EMS survey analysis
An opinion survey has revealed concerns about the effectiveness of environmental management systems (EMS).
Environmental Data Services Ltd (ENDS) and the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA) carried out the survey in August 2003 (publishing its analysis in December 2003), to measure the level of confidence in certificated EMSs.
Workers with direct experience of an EMS were asked for their views and 350 responded.
EMSs have grown in importance over the last few years. In relation to this companies are spending more time and resources achieving certification and being audited. Yet the survey shows that many companies, certification bodies and consultancies are doubtful that ISO 14001 and Eco-management and auditing scheme (EMAS) certificates prove a company’s commitment to environmental protection.
The scepticism, claims ENDS, may be influenced by the fact that some EMAS or ISO 14001 certificated companies have been prosecuted for environmental offences.
A third of those asked agreed that EMSs alone do not make sustained environmental performance improvements. Seventeen per cent said the management systems made a difference when they were first implemented but that this was not sustained. Sixteen per cent claimed that other incentives, such as legislation, had just as much effect in promoting good environmental procedures.
Consistency of EMS certification should be guaranteed by a third party audit, however, nearly half the respondents do not believe that certification bodies or verifiers are sufficiently competent.
One individual from a UK certification body told ENDS: ‘A certified EMS is only as good as the company implementing it. If the top management want... a badge on the wall then there are certification bodies out there that will do that’.
Response from UKAS:
Why have EMS standards fallen?
Standards have slipped because the initial creative energy of the mid nineties (from industry, consultants, auditors, certification bodies and UKAS) was not maintained and there was an over-integration of EMSs with QMSs.
What progress had been made to-date to improve the situation and restore industry confidence in EMSs?
UKAS started a project to identify which aspects of certification bodies EMS accreditation needs expert attention. UKAS EMS specialist resources were increased to enable this.
UKAS has now identified the accreditation elements to be assessed by EMS specialists. It has upgraded its specification for EMS accreditation assessors (internal and external).
UKAS established an international task force on the auditing of regulatory compliance under the International Accreditation Forum (IAF). It is co-operating with other organizations in an initiative led by IEMA to examine how EMS can best support regulatory compliance.
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