Decision - Introducing an Environmental Management System

(1)   That the Sustainability Cabinet Committee approves:

(a)       Development of an Environmental Management Policy

(b)       Pilot implementation of an environmental management system accredited to the BS EN ISO 14001:2004 standard

(c)       Consideration then of progression to the Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS).

1.     A drive for efficiency and Value for Money coupled with new environmental performance requirements in the UoR assessment mean that a more comprehensive and accountable environmental management approach is required.

2.     Implementation of a formal EMS through the recommended approach specified in this paper will provide comprehensive knowledge, management and continued improvement of the council’s environmental performance.

1.     An evaluation of all alternative options have been considered through advice sought from both good case study examples from other Local Authorities who have an accredited EMS in place and from impartial and accredited third party assessors. The alternative options include the following:

a)    Continuation of an informal environmental management approach

          Although some good work has and is currently being delivered to improve the council’s environmental performance, with no formal system in place to drive this, there are still many key areas that are not being addressed and information for which is not known i.e. poor overall management of our water use.

b)    Going for ISO 14001 accreditation only across the council

          Although achieving this council-wide would provide a comprehensive framework for environmental management that is recognised at an international level, in contrast to EMAS it does have limitations and is much less stringent on its requirements including (amongst others):

§       No commitment for continued improvement of environmental performance of the organisation

§       No requirement for open dialogue with the public,

§       No staff involvement.

c)     Going for EMAS only

          Introducing this without ISO 14001 would mean that our environmental performance would only be recognised formally at a European level and would not formally comply with ISO International Standards. More importantly, in order to comply with the requirements of EMAS, the ISO/EN ISO 14001 certificate must be issued under one of the accreditation procedures recognised by the European Commission. The organisation would need to have taken steps to ensure that the scope to be covered by the EMAS registration is covered by an ISO/EN ISO 14001 certificate (see Appendix 2).

d)    Going for the ISO 14001 and EMAS accreditation only in some departments.

          Although this is a recommended approach in the short term, longer term ambition should be to seek EMAS accreditation right across the council so that a comprehensive management of the council’s overall environmental performance can be achieved. This will also contribute to more accurate understanding of the council’s environmental footprint data needed for UoR assessment.

Once this approach has been approved we will identify a department/s for undertaking pilot implementation.