The five main stages of an EMS, as defined by the ISO 14001 standard, are described below
1. Commitment and Policy
Top management commits to environmental improvement and establishes a company environmental policy. The policy is the foundation of the EMS.
2. Planning
A company first identifies environmental aspects of its operations. Environmental aspects are those items, such as air pollutants or hazardous waste, that can have negative impacts on people and/or the environment. A company then determines which aspects are significant by choosing criteria considered most important by the company.
3. Implementation
A company follows through with the action plan using the necessary resources (human, financial, etc.). An important component is employee training and awareness for all employees. Other steps in the implementation stage include documentation, following operating procedures, and setting up internal and external communication lines
4. Evaluation
A company monitors its operations to evaluate whether targets are being met. If not, the company takes corrective action.
5. Review
Top management reviews the results of the evaluation to see if the EMS is working. Management determines whether the original environmental policy is consistent with company values. The plan is then revised to optimize the effectiveness of the EMS. The review stage creates a loop of continuous improvement for a company.