7 minute read
2 Environmental aspects and impacts assessment process
Contents
1 2
3
4 Introduction ...............................................................................................................8 Environmental aspects and impacts assessment process............................................9
2.1 The process................................................................................................................ 10
2.2
Process inputs............................................................................................................ 10 2.3 Process activities........................................................................................................ 10
2.3.1 Establish the context .................................................................................................................10 2.3.2 Identify activities, products and services and their life cycles ....................................................11 2.3.3 Determine environmental aspects.............................................................................................12 2.3.4 Assess environmental impacts...................................................................................................13 2.3.5 Determine aspect significance...................................................................................................14 2.3.6 Document the assessment ........................................................................................................14 2.3.7 Obtain management approval...................................................................................................14 2.3.8 Communicate significant environmental aspects.......................................................................14 2.3.9 Regular review ..........................................................................................................................15
2.4
Process outputs ......................................................................................................... 15 Roles and responsibilities......................................................................................... 16
3.1
RACI chart.................................................................................................................. 16 Conclusion................................................................................................................ 17
Figures
Figure 1: Environmental aspects and impacts assessment process.................................................9
Tables
Table 1: Impact severity scores................................................................................................... 13 Table 2: Significance scores ........................................................................................................ 14 Table 3: RACI chart..................................................................................................................... 16
1 Introduction
The effective management of its impact on the environment has always been a priority for [Organization Name] knowing as it does the high degree of importance that its stakeholders place upon the reputation of the business and the need to demonstrate social responsibility.
However, there is still much to be gained by [Organization Name] in introducing industrystandard good practice processes, not the least of which is the ability to become more proactive in our approach to environmental management and to gain and maintain a better understanding of the impact of our business activities, products and services.
The international standard for environmental management systems, ISO14001, was most recently updated by the ISO in 2015. [Organization Name] has started on the road to adoption of the standard and has decided to pursue full certification to ISO14001 in order that the effective adoption of best practice in environmental management may be validated by an external third party.
This process addresses one of the major requirements of the ISO14001 standard, namely that a clear understanding of our impact on the environment is reached, and particularly that those activities, products and services that have a significant impact are identified.
Figure 1: Environmental aspects and impacts assessment process
2.1 The process
Each step in this process is described in more detail in the rest of this document.
This process should be followed using the form Environmental Aspects and Impacts Assessment Tool, which has pre-formulated templates for each of the steps described.
2.2 Process inputs
The process starts with a number of inputs which are needed to ensure that all of the steps can be completed successfully.
These inputs should include where available:
Business strategy, plans and objectives EMS Context, Requirements and Scope Environmental Policy Business process documentation, e.g. procedures Existing activity, product or service life cycle documentation Recent data from environment-related measurements Lists of employees by team Relevant contractual documentation Legal and regulatory requirements
The availability of this information will ensure that the conclusions reached are based on factual data rather than approximations.
2.3 Process activities
The following activities should be performed as part of the assessment process. It is recommended that each step is undertaken as part of a series of structured workshops facilitated by an independent resource qualified in environmental management if available.
The objective of the process is to identify those aspects of our activities, products and services that are significant in environmental terms.
2.3.1 Establish the context
The overall environment in which the assessment is carried out should be described and the reasons for it explained. This should include a description of the internal and external context and any recent changes that affect the real or potential environmental impact of business activities in general.
The internal context may include:
Governance, organizational structure, roles and accountabilities Environmental policies and objectives, and the strategies that are currently in place to achieve them The resources and knowledge (e.g. capital, time, people, processes, systems and technologies) available Relationships with, and perceptions and values of, internal stakeholders The organization's culture with regard to the environment Relevant standards, guidelines and models adopted by the organization Information about existing or planned contractual relationships
The external context may include:
The cultural, social, political, legal, regulatory, financial, technological, economic, natural and competitive environment, whether international, national, regional or local Key drivers and trends having impact on the environmental objectives of the organization Relationships with, and perceptions and values of, external stakeholders
The scope of the environmental aspects and impacts assessment should also be defined. This may be expressed in terms of factors such as:
Geographical location, e.g. countries, offices, manufacturing facilities Organizational units, e.g. specific departments Business activities or processes Products or services
It is important to fully identify the activities, products and services undertaken by the organization and which are within the scope of the assessment. The document EMS Context, Requirements and Scope should help in defining at an overview level the organization’s:
Products and services Partners and suppliers Interested parties Environmental objectives
It is recommended that an initial workshop is held with a relatively wide attendance (appropriate to the scope of the assessment) to gain views on the key activities, products and services involved. Function managers that are not able to attend should be consulted separately and/or encouraged to send a deputy to the meeting to ensure that all points of view are represented.
For each activity, product or service identified as being within scope, the following should also be established [Note: the ISO14001 standard does not require a detailed life cycle assessment]:
Its life cycle under normal circumstances, covering stages such as: o Raw material acquisition o Design o Production o Transportation/delivery o Use o End-of-life treatment o Final disposal The outcome or deliverable of the activity The compliance obligations that apply to the activity
General agreement should be obtained within the organization that the list of activities, products and services within the scope of the assessment, and their basic life cycles, is correct before proceeding to the next step.
2.3.3 Determine environmental aspects
An environmental aspect is defined within the ISO14001 standard as an “element of an organization’s activities or products or services that interacts or can interact with the environment”.
For each of the activities, products and services under assessment, a life cycle approach (as described above) may be taken to identify those aspects of normal, abnormal and emergency operation that do already, or could in some circumstances, result in an environmental impact.
These aspects may include:
Energy emissions –e.g. radiation, light, heat Air –e.g. quality, atmospheric changes, climate change Water –e.g. rivers and freshwater lakes, water table, sea Land –e.g. soil erosion, geological issues Nuisance –e.g. noise, odours Waste –e.g. disposal, recycling Resources –e.g. non-renewables, fossil fuels, conflict minerals Ecology/Archaeology –e.g. habitat destruction, historical interest Transportation –e.g. emissions, hazardous materials
[You may decide to use a different list of aspects; the ISO14001 standard is not prescriptive]
2.3.4 Assess environmental impacts
An environmental impact is defined within the ISO14001 standard as a “change to the environment, whether adverse or beneficial, wholly or partially resulting from an organization’s environmental aspects”.
The following attributes of the impact should be considered:
Operation Condition –whether the aspect relates to: o Normal operation o Abnormal operation, e.g. start-up and shutdown o Emergency situation What the environmental impact is, expressed in clear terms Nature of impact –whether its effect is positive or negative Type of impact –direct, indirect, or cumulative A score between 1 (low) and 3 (high) for the following criteria: o Likelihood –how likely is the impact to occur? o Compliance obligation –is the impact addressed by relevant legislation? o Cost –potential cost to the organization if the impact were to occur o Interested parties –the degree to which interested parties would be impacted o Detection or mitigation –how likely the impact is to be detected and/or addressed quickly
[You may decide to use different impact criteria; the ISO14001 standard is not prescriptive]
A scoring system on a scale of 1 to 3 will be used to assess the severity of the impact in each of the above areas where:
SEVERITY SCORE
1
2
3
Table 1: Impact severity scores
SEVERITY OF IMPACT
Low
Moderate
High
[You may decide to use a different scoring system; the ISO14001 standard is not prescriptive, however this would require the formula used to calculate the Aspect Significance Score in the Environmental Aspects and Impacts Assessment Tool to be amended.]
In the event that there is disagreement about the severity of impact that should apply, it is recommended that you should err on the side of caution and assign the higher of the proposed impact scores.
