An environmental management system like the standard ISO 14001: 2004 sets out a practical approach for addressing environmental concerns in an organisation and enables management to understand and appreciate their environmental obligations. It allows management to initiate suitable action to manage these obligations and set down the path towards continual improvement and sustainable development without compromising financial integrity.

EMS benefits organisations by:

• Building capacity throughout the whole organisation
• Increasing efficiencies through minimisation of waste and preventing misuse of natural resources
• Promoting business by demonstrating an environmentally responsible and certifiable approach
• Improving compliance assurance
• Reducing the organisation's carbon footprint.

The benefits of using WISenvironmental
WISenvironmental experts have current experience in supporting an organisation through all stages of implementing a certifiable EMS from design, through implementation to certification. WISenvironmental know what accredited certification bodies are looking for once the formal certification process starts. WISenvironmental work as lead auditors for DNV Certification and certify systems at all stages of the standard's 3-year certification cycle: Stage 1 Audit - the document review and initial site visit; Stage 2 Audit - the initial audit; periodic/ surveillance audits; and recertification audits.

CASE HISTORIES/EXPERIENCE

• Conducted a Stage 1 (gap analysis) audit of the headquarters operations of a leading organisation that provides professional service solutions including systems integration, managed service delivery and associated support functions to a wide range of clients in both the public and private sectors, with core capabilities in IT estate management and business process outsourcing. The HQ operations will be added to the scope of the existing DNV-certified EMS certificate.
  
  
• Providing support to a leading French biopharmaceuticals company in the design and implementation of an EMS for their UK operations that will lead to certification to ISO 14001:2004 by summer 2010. The initial environmental review and register of environmental aspects were completed in September 2009.
  
  
• Interim manager in the design and implementation of a certifiable environmental management system at the Millhams Household Recycling Centre and other HRCs for Dorset-based W&S Recycling that commenced in January 2007. The stages of implementation involved the design and presentation of a series of four EMS training workshops and conducting internal audits. The site was certified to ISO 14001: 2004 by BSI in August 2008.
  
  
• Design and presentation of a one-day EMS awareness training workshop to staff and graduate trainees of Steria plc, at their Hemel Hempstead HQ on behalf of DNV Training. The workshop included a site tour of the 400-employee facility.
  
  
• Conduct more than 15 ISO 14001 environmental management system audits each year. These include initial, surveillance and recertification audits of businesses in the public and private sectors. Sectors in which experience has been gained include general manufacturing, construction, tourism, transportation, waste management and printing.