Two tier objectives - ISO 14001 Objectives and Targets

[Peter West]

Hi All

Just a quickie as managed to delete the long message i just typed. I have gone through this website and the internet but not found a definite concrete answer to this. I am going through ISO 14001 objectives and targets and wondered if anyone else felt like they needed two different sets?

One based on the enviro aspects, and resolution of them and the second with a more general overview for senior members of staff i.e. to identify kWh usage, reducing the amount through doing a) b) and c).

I have 2 meetings coming up, one where i have to tell someone what they need to do, and another where i know all they want to hear is - we are aiming to reduce kWh usage by 10% this year.

Obviously the 2 are interlinked but could be presented differently.

Sorry as this is probably a stupid question but i have only started looking at ISO 14001 last week and have about 3 months to get the company ready for certification.

Thanks for all your help

[Randy]

Two different sets of what? I'm trying to figure out what you're getting at and I'm kinda lost.

An environmental objective must be related to environmental performance. I don't know what you mean by resolution of an environmental aspect and reducing kWh usage without tying it to an environmental indicator is not acceptable....a kWh has never harmed or impacted the environment...never!

There are some auditors that will accept reducing kWh's, but not me, I have to be shown the realtionship of that reduction to the evnvironment.

[Wes Bucey]

Originally Posted by Randy

Two different sets of what? I'm trying to figure out what you're getting at and I'm kinda lost.

An environmental objective must be related to environmental performance. I don't know what you mean by resolution of an environmental aspect and reducing kWh usage without tying it to an environmental indicator is not acceptable....a kWh has never harmed or impacted the environment...never!

There are some auditors that will accept reducing kWh's, but not me, I have to be shown the realtionship of that reduction to the evnvironment.

I suspect some folks, especially where electricity is generated by coal-burning plants, have the idea reducing kilowatt hours reduces the amount of air-polluting coal which has to be burned. Reducing the "carbon imprint" is a goal of many organizations today.

[Randy]

Originally Posted by Wes Bucey

I suspect some folks, especially where electricity is generated by coal-burning plants, have the idea reducing kilowatt hours reduces the amount of air-polluting coal which has to be burned. Reducing the "carbon imprint" is a goal of many organizations today.

They have to be specific with their objectives, guessing or hoping people will know is not acceptable. Additionally "Targets" that go along with objectives are detailed performance requirements.

Their committment is to improve environmental performance, so they have to show where that that improvement to the environment is taking place. KWh and money saved do not impact the environment.

[Wes Bucey]

Originally Posted by Randy

They have to be specific with their objectives, guessing or hoping people will know is not acceptable. Additionally "Targets" that go along with objectives are detailed performance requirements.

Their committment is to improve environmental performance, so they have to show where that that improvement to the environment is taking place. KWh and money saved do not impact the environment.

Oddly, the theme of another thread also involves explaining the organization intent in writing and then documenting how they have carried out the intent as an action.

{not much new since ISO 1994}

[Dr. L. Ramakrishnan]

Hi

I would like you to refer to the following sentences under section 4.3.3 of ISO-14001 (2004) Standard:

"The organization shall establish, implement and document environmental objectives and targets, at relevant functions and levels within the organization"

"The objectives and targets shall be.........consistent with the environmental policy....commitments to prevention of pollution......."

"When establishing and reviewing its objectives and targets, an organization shall take into account the legal requirements and other requirements to which the organization subscribes, and its significant environmental aspects. It shall also consider its technological options, its financial, operational and business requirements, and the views of interested parties"

To answer your question now:

1. The EMS is YOUR system; as far as you work within the framework of ISO-14001 standard, it should not matter if you classify your objectives as tier 1, tier 2 etc. The objectives need to be derived as given in the Standard and should be documented.

2. AS for as objectives related to energy (e.g. KWH), they need not necessarily be derived from Significant environmental aspects alone; if your environmental policy refers to "resource conservation" or if you identify "energy saving" among the "other requirements" (under 4.3.2 -e.g. Corporate Guideline, Kyoto Protocol etc.), still you can show links between KWH reduction and Objectives derived as guided by ISO-14001.

3. If your industry is energy intensive industry and if the source of electricity is mainly "thermal", I am sure that this will come out as a significant aspect in your analsysis of environmental impacts (indirect)..

From your question I get a feeling that you would like to show to your senior staff that there are indeed economic benefits of ISO-14001 system without exposing them to actual environmental aspects and performance. Such an approach, if it is indeed so in your case, defeats the purpose of ISO-14001 which warrants continual improvement in EMS. Your senior staff may lose interest in ISO-14001 if you don't show any economic benefits year on year. Let us not forget that ISO-14001 is for improving environmental performance of an organization continually; the economic performance arising out of the objectives and programmes is only incidental.

With best wishes,

Ramakrishnan

[joshua_sx1]

…well said Ramakrishnan… I like your point that “the economic performance arising out of the objectives and programmes is only incidental”, although I believe that it has always significant impact to organization for adopting ISO14001…

…anyway, I believe the key idea is - your established “measurable objectives” at your relevant functions should be consistent with your EMS policy, regardless you used two different sets (or even more than two different sets) of objectives & targets…

…well, this is only my pov, Peter West (btw nice user name, I hope you are not related with someone from North), used “kWh” as environmental indicator on their organization probably because they considered its effect like “paper” or other consumable items… it maybe indirect, but it has an impact on the environment (in the end)… the direct impact would be on the organization itself by saving a lot on operating cost… and this is already enough reason (for me) to consider it as an objective or target… and since it is somehow can contribute to the protection and improvement of environment, you can make this as one of your EMS objective… after all, it is your organization who is going to commit on it, implement, monitor its progress and measure its effectiveness… again, just only my pov…

[Peter West]

Thank you all. i think due to my lack of knowledge and experience with this i have been reading through a book and taking each and every word as gospel without really considering what is applicable to our company. This is a lot clearer and on the basis of all your advice i hope to be able to sum up our objectives and satisfy both the environmental policy as well as the requirements for becoming 14001 certified.

Thanks again for all the help.