Environmental Management System
                     ENVIRONMENTAL 
MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
Introduction
• An Environmental Management System (EMS) is a set of processes and practices 
that enable an organization to reduce its environmental impacts and increase its 
operating efficiency. 
• This site provides information and resources related to an EMS for small businesses 
and private industry, as well as local, state and federal agencies.
Source: www.epa.gov
Why EMS?
• An EMS helps an organization address its regulatory requirements in a systematic 
and cost-effective manner. This proactive approach can help reduce the risk of non-
compliance and improve health and safety practices for employees and the public. 
Source: www.epa.gov
Basic Elements of an EMS
• Reviewing the organization's environmental goals
• Analyzing its environmental impacts and compliance obligations
• Setting environmental objectives and targets to reduce environmental impacts and 
conform with compliance obligations
• Establishing programs to meet these objectives and targets
• Monitoring and measuring progress in achieving the objectives
Source: www.epa.gov
Primary processes
• Core processes, their outputs, and the identification of significant environmental 
aspects and impacts
• Key supporting processes, such as those for maintaining awareness of legal 
requirements, ensuring competency of employees, providing infrastructure, 
communicating EMS information, and monitoring and evaluating environmental 
performance
• Management system supporting processes, such as document control, record 
control, and internal auditing
Source: asq.org
Potential Benefits
• Improved environmental performance
• Enhanced compliance
• Pollution prevention
• Resource conservation
• New customers/markets
• Increased efficiency/reduced costs
• Enhanced employee morale
Source: www.epa.gov
Economic benefits
• Corporate reputation and image
• Lower environmentally related costs and fees
• Increased access to new customers
• Direct savings through environmental source reduction
Source: asq.org
Planning 
• An organization first identifies environmental aspects of its operations. 
Environmental aspects are those items, such as air pollutants or hazardous waste, 
that can have negative impacts on people and/or the environment. 
• An organization then determines which aspects are significant by choosing criteria 
considered most important by the organization. 
Source: www.epa.gov
Implementation
• An organization follows through with the action plan using the necessary resources. 
An important component is employee training and awareness for all employees.
• Other steps in the implementation stage include documentation, following 
operating procedures, and setting up internal and external communication lines.
Source: www.epa.gov
Evaluation 
• A company monitors its operations to evaluate whether objectives and targets are 
being met. If not, the company takes corrective action.
Source: www.epa.gov
Review 
• Top management reviews the results of the evaluation to see if the EMS is working. 
Management determines whether the original environmental policy is consistent 
with the organization's values. 
• The plan is then revised to optimize the effectiveness of the EMS. The review stage 
creates a loop of continuous improvement for a company.
Source: www.epa.gov