Best Approach To Environmental Management System Certification

There are many reasons why organisations implement the ISO 14001 Environmental Management System in Queensland – and protecting the environment is just one of them! As an International Standard that is used throughout the world, ISO 14001:2015 is one of the best management systems around, offering huge benefits to those who use it.

ISO 14001 Environmental Management System is suited to organisations of any size, across all industries, as it can be shaped to meet particular needs and targets. Of course, it’s main purpose is to reduce an organisation’s impact on the environment, but this covers everything from pollution prevention to resource management.

Legal Compliance

ISO 14001:2015 is also one of the best methods for ensuring legal compliance – a responsibility that must be taken seriously, whether you run a major manufacturing plant or a retail store.

Just recently, Australian Conservation Foundation CEO, Kelly O’Shanassy, said Australia should be doing more to combat climate change.

“Australia has so much to lose from more heat waves, droughts and bushfires – and we have some of the best renewable energy resources in the world – so we should be a leader on this list, not bumping around near the bottom,” she said.

Environmental Management System Certification

And one way Australia can achieve that is by more organisations implementing ISO 14001 Environmental Management Systems, and achieving Environmental Management System certification.

When I hear businesses say they cannot afford to implement change, I seriously question whether they can afford NOT to. Leaving aside all the environmental benefits, it just makes good business sense to become more efficient.

An ISO 14001 Environmental Management System in Queensland helps organisations reduce their operating costs, by minimising waste, and making more efficient use of resources, including water and power. And clearly that makes these businesses more profitable.

Beating Your Competition

Environmental Management System certification also improves an organisation’s reputation, which leads to more customers and more sales, again growing that company’s profits. It gives an organisation an edge over the competition, and better qualifies it to bid for major contracts and government tenders.

All positives, right? So why wouldn’t you – especially in a world that is increasingly controlled by legislation. If for no other reason, implementing an ISO 14001 Environmental Management System takes away some of the worry and stress.

Think about it; of all the rules and regulations that apply, environmental management, and workplace health and safety, have to be the most demanding. Compliance with a huge range of legislation is required, and that requires constant monitoring and assessment.

Underground Water Management

And that’s not a once-a-year activity! This is a daily requirement, as legislation evolves, employees come and go, and new contracts are secured.

Indeed, as recently as November 2016, the Queensland Parliament passed the Environmental Protection (Underground Water Management) and Other Legislation Amendment Act and the Water Legislation Amendment Act.

This legislation is designed to strengthen the effectiveness of the environmental assessment and ongoing management of underground water extraction by resource projects.

Perfect for SMEs

This is just one example of recent environmental management legislation and remember, we’re not just dealing with one authority. There is Federal legislation, State legislation, not to mention local council rules and regulations. It’s a potential minefield – unless you have a system in place that automatically monitors all these key areas.

Small businesses in particular can benefit from putting a system such as this is place, as it is a great help with effective time management, leaving the business owner free to concentrate on other issues. Being an SME owner is rather like trying to juggle with a dozen balls, knowing that if you drop one, it could cause all sorts of problems.

And when dropping the ball can actually cause a major incident or disruption, or even prosecution, you need all the help you can get. An ISO 14001 Environmental Management System in Queensland puts in place the tools needed to juggle all those responsibilities more easily.

Seeking the Best Solution

It allows a business owner to measure and reduce resource usage, and by reducing those costs, they are adding greater value to every product they produce. And while those tools are general, the EMS – Environmental Management System – can and should be written to reflect the individual needs and goals of that organisation.

As a business owner, it’s quite possible you’ve already researched Environmental Management System certification and, if you have looked online, you may believe it’s as simple as downloading some software!

It isn’t. While not impossible to attain, Environmental Management System certification does require commitment and hard work, and the input of ISO specialists, such as Standard Consulting in Brisbane.

Standard Consulting successfully helps companies implement the ISO 14001 Environmental Management System in Queensland, tailor-making it to suit any type of business.

Their co-operative approach has enabled them to be engaged by companies wanting to impose their own style of system. This unique approach allows businesses to successfully achieve certification faster than if using all new processes and documentation.