Accreditation for Environmental Management Systems

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Accreditation for environmental management systems refers to the process of evaluating and certifying that an organization has a management system in place to minimize the environmental impact of its operations. Environmental management systems are designed to help organizations identify and manage their environmental impacts, and to ensure that they operate in an environmentally responsible manner.

To obtain accreditation for an environmental management system, an organization must typically demonstrate that it has the necessary policies, processes, and procedures in place to manage its environmental impacts effectively. This may include demonstrating that the organization has appropriate staffing levels, that it follows established best practices and guidelines, and that it has systems in place to monitor and improve the environmental performance of its operations.

There are several different accreditation standards that may be applicable to environmental management systems, depending on the specific type of organization and the industry in which it operates. For example, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has developed a standard for environmental management, ISO 14001, which provides guidance on the principles and processes for managing environmental impacts effectively.

Obtaining accreditation for an environmental management system can be beneficial for several reasons. It can help to demonstrate the organization's competence and credibility to regulatory bodies, customers, and other stakeholders, and may be required in order to qualify for certain contracts or business opportunities. Accreditation can also help to improve the environmental performance of the organization's operations, and may lead to increased efficiency and cost savings.

Environmental Management System certification is provided by certification bodies (CBs) to organizations whose management systems meet the requirements of the ISO 14001 standard.

Benefits of implementing ISO 14001 environmental management systems include;

• potential reduction in process by-products and wastes;
• greater employee awareness about the environment and the impact of their jobs on it;
• potential increased energy efficiency and energy conservation in design, production, and postproduction processes;
• creation of systematic structure for complying with environmental regulations;
• customer satisfaction/requirement;
• competitive advantage;
• ease of trade, avoiding non-tariff trade barriers;
• potential for improved market share;
• and improved image with community and environmental groups.

ISO 14001 specifies the elements of an environmental management system that an organization must have in place in order to become certified to the standard. In order to achieve this standard, a company must have an environmental policy in place that is communicated to all employees.

It must define its environmental aspects and set objectives and targets to improve its environmental impact and performance. These objectives and targets should be measurable and be monitored closely by the organization. A company must also ensure it is compliant with any applicable environmental legislation.

A Certification Body applying for ISO 14001 accreditation must conform to ISO/IEC 17021-1 and ISO 17021-2 and other additional International requirements as detailed in Specific Requirements for Accreditation for EMS Scheme.

Certification Bodies interested to apply for an Accreditation scheme for Environmental Management System can send an email at [email protected]