Environmental Management Process PDF

Prof. Ishmael Mensah, DHTM, UCC ¨ The EPA of Ghana defines Environmental Management as “the process by which the collection of policies, structures, resources, systems and processes are brought to mutual interplay for the achievement of clearly defined environmental policy dir...

Prof. Ishmael Mensah, DHTM, UCC ¨ The EPA of Ghana defines Environmental Management as “the process by which the collection of policies, structures, resources, systems and processes are brought to mutual interplay for the achievement of clearly defined environmental policy directives” (EPA Newsletter, 1997). ¨ Environmental management (EM) is perceived as a framework or a set of practices and processes that enable any organisation, whether private or public, to reduce its environmental impacts while aiming at increasing its operating productivity. ¨ EMS is a methodology by which organizations acting in a structured manner assess their operations to ensure that they are functioning in an environmentally legitimate way (Whitelaw, 1997). ¨ “The organizational structure, responsibilities, practices, procedures, processes and resources for determining and implementing environmental policy.” (British Standards Institute). ¨ That part of the management system of an organization which includes its organizational structure, planning activities, responsibilities, practices, procedures, processes and resources for developing, implementing, achieving, reviewing and maintaining its environmental policy (Tibor and Feldman, 1996). ¨ The EMS model follows a Plan-Do-Check-Act Cycle. ¨ The process begins with developing an environmental policy, planning the EMS, and then implementing it. ¨ The model is continuous because the EMS is subjected to continual improvement in order to review and revise the system. THE EMS PROCESS ¨ EMS usually involves setting objectives and measurable targets; detailing a programme of activities; and monitoring and evaluation of the activities (Hunter & Green, 1995). ¨ Companies undertake EMS in order to reduce their environmental impacts, improve efficiency in the use of resources, comply with legislation and demonstrate their commitment to environmental protection. ¨ Review of the organization's environmental goals while analysing long-term and short-term environmental impact as well as how the company is meeting its legal requirements. ¨ Analysis of its environmental impacts and legal requirements; ¨ Setting of environmental objectives and targets to reduce environmental impacts and comply with legal requirements; ¨ Establishing programs to meet objectives and targets; ¨ Monitoring and measurement of progress towards achieving the objectives; ¨ Ensuring employees' environmental awareness and competence; and, ¨ Review of progress of the EMS and making improvements. 1. Conduct initial review of operations ¨ An organization cannot reduce its environmental impacts ¨ The environmental management process must begin with a critical review of the operations of an organization. ¨ The review usually covers four key areas namely; ¡ (1) legislative compliance, ¡ (2) significant environmental aspects and impacts, ¡ (3) existing environmental management practices and ¡ (4) feedback from any previous incidents. ¨ (1) legislative compliance; Legal compliance refers to the process by which an organisation ensures that it observes and complies with the external statutory laws and regulations. ¨ (2) significant environmental aspects and impacts; any changes to the environment, whether adverse or favourable which are the results of an organization’s activities, operations, processes or services. ¨ (3) existing environmental management practices; The present environmental management practices should be reviewed in order to identify the shortfalls and successes for continuous improvement to be ensured. ¨ (4) feedback from any previous incidents; During the initial review of operations, it is important to obtain feedback on previous incidents in order to resolve all outstanding issues. 2. Formulation of an environmental policy: ¨ An EMS therefore generally follows the adoption of an environmental policy. ¨ The environmental policy formally outlines a company’s commitments to environmental management and commonly includes commitments to reduce waste, pollution, energy and resource use, sets objectives and targets and reviews the company’s environmental performance. ¨ A formal policy is invaluable in telling stakeholders – employees, guests, business partners, local residents that management is committed to environmental improvement. ¨ Environmental policy is any course of action deliberately taken or not taken to manage human activities with a view to preventing, reducing or mitigating their harmful effects on nature and natural resources, and ensuring that man-made changes to the environment do not have harmful effects on humans (McCormick, 2001). ¨ The Environmental Policy Document must: þ be documented and understood at all levels þ commit to complying with the law þ be publicly available þ commit to prevention of pollution and improve environmental performance þ provide for the setting of environmental objectives þ relevant to the operations of the organization ¨ Hilton Hotel Our team members and partners strive to operate our business in a responsible manner, thereby creating long- term value with the goal of making a positive impact on the communities where we operate. ¨ MacDonald's Restaurant McDonald’s mission is to be the UK’s best family restaurant and we believe that this involves protecting the environment at the local and global level. We strive to ensure that our operations today do not have a negative impact on the lives of future generations. 3. Set environmental goals and objectives ¨ To measure progress an organization needs to monitor its performance against a set of goals and objectives. ¨ This can also facilitate the achievement of continual improvement in environmental performance. ¨ During the setting of goals and objectives, the following issues should be considered: ü How the established goals and objectives are linked to the organization’s environmental aspects and impacts. ü Whether the objectives are specific and measurable. ü When the goals and objectives would be met. ü Who is responsible for the actions needed to meet the objectives? ¨ MacDonald's Environmental Aspect Restaurant Impact Indicator Goal Objective ¨ McDonald’s mission is to be the UK’s best family restaurant and we believe that (measure) this involves protecting the environment at the local and global level. We strive to Waste generation pollution Amount of waste ensure that our operations today do not have a negativeReduce impact amount of Reduce waste on the lives of future sent to landfill waste sent to sent to landfill generations. landfill by 50% in six months ¨ Zanzibar ¨ The Government of Zanzibar is committed to develop, plan, manage and promote tourism industry that emphasizes sustainability, quality and diversification, and which is culturally responsible, socially desirable, ecologically friendly, environmentally sustainable and economically viable. The image of Zanzibar abroad will work as a promising exclusive holiday destination, basically for historical, cultural attractions and beach holidays. 4. Development and implementation of an environmental programme ¨ After setting the objectives and targets, the organization can then compile a corresponding environmental programme. ¨ The programme should clearly specify the implementation schedules for the objectives and targets, the required resources, the staff responsibilities, the work priorities, etc. ¨ The programme should be flexible enough and can be revised in case of any change in the objectives and targets.  Aim Objective Actions Responsible staff To reduce To reduce Install flow restrictors in the kitchen and guest rooms water 10% by January 2004. consumption of water Inspect and maintain water pipes and faucets once consumption every three months. by Post notices and labels at designated locations to the end of remind staff to switch off faucets after use by February 2004 2004. Through the means of “wastewater segregation”, instruct the staff to reuse less polluted wastewater for other purposes. For example, wastewater from swimming pool can be reused for floor cleaning. Monitor monthly the water consumption and devise improvement measures The implementation also requires: Deployment of resources Development of budgets and control systems Training and motivation of employees Communication with employees and other stakeholders 5. Audit of environmental performance ¨ An assessment of the extent to which an organization is observing practices which minimize harm to the environment: ¨ There are three main types of audits which are environmental compliance audits, environmental management audits to verify whether an organisation meets its stated objectives, and, functional environmental audits such as for water and electricity. ¨ Organizations should make use of documented records to regularly monitor their overall environmental performance as well as the implementation status and results of their environmental programmes. ¨ The scope of audit should cover: o Environmental programme implementation status and performance. o Compliance with environmental objectives and targets of the organization. o Checking of different environmental aspects and impacts of the hotel. o Overall environmental performance of the organization. o Compliance with the relevant regulations and legislations. ¨ The environmental auditing process should include follow-up and corrective action ¨ Corrective and preventive actions should be taken to eliminate the causes of actual and potential non-conformances. 6. Management review ¨ Top management should regularly review the environmental management system (EMS) to ensure its continuing suitability, adequacy and effectiveness. ¨ The management review should address the possible needs for changes to policy, objectives and other elements of the environmental management system, in the light of environmental management system audit results and changing circumstances.