Another important document already referenced is ISO 14001:2004, which covers environmental management systems. It specifies requirements for an environmental management system to enable an organisation to develop and implement a policy and objectives which take into account legal requirements and other requirements to which the organisation subscribes, and information about significant environmental aspects.
It requires organisations, amongst other things, to identify environmental aspects arising from past, existing or planned activities, products and services, in order to determine the environmental impacts of significance. Furthermore, organisations are encouraged to consider the use of raw materials and natural resources and resulting waste and by-products.
Here is an excerpt that relates directly to this:
4.3 Planning
4.3.1 Environmental aspects
The organisation shall establish, implement and maintain a procedure(s)
a) To identify the environmental aspects of its activities, products and services within the defined scope of the environmental management system that it can control and those that it can influence taking into account planned or new developments, or new or modified activities products and services.
Environmental awareness has rightly come to the fore, especially in the last decade and, at Modulift, we are used to customers and end users enquiring about our environmental credentials. The need to improve our environmental systems and practices on an ongoing basis is a challenge that we both recognise and welcome.
In some areas, such as the oil and gas sector for example, there is an enhanced emphasis on environmental concerns which is entirely understandable and, as a consequence of this, the bar is set that little bit higher when it comes to environmental concerns. It is healthy; it drives everybody forward in needing to improve their systems and practices.
It is becoming increasingly commonplace that companies now look to have integrated business management systems that combine quality, environmental, health and safety components into one coherent system.
It would be a surprise nowadays for a customer or end user not to be aware of their environmental impact and, as a leading manufacturer, we welcome that and would urge all to embrace this greener mindset.