savings to the business. Why ISO 14001? ISO is the national and international recognised standard for environmental management. The standard provides a framework and guidance on the management of the environmental aspects and risk of your businesses activities, allowing you to work to continually improve your processes to both reduce environmental impact and increase profitability. Benefits to Your Company? With the future of the environment having become a prominent global issue to consumers and governments, Environmental Management Systems (EMS) are good for business: Proof of a responsible approach to the environment can influence a buyer's purchasing decision. Environmentally aware organisations prefer to do business with like minded companies who can demonstrate a commitment through internationally recognised standards such as ISO Indicates a willingness to achieve legal and regulatory compliance Including an EMS can improve your overall existing management system, positioning your business to compete more effectively in the global marketplace. Demonstrates to stakeholders a commitment to the environment An EMS can help your business to make better use of energy, recycle waste more efficiently and improve raw material selection helping you to reduce costs. Having an ISO certified EMS provides a frame work for the identification and management of environmental risk. ISO integrates with other important certification standards such as ISO 9001, OHSAS and the new Energy Management System Standard (EnMS) ISO

3 What is the Assessment Process? This is an outline of the assessment process; we may make changes to it to suit your specific business/situation. STAGE 1 ASSESSMENT AUDIT STAGE 2 ASSESSMENT AUDIT CERTIFICATE AWARDED SURVEILLANCE & RE-ASSESSMENT CERTIFICATE RENEWED Following acceptance of the quotation you will be allocated a Lead Auditor and specialist verification team to see you through the certification process. Your Lead Auditor will work with you to draw up an assessment plan. The initial visit will typically be focused on establishing that your EMS relates to your environmental aspects and conforms with all requirements of the standard; and that your EMS is designed to achieve your policy objectives. A detailed audit plan is provided in advance of the visit and a full report produced on site, together with an audit plan for the Stage 2 assessment. Any non conformity highlighted at this stage will require a corrective action plan. The stage 2 is an audit of the effectiveness of the implemented EMS against the assessment standard. The visit is conducted when you are ready, following the resolution of any significant non conformity raised at the Stage 1 audit. A full report is prepared at the end of the audit. This is reviewed with you at a closing meeting, and a recommendation made. Where necessary, you will be requested to provide a corrective and preventative action plan. This will be reviewed by your Lead Auditor. A recommendation for certification is subjected to an independent verification review covering the whole assessment process/report package. Following a satisfactory review, CICS will award certification. Certificates are valid for three years, subject to satisfactory surveillance visits. A surveillance plan is developed by your Lead Auditor and reviewed each year with you. Following certification, surveillance audits are carried out on a six to twelve month basis. The first surveillance audit is normally within 6 months of the last day of the stage 2 audit. The final visit in the 3 year certification cycle is termed a reassessment visit. In addition to a routine check on your system, a formal review of the previous visit reports is conducted. A recommendation is made from this review on certificate renewal, together with any adjustment required to the ongoing surveillance plan. The reassessment package is then review independently and, if satisfactory, certification is renewed for another three year period. 3

4 What Else Do We Offer? Integrated Management Systems With an ever increasing number of certificates issued worldwide, integrated certification becomes a must for any company wishing to improve efficiency of their management systems. At CICS, thanks to our extensive experience of quality, environment and health and safety systems and certification, we can offer integrated certification, helping you to reduce effort, time and the cost of complying with current standards. ISO 9001:2000 Quality Management OHSAS Occupational Health and Safety Management ISO Energy Management Systems (EnMS) Environmental/Sustainability Assurance Sustainability is playing an ever more important role in a company s business strategy and vision, giving a competitive edge to those who are committed to being a responsible company in a sustainable world. Whether your company has a Corporate Responsibility, Sustainability or Environmental Strategy, independent verification of your reporting carbon, water, waste satisfies your stakeholders' demands for accuracy, validity, materiality and transparency. Why Verify? Necessary for regulated schemes, such as the EU Emissions Trading Scheme. Required for voluntary reporting programs. Verification can help you to build your GHG inventory and understand your carbon and water footprint. It will ensure that monitoring is accurate, enabling a benchmark for current and future carbon/water/waste management strategies, including reduction, compliance with new legislation and trading opportunities. Management Systems Training Led by highly qualified trainers, our courses are interactive, yet informal, and, through discussion and practice, are geared towards providing practical knowledge and skills that can be constructively implemented to benefit your company s business performance. In addition, our courses can count towards your Continuing Professional Development. Internal Auditor This four day course is suitable for delegates who wish to improve their auditing skills as well as for those who are learning to become auditors. Implementing an Environmental Management System for ISO This two day course is designed for delegates seeking to either create, or improve upon, an Environmental Management System (EMS) for their organisation. Implementing a Health & Safety Management System for OHSAS This two day course is designed for delegates seeking to either create, or improve upon, a Health & Safety Management System for their organisation. 4

5 Why Choose CICS? Specialist auditors who have extensive knowledge of both the environment and the technical and regulatory aspects affecting your industry and your business. A focus on continual improvement through risk and processed based audits. Management of integration with other certification standards, such as ISO 9001, OHSAS 18001, ISO and other product conformity schemes. We are a UKAS accredited certification body for Environmental Management Systems ISO 14001:2004 accredited certification gives confidence to your suppliers. Two way communication we work with you to ensure that the certification process is efficient, cost effective and meets your business objectives. Investing in ISO management systems should not be viewed as extra paperwork or as an additional cost but instead the concepts should be embraced and viewed as an opportunity to improve a company s operations. This investment will in turn have a cost saving impact over the long run. It is our view that this can only be achieved with a registration body that know your industry and this is why we at Lagan Brick are registered with CICS. Lagan Brick 5

6 About CICS CICS (Complete Integrated Certification Services Ltd) provides sustainability assurance, management systems certification and training, and product certification. With industry-leading experience and knowledge of CO 2 verification under both mandatory and voluntary (carbon/water footprinting, sustainability/corporate responsibility/environmental reporting) schemes, they provide emissions verification under the Emissions Trading Scheme, North American Climate Registry, WRI/WBCSD GHG protocol, Carbon Disclosure Project and PAS CICS also provides ISO Certification services, including management system certification to ISO 9000, ISO 14001, ISO 50001, OHSAS 18001, and Product Certification. All services are accredited to internationally recognised standards and guidelines and based upon a policy of providing a unique combination of: industry sector knowledge, specialist auditors, service orientation and cost effectiveness, and international recognition.