Differences between ISO 14001 and EU Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS)

M

Migre

Currently studying the 2nd year of the CQI Diploma, in conjunction with having started a new job with a local council last April, has led to some recent questions regarding the pursuit of ISO 14001 (which isn't currently in place). Having little experience of this (prior to studying the D6 module anyway), I've carried out some research and have also found details on EMAS.

Whilst EMAS appears to have a little more weight and gravitas about it, ISO 14001 seems to be the more popular approach? I appreciate that there is more involved with EMAS implementation though what I can't seem to find are reasonable opinions / comparisons of the two.

Could anyone offer any insight please? Have you experience of the above? Can EMAS be suitably implemented without prior ISO 14001 accreditation? Would that be recommendable or should ISO 14001 accreditation be pursued before even beginning to consider EMAS? Your thoughts would be appreciated.

Kind regards,

Mick
 
P

prototyper

Re: ISO 14001 versus EMAS?

Hi Mick,

The following is from the European Commission website (Link attached)

http://ec.europa.eu/environment/emas/tools/faq_en.htm

What is the difference between ISO14001 and EMAS?
EMAS goes beyond EN ISO 14001 in a number of ways, requiring the undertaking of an initial environmental review, the active involvement of employees in the implementation of EMAS, and the publication of relevant information to the public and other interested parties.

Notable differences include:

Preliminary review: EMAS requires a verified initial environmental review - ISO does not.
Public availability: EMAS requires that the policy, programme, environmental management system and details of the organisations performance are made publicly available as part of the environmental statement. ISO requires only that the policy be publicly available.
Audits: EN ISO 14001 requires audits, although the frequency is not specified nor is the audit methodology set out in as much detail as in EMAS.
Contractors and suppliers: EMAS is slightly more explicit in its control over contractors and suppliers, requiring that procurement issues are addressed and that the organisation endeavours to ensure that contractors and suppliers comply with the organisation's environmental policy. EN ISO14001 requires that relevant procedures are communicated to contractors and suppliers. In effect there should be no difference.
Commitments and requirements: EN ISO14001 does not stipulate the extent to which performance must be improved. EMAS specifies that organisations must attempt to "reduce environmental impacts to levels not exceeding these corresponding to economically viable application of best available technology".

Hope this helps,

Mick
 
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