Need For Environmental Management System In India Environmental Sciences

EMS refers to the development of an organization's policies and standards regarding environment in a systematic, planned and documented manner. It also encompasses the developing, evaluating and monitoring of the environment protection policy of the firm, efficient resource utilization and practice of efficient waste management.

The most important aspect of EMS is relating the newly defined framework to the existing system in the organization. EMS can only act as a source of competitive advantage when it integrates and improves upon the current system and is actively followed in spirit rather then just a policy which is seldom followed.

The need of implementing EMS in the organization is dependent upon firm's position in the industry, Management Decisions, Production capacity and perceived responsibility of the organization towards environment and its environmental obligations.

EMS is based on the Plan Do Check Act (PDCA Cycle)

A management system is a set of interrelated elements used to establish policy and objectives and to achieve those objectives.http://www.p2sustainabilitylibrary.mil/issues/emergefeb2007/pdca.gif

Success of an EMS depends on:

Barriers to the success of EMS implementation in the organization

Constraints of time and resources

Insufficient support from top management.

Uncertainty about the intent of ISO 14001. Reservations about added documentation and paperwork.

The EMS concerns virtually all business and management activities within any enterprise:

Business Functions

Production processes

Stores

Utilities

Finance and Administration

Planning and development

Management and Marketing

EMS ELEMENTS

Most important aspect of EMS is its elements which help organization in identifying actual steps towards gaining competitive advantage through the execution of EMS:

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Formulation of Environmental Policy

It is a statement by the organization of its intentions and principles in relation to its overall environmental performance.

It is helpful as it provides a framework for action and lends an overall sense of direction. It also serves as foundation of the EMS and as a reference point for revisiting strategies, plans and actions.

The Environmental Policy formulation is an important step for every organization to maximize its environmental performance and the improve perception of people towards the company:

Planning

Planning an Environment Management System involves

Environmental aspects

Legal and other requirements

Objectives, targets and programs

An Environmental Aspect is an element of an organization's activities, products and services that can interact with the environment

An Environmental Impact is any change to the environment, whether adverse or beneficial, wholly or partially resulting from an organization's activities, products and services.

Planning is the identification of environmental aspects. Planning not only talks about control and influence but also addresses the new developments, activities, products, services and their significant impacts it has on the firm's position in the market.

Significant impacts to be considered in setting objectives are that they should be up to date and reckoned in establishing, implementing and maintaining EMS.

Implementation and Operation

Resources, roles, responsibility and authority

Competence, training and awareness

Communication

Documentation

Control of Documents

Operational Control

Emergency Preparedness and Response

Checking -Monitoring and measurement

The following steps should be followed while performing Audits. They help in realizing and maintaining the efficiency of the internal controls of the organization. This ensures that the company maintains the standards and is responsible towards its customers and environment.

Document and / or record review

Facility inspections

Interviews

Routine sample analysis or test results and/ or verification sampling / testing

Facility tour and/or direct observation

Following tangible checks can be performed:

Quantity of raw material or energy used

Quantity of emissions like CO2

Waste produced per quantity of finished produced

Process efficiencies

Number of environmental incidents (like excursions above limits)

Number of environmental accidents (like unplanned releases)

Percentage waste recycled

Percentage recycled material used in packaging

Quantities of specific pollutants emitted

Investment in environmental protection

Number of prosecutions / notices

Green belt

MANAGEMENT REVIEW

Success of the organization and its standing among the competition depends largely upon the level of involvement of the top management.

Top management should take effective decisions addressing

􀂄Continuing suitability, adequacy and effectiveness

􀂄Assessment of improvement opportunities and need for change

􀂄Records of management reviews

􀂄Inputs

􀂄Results of internal audits

􀂄Evaluation of compliance

􀂄External interested party communication including complaints

􀂄Environmental performance

􀂄Objectives and targets

􀂄Follow-up actions from previous management reviews

􀂄Changing circumstances

􀂄Recommendations for improvement

SUSTAINABLE COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE

Performance

Economic Benefits

Public Image

Legal Obligations

Improves Environmental Performance

Efficient utilization of resources

Boosts public Image

Reduced environmental legal obligations

Provides sustainable competitive advantage

Reduced Asset Retirement Obligations

Creates positive sentiment towards organization

Support from Environmentally concerned organizations: Public and Private

TCS CASE STUDY

TCS is in the business of providing consultancy and professional services in Information Technology (IT), which by its nature of operation has a comparatively limited impact on the environment. However, as a responsible corporate citizen and in the process of implementing EMS in the organization, TCS is committed to continually enhancing performance through appropriate strategic action plans towards environmental protection and improvement.

TCS supports various voluntary national and international protocols, conventions, initiatives, commitments, and strives to extend all possible support to future ones.

TCS regards climate change mitigation and environmental improvement as essential elements of TCS' sustainable environmental policy. In line with continuous improvement and 'Experience Certainty' process initiative, TCS plans to promote 'Green IT' as a business value proposition for itself and its customers.

It endeavors to minimize the environmental impact of the business activities by driving initiatives to reduce ecological and carbon footprints.

TCS takes the following steps which provide it competitive advantage over its industry peers. TCS aims to fulfill its environmental commitments through the following broad level actions:

Reduce Green House Gases (GHG) emissions by improving energy efficiency in operations, especially data centers

Minimize consumption of other rustics such as water, paper, hardware and other consumables

Promote 'Green Procurement' to the maximum possible extent

Promote the 'Reduce, Reuse and Recycle' philosophy for all types of wastes and dispose of 'inevitable' wastes, especially electronic waste, in an environmentally acceptable manner to prevent pollution

Respect health, safety and environment issues of employees, clients, vendors and local communities and provide a healthy work environment to all its employees and conduct environment-friendly business at all its offices

Set, monitor, and review objectives and targets on an ongoing basis towards continual improvement of environmental performance and the overall environmental management system

Remain committed to comply with all current applicable environmental and related legal and other requirements and wherever feasible, exceed prescribed standards

Continue public reporting of its environmental performance and climate change related issues through relevant international and national forums and to other stakeholders through appropriate communication channels

Communicate the Environmental Policy to all employees, business associates and other stakeholders and ensure that the Policy is also available to the public