The standard solutions to improving environmental performance Vicki Gomersall, Product Manager

Agenda Standards solutions  Environmental management systems  Energy management systems  Emissions measuring and reporting The benefits of using standards Certification and its benefits Verification and its benefits

Standards solutions

Standards Solutions Environmental management systems –  ISO  EMAS  BS 8555 Energy management systems –  prEN Emissions measuring and reporting –  ISO – Corporate carbon footprinting  PAS Product carbon footprinting

Environmental Management Systems

An Environmental Management System:  Provides a structured management approach to controlling an organisation’s environmental risks and improving their environmental performance.  Is part of an overall management system that includes: Organisational structure and planning activities Responsibilities, practices and procedures, Processes and resources

ISO An international standard Enables an organisation to:  develop an environmental policy  establish objectives and monitoring and control processes  take action to improve performance registrations worldwide 7323 in the UK

ISO Systems Model

EMAS – Eco Management and Audit Scheme European wide scheme Requirements:  Environmental review  An EMS  Internal environmental audit  Annual environmental statement Independent verification of the above 4095 registered organisations across Europe 69 registrations in the UK

BS 8555 Guidance document Phased approach to implementation Not certifiable  Acorn 400 registrations to BS 8555

BS 8555 Model Phase 1 Commitment and establishing the baseline Phase 2 Identifying and ensuring compliance with legal and other requirements Phase 3 Developing Objectives, targets and programmes Phase 4 Implementation and operation of the EMS Phase 5 Checking, audit and review 2 nd Party auditing & supply chain acknowledgement Preparing for ISO Registration Preparing for EMAS registration Phase 6 EMS Acknowledge

Remas 3 year European study managed by the EA Remit – to establish whether industrial sites that have implemented a robust EMS have improved their environmental performance Environmental information from 320 sites Comparison of types of EMS:  No EMS  Informal EMS  ISO registration  ISO registration plus performance data  EMAS

Remas results There is good evidence that putting a progressively more robust EMS in place will lead to better site management There is some evidence to link better site environmental management with better environmental performance There is a reasonably strong link between better site environmental management and regulatory performance Figure 1 - Impact of EMS class on overall environmental management activities Source:

Energy Management Systems

Energy Management - prEN Similar to ISO Focuses on energy management systems Follows the PDCA model Can be integrated with ISO Publication expected September 2009 Certification available October 2009

Emissions

ISO International standard for calculating and reporting carbon emissions at the organisational level Defines a set of principles that underpin the emissions calculation and reporting Defines requirements for:  Setting organisational and operational boundaries  Methodologies for gathering the raw data  Conversion factors  Reporting Aim – to ensure the report is a true, fair and accurate reflection of the organisation’s carbon footprint Verification is voluntary

PAS 2050 Publicly available specification defining the requirements for calculating the footprint of goods and services Contributors include BSI, The Carbon Trust, DEFRA Provides a consistent method for assessing the life cycle GHG emissions Provides a common basis for reporting and communicating the results Verification is voluntary

Other Standards ISO 14004: 2004 – Guidelines on principles, systems and supporting techniques ISO 14031: 2000 – Environmental performance evaluation – Guidelines ISO14040/41/42/43 – Environmental Management – Lifecycle Assessment ISO 14063: Environmental management. Environmental communication. Guidelines and examples ISO 19011: 2002 – Guidelines for quality and/or environmental management systems auditing. PAS 2020 – Direct Marketing – Environmental performance

Benefits of using standards Process mapping leading to less duplication Better internal communication, gives direction Aids achieving consistency between departments and locations Provides robust platform for managing information on which to base important business decisions Focuses people and processes on continual improvement Better employee engagement Helps build good relations with regulators

Certification and Verification

What is certification? Independent assessment of an organisation’s implementation of the environmental management system standard (ISO 14001) Objectives of certification:  Are the requirements of the Standard effectively implemented?  Is the organisation effectively managing its environmental risks? In accordance with ISO 17021

Benefits of certification Wider pool of ideas:  Fresh set of eyes  External auditors can share success stories from similar organisations Provides impetus for all employees to buy into and meet requirements Provides assurance to management of effectiveness of systems Demonstrates confidence and willingness for transparency Boosts credibility/reputation and can be used as a marketing tool Increases chances of winning tenders Increases stakeholder confidence Reduces exposure to risk

What is verification? Objective assessment of accuracy and completeness of the carbon footprint Conformity to pre-established GHG accounting and reporting principles i.e. ISO Assessment of risk of material discrepancies in reported data Confirmation that the reported information and associated statements represents a faithful, true and fair account of a company’s GHG emissions/carbon footprint In accordance with ISO 14065

Benefits of verification Having your carbon footprint verified will enable you to: Fund carbon reduction initiatives with confidence Improve your image and protect your reputation Provide assurance to stakeholders Pre-empt legislation

Summary

Environmental performance is high on the business agenda Many benefits from better management of your environmental risks and performance Standards provide structured tools to any organisation ISO is the main international standard for an EMS EN coming soon ISO will help you meet the CRC requirements Certification enables you to communicate your achievements with confidence

‘ The era of procrastination, of half measures, of soothing and baffling expedients, of delays, is coming to its close. In its place we are entering a period of consequences’ Sir Winston Churchill, Nov12, 1936