Environment

The environment has arrived! It is no longer just the air we breathe, or the world we live in, it has become a requirement for businesses to address the environment in order to maintain customers, win new business and compete in an ever more critical global economy. It is no longer local authorities and big business that need an effective means of managing the impacts of their business on the environment but is now a need for all businesses to work towards improving the environment.

Everyone is talking about Environmental Management Systems (EMS), yet one in three UK companies still don't have an EMS in place despite the potential to enhance environmental performance, corporate reputation, meet customer demand and save costs.

A recent survey showed that as many as 70% of companies are concerned about the rising cost of energy, nearly half (45%) worry about waste management and a third (30%) worry about carbon emissions. Yet nearly one third (29%) of those surveyed do not have an EMS in place.

The benefits of implementing an EMS include:

  • Demonstration of high environmental standards
  • Demonstration of compliance with legislation
  • Reduced costs
  • Improved efficiency
  • Improved public relations
  • Improved business opportunities - working with companies who expect their suppliers, contractors or partners to have an EMS in place.

Some argue that implementing an EMS will not achieve significant cost savings. However, in our experience cost savings are largely dependent on the commitment of senior management and the resources made available to the environmental system and the effort made to investigate and implement opportunities for process efficiency and waste minimization.

4See can also provide you with:

As well as assisting in the development and implementation of an EMS we can also provide the following services:

  • Environmental policy development
  • Environmental inspections and audits
  • Desk top studies (Phase 1 Environmental Inspections)
  • Environmental training
  • Waste management plans
  • Project environmental and emergency response plans