Chapter 6 - Environmental management Systems 2

Question 1

What is EMAS

Answer 1

The Eco-Management
and Audit Scheme is an
environmental
management scheme
based on EU-Regulation

its a regulation - so a must

Question 2

The first step of the implementation process of a EMAS is environmental reviews, what must organisations do?

Answer 2

identify env. aspects of their manufacturing process, activities or services and create a criteria to asses the significance of those aspects, it has to be comprehensive and it must be possible to verify them independently - it will have to show the aspects they identfify and the results to the stakeholders.

initial comprehensive analysis of the organization’s activities, products and services and their environmental impact;

Question 3

This is a bit of a review but what is part of a env. policy and a env. program and the checking the operations

Answer 3

env. policy had to include the commitments to comply with legal regulations, preventing pollution, and improving env. performance
env. program is often in the table form, that covers the env. objectives for the direct and indirect aspects, the specific measurable targets to achieve objectives, actions, responsibilities and means and timeframe for each target. whos responsible, current state, final result we want, frequency of monitoring etc.

checking the operations includes rolled responsibilities and communication as well as documentation and monitoring and measuring, evaluation of legal compliance, corrective and preventive actions, control of records

Question 4

the Environmental management system, but it also includes the internal audit/management review, what must organisations do?

Answer 4

EMS system will be defined later in more detail

the management review is then when top management meets annually to review the effectiveness, if they have complied legally, if there are complaints, if objectives and targets have been met.

Question 5

Environmental statement, what is that?

Answer 5

This is unique to EMAS. It is for the public, that affirms(states publicly) the firms commitment to taking action for the environment, for the firm its a good opportunity to state what it is doing to improve the environment.

Question 6

Verification and validation procedure, what is that?

Answer 6

Verification is made by an env. verifier to demonstrate whether the organisations review, policy, EMS, and internal audit and its implementation fulfil the requirements of this regulation

Validation is the confirmation of the environmental verifier that did the verification that the info and data of the organizations env. statement and updated statements are reliable, and correct and meet the requirements of the regulation

WAIT FOR ANSWER

Question 7

Registration, what is that?

Answer 7

once everything has been done and verified, they can apply to the competent body for registration

Question 8

Why is EMAS the premium environmental management tool ?

Answer 8

It adds elements on top of ISO 14001, its a more credible and robust environmental management tool

Question 9

whats the relationship between ISO and EMAS

Answer 9

ISO requirements are integral part of EMAS, but EMAS takes into account additional elements to support organisations that

Question 10

In the implementation process, what are parts that are unique to EMAS?

Answer 10

The first, 3,4,5 part. So environmental review, environmental statement, verification and validation, registration

Question 11

In legal status, the difference of EMAS and ISO?

Answer 11

EMAS is an EU Regulation, ISO is an International, commercial standard under private law

Question 12

Is EMAS Globally Applicable?

Answer 12

yes

WAIT FOR ANSWERS

Question 13

What’s the difference between EMAS and ISO in terms of the focus and objective?

Answer 13

EMAS is the improvement of the env. performance of the organization
ISO is the improvement of the Env. Management System

Question 14

For EMAS how do environmental verifiers exist?

Answer 14

Environmental verifiers are accredited/licensed and supervised by governmental bodies, and the independence of environmental verifiers is required

Question 15

Is the internal audit part of the implementation process for EMAS, a report that is prepared that is then given to the top management in the management review section?

Answer 15

yes

Question 16

What is ISO 14031

Answer 16

gives guidance on the design and use of environmental performance evaluation, and on identification and selection of environmental performance indicators, for use by all organizations, regardless of type, size, location and complexity

Environmental Performance Evaluation (EPE) provides a robust and repeatable process to compare past and present environmental performance using KPIs. It helps organizations determine trends, evaluate risk and identify its strategic objectives and targets.

Question 17

Why is there a family of 14000, so 14001, etc.

Answer 17

to promote effective EMS in organizations, The standards seek to provide cost-effective tools that make use of best practices for organizing and applying information about environmental management.

Question 18

What are IMS (integrated management systems)?

Answer 18

it summarizes methods and instruments for compliance from different fields, so if you want in quality apply ISO 9001, if you want a management system for the environment then use ISO 14001

Question 19

What is the Goal of ISO 14001?

Answer 19

encourage the systematic imporvement of environmental management system, and sets the criteria for a EMS

Question 20

How can you get ISO 14001 certified?

Answer 20

through an independent agent like a organization or specific facilities

Question 21

what does ISO specify on rather something else?

Answer 21

Focuses on management processes rather than specific environmental
outcomes (not setting performance standards)

Question 22

what does ISO specify on rather something else?

Answer 22

Focuses on management processes rather than specific environmental
outcomes (not setting performance standards)

Question 23

5 effects of ISO (from book real life thing)

Answer 23

lower costs,

increased competitiveness,

market share growth,

higher profits,

and regulatory compliance

Question 24

difference of EMAS and ISO in public disclosure topic?

Answer 24

EMAS requires that the environmental policy and programs be made public,

whereas ISO 14001 only
requires that the firm’s makes a environmental policy , its not required to be public

Question 25

whats the three options companies have when they want to certify

Answer 25

certify their EMS with independant agent self-declare their adherance to ISo pick and choose what elements of ISO they like

Question 26

in iso, can some parts of the organization be certified

Answer 26

yes, only manufacturing or anything else can be the only part that is certified

Question 27

first step of iso

Answer 27

first: find out all "environmental aspects" so where the firm interacts with the envronment, and inventory it all, so record it

Question 28

six steps of iso

Answer 28

six steps: pinpoint env. aspects make policy plan how to do it implement and operate check if its good review with management

Question 29

then on top of those steps how does emas also do stuff | after all that,

Answer 29

the firm has to make a public statement, then it has to be verified/validated and then officially registered

Question 30

three things a GOOD EMS will do (simple)

Answer 30

find out how to reduce env. impacts reduce cost increase productivity/efficiency

Question 31

why would costs be lowered by of a GOOD EMS

Answer 31

resource reduction process intensification improved waste management

Question 32

why is the existance of a EMS beneficial in the logn run

Answer 32

awareness of current science, current technology adapt thoughout the years to make small changes but in the long run

Question 33

what about companies that just comply with regulations and have no EMS

Answer 33

they make radical changes if regulations radically change

Question 34

so why is EMS better for companies regulation compliance

Answer 34

have system in place that can adapt continually, and more willing to do extra effort, compared to no EMS companies bc no EMS avoid harsh imposed regulations

Question 35

why does it matter when big companies like ford or general motors announce all their suppliers will be ISO certified

Answer 35

all suppliers have no choice other than to be certified if they want to sell with these big companies as well

Question 36

how much does a ISO certiication cost at a big. small insutrial site

Answer 36

big 200k | small 10k

Question 37

why build legitimacy and a good reputation

Answer 37

its a competitive advantage, and usign ISO builds trust, bc its about continous imprvmenet

Question 38

why is ISO good in the long term

Answer 38

economic and institutional benefits, avoiding damaging impacts on env. , its about coming clean

Question 39

why is coming clean for firms in bad industries good(like mining, chemicals)

Answer 39

they know about institutional pressures to be good. shareholders and customers may pull back support bc of their env.impacts iso can deflect neg. scrutiny

Question 40

how does ISO ease globalization

Answer 40

if customers are global they also want iso like eu requires iso so brazil and china get iso to comply with demands of their eu customers "environmental passport" big global countries are more prone to iso than tiny countries that trade domestically

Question 41

how do pressures influence the rate for iso adaption?

Answer 41

once a threshold fraction of the industry all are iso certified, then many more will follow because of conformity and want to avoid negative consequences

Question 42

are there verifiers in iso?

Answer 42

yeah auditors are accredited by a national accredititation body, like canada has accredited 60 verifiers (e Canadian Environmental Auditing Association has certified over 60 environmental auditors)

Question 43

are all registrars/verifiers of the same quality

Answer 43

no they differ in quality and authenticity, so it could compromise the credibility of the iso standard

Question 44

could a firms environmental performance worsen while still being iso certified?

Answer 44

yes completely because it doesnt care about the performance, its not clear that the standard has any effect on the performance of the companies in actuality

Question 45

critisism of iso (performance)

Answer 45

it dictaretes requirements for management processes and not environmental performance

Question 46

body shop

Answer 46

was iso certified, got a lot of criticism bc they seem to environmentally friendly, but their paper trail was faulty, so there is higher scrutiny from outside because it looked like you are better environmentally than others. iso certified companies are expected to have a more complete paper trail of their impacts

Question 47

what are some pressures that managers should take into account when deciding if iso is worth it or not

Answer 47

if their company is in an industry where everyone cares about the environment, if their industry is subject to a lot of regulation, if my industry is a target for political action, if iso will make us more social legitimate (if our industry care about that) like haircut industry doesn't care about that

Question 48

6 general simple steps of how an EMAS is implemented

Answer 48

environmental review- which is where the company interacts with the environment a EMS is implemented like the iso one the system is checked with internal audits and a top management review the company publishes a environemtnal stated the EMS and statement is verified and validated by an accredite or licensed EMAS verifier then it is registered

Question 49

what is a way to describe the environmental review (first step of emas)

Answer 49

how the firms activites products relate to the env.aspects and hence env. impacts

Question 50

difference between direct and indirect environmental impacts

Answer 50

direct is what the company has infleunce over | indirect is anything that has to do with a third party

Question 51

aspect example vs impact

Answer 51

waste water -> water pollution | carbon emission of trucks ->GHG effect

Question 52

whats in a env. policy normally

Answer 52

comply with legal requirements preventing pollution bettering their env. performance

Question 53

after the review and the policy and the programme, the company should hire someone, what is their role?

Answer 53

Their role is to make sure that all the environmental management system requirements are in place, working and up-to-date, as well as to keep the general management team informed about how the system is working. They should report on its strengths and weaknesses, and on improvements needed.

Question 54

3 things to do to actually complete the things that were specified in the program (this is called implementation and operation)

Answer 54

hire people for the new responsibilties, document and control, and make people communicate to each other

Question 55

is risk managemetn also a part of the implementation process(the doing)

Answer 55

yes you make emergency plans, and preventive measures

Question 56

whats in the environmental statement?

Answer 56

their policy, their aspects and impacts,their programme,their implementation (EMS) really as much as they want, they also have to include basic performance indicators like energy consonsumptoin, material consumption, water, waste and emission nnumbers

Question 57

whats the difference between verification and validation

Answer 57

verification is if you did everything correctly, validation is that all the info itself is truthful

Question 58

does more environmental sanctioning(making literring a crime) useful ?

Answer 58

yeah a lot fo companies will reduce its environmental pollution- the threat of being a criminal make sense

Question 59

is just getting to court (sanctioning more effective than the actual conviction)?

Answer 59

yeah bc of the media attentioin. the fine is not that important but just getting to the court part

Question 60

why does making crimes against the environment legally enforceable work?

Answer 60

the public tells the police/state about how companies did their waste wrong,