ISO 14001:2015 AND CONTEXT. Nigel Leehane Technical Director

Transcription

1 ISO 14001:2015 AND CONTEXT Nigel Leehane Technical Director 1

2 Presentation content Context and interested parties The BS EN ISO14001:2015 requirements The potential value of addressing context and interested parties Approaches to addressing context and interested parties 2

3 ISO 14001:2015 requirements for context 4.1 Understanding the organization and its context 4.2 Understanding the needs and expectations of interested parties 4.3 Determining the scope of the EMS 4.4 Environmental management system This is a sequential process; we need to understand context to be able to identify interested parties, then the output of 4.1 and 4.2 allows us to determine scope. Once we know our scope, we can design the EMS 3

4 What is context? 4.1 is a very succinct clause from Annex SL determine external and internal issues relevant to its purpose and that affect its ability to achieve the intended outcomes of its EMS. These include environmental conditions being affected by or capable of affecting the organization. From the ISO 14001:2015 Annex a) environmental conditions b) external cultural, social, political, legal, technological, economic, competitive circumstances, etc., where it operates c) internal characteristics or conditions of the organization, and its capabilities 4

5 Needs and expectations of interested parties We need to establish the interested parties that are relevant to the environmental management system and their relevant needs and expectations (i.e. requirements) Internal and external interested parties Take a high level approach, i.e. categories ( customers ) rather than individual entities (e.g. Tesco) The organisation decides which interested parties are relevant We must determine which of these needs and expectations become our compliance obligations Regulations impose mandatory compliance obligations Organisations can voluntarily accept others, e.g. customer requirements, sector initiatives, international protocols, community agreements, etc. 5

6 Context and the needs and expectations of interested parties Extreme weather, floods Competition Water scarcity Legislation Communities Cultural issues Natural Environment Society (& interested parties) Nuisance Raw material Internal demand factors The Organisation Political pressure Discharges to air, water, land Customers Decrease in biodiversity Economic factors Investors Desertification 6

7 The life cycle in ISO 14001:2015 context and scope Raw materials Design Production Transport/ delivery Use End of life treatment Final disposal Is the intention to describe a linear cradle to grave approach, or can we interpret this more broadly? How far can we usefully extend control and influence? That will depend on our context.

8 Examples of issues from context External environmental conditions A retailer relies on imports of green vegetables will climate change result in increasing water scarcity? Socio-economic and other external factors Stringent regulations for local air quality in some jurisdictions need to redesign product for export Internal circumstances The company employs a large number of immigrant workers how to communicate EMS expectations Interested parties Customers dictate product specifications so focus on production efficiency rather than product characteristics 8

9 More examples, and the benefits Major commercial property developer Clients want energy-efficient buildings to meet their GHG reduction targets Respond by ensuring this is addressed from concept to completion Ensure external architects, engineers, planners, contractors are engaged Address local concerns through employment and other community programmes Power company supplying equipment for remote locations Determination of context led to extending the EMS to field operations (previously assumed to be under client control) EMS also extended to suppliers audits and inspections, initiatives Well-understood H&S processes expanded to address environment 9

10 The potential value of addressing context and interested parties Understanding context ensures: Appropriate scope e.g. how far into life cycle to extend control and influence? EMS is focused on issues important to the success of the business (risks, drivers, expectations) Organisational strengths and weaknesses are identified EMS adds value to the business, by aligning environmental and business strategy and encouraging integration and efficiency

11 Interested parties External - how to address a range of different stakeholders? Customer feedback/engagement processes (9001?) Investor relations Community engagement processes Regulator liaison, government lobbying Specialists studies, e.g. materiality studies for corporate reporting Social media Internal Standard business communications processes Staff engagement forums H&S participation process

12 Approaches to addressing context and interested parties Toby is going to explain in detail how British Gypsum tackled these issues Key points ISO 14001:2015 does not specify a need for a documented process or documentation of output! Organisations lacking specialist expertise can address this by brainstorming, applying common sense approach a simple process The management review could be a useful place to document the consideration of context, NEIP and implications for scope

13 Approaches to determining context Team approach individuals who understand different aspects of the business Utilise existing skills in business strategy development Toby will explain some techniques Utilise existing sources of information from ESIAs, environmental permits, etc Consider using external expertise, but remember that the organisation s collective knowledge is greater

14 ANY QUESTIONS? Nigel Leehane Technical Director SLR Consulting +44 (0)