Environmental management system - Environmental program

Any organization, be it a public institution, a local authority or a company, can set up an environmental management system (EMS), whatever its activity. The NF EN ISO 14001 standard, "Environmental Management System. Requirements and guidelines for use". This standard, based on the principle of continuous improvement, defines the operating framework within which each user can lay the foundations of an effective and relevant management system for his structure.

A fundamental rule to be integrated into the implementation of this standard, and which underpins the whole of this article, is the following: simplicity as a means, success as an objective. And when it comes to objectives, ISO 14001 devotes a specific chapter to this: "4.3.3 – Objectives, targets and program(s)".

While each chapter of the standard must be taken into account for a quality EMS, the chapter on the environmental program, or action program, lies at the very heart of continuous improvement. In fact, it constitutes the link between environmental policy, the identification of environmental aspects and impacts (in the case of upstream management elements) and operational aspects, such as the actions to be implemented, their follow-up, indicators and corresponding resources. In this respect, it is essential to construct a program and associated actions with the clearest possible objectives and targets. This work lays the foundations for pragmatic and effective environmental management within the organization.

It is also worth remembering that each EMS is (and must be) adapted not only to the organization itself, but also to its operations, corporate culture, environmental sensitivity and context. In this sense, the approach presented is based on a vision of the standard that is intended to be as operational as possible. Each organization must draw its own conclusions and apply them in its own way, taking into account its own specific characteristics.