Environmental Policy
How to create an environmental policy
ISO 14000 certification does not state any requirement regarding environmental performance. Based on company environmental policy, it searches for a commitment to accomplish and establish legislation and rules to comply with its reality and it also makes a program to constant improvement.
Concerning that, ISO 14001establishes that top management must define, apply and comply with an environmental policy to assure that:
| a. | It complies with environmental legislation, regulations and other requirements it intends to (ISO 14000 Paragraph 4,2 Environmental Policy). |
In general terms, any organization can apply ISO 14000 standard, since it wants:
| • | to implement, keep and improve environmental management system; |
| • | to assure it is in compliance with established environmental policy; |
| • | to demonstrate its compliance with established environmental management policy; |
| • | to look for certification/file of a management system of an external organization; |
| • | to claim self-determination and self declaration of compliance with International Standard ISO 14000. |
The words any organization means any company or person interested. This standard establishes that any company that wants the certification understands that it is an option and not a requirement.
Environmental policy must be able to identify the company, its location and environmental questions related to its activities, products and services. The content must include its environmental characteristics and directly lead organization to its objectives and goals so they will be in conformance with politic need to be the structure to its identification.
A company's environmental policy is both strategy and a tool for communication. It must be promoted in the organization and available for external people. The organization decides in which measure such policy must be used as a promotional tool to influence parties.
Commitments included in organization policy are focus for parties and their success is important in assessment process which can lead to certification.
Folder Policies - This folder contains company commitment to environment.
Folder Mission - It defines mission of the company to assure quality of the products offered to health and security of the worker without damaging environment.
Folder View - Are company economical environmental objectives regarding short, medium and long term.
Folder Values - Principles that conduct activities, products or company's services.
Procedures
To add Environmental Policy:
| 1. | On maintenance window Environmental Policy, click Add. |
The add window will be displayed.
2. Fill in data in folder Policies.
3. Fill in fields according to help instructions. Note field Effective date that determines the effective date of this environmental policy
4. Fill in data in folder Mission.
5. Fill in data in folder View.
6. Fill in data in folder Values.
7,Confirm data.
8. After adding an environmental policy, you can print it or send it via e-mail in txt format or HTML.
9. Check data and confirm them.
By formulating and reviewing environmental policy and adequate it to corporate position, you have to update it in the System and redefine living period. You have to include one more registration and register a new environmental policy..
The system stores history of policies evolution to analyze company's environmental behavior to continuous improvement of the process.