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WHAT
ARE ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS & ISO 14000?
Environmental management systems (EMS) are business systems or
processes used to assess total quality and environmental management
through the measurement and evaluation of a company's external
environmental impacts. As the most recognized global standard for
environmental management systems, ISO 14000 and its EMS design
standard ISO 14001 are appropriate instruments for encouraging Asian
firms to adopt an EMS.
US-AEP promotes ISO 14001 because it serves as a starting point to
increase industry's awareness of environmental impacts. ISO 14001
defines an organizational structure for managing a company's
environmental objectives, setting baselines for the reporting and
management requirements of an EMS. Certification to ISO 14001 enables
a company to demonstrate to stakeholders, customers and other
interested parties that the a quality EMS is in use and has been
verified.
WHAT IS US-AEP DOING TO PROMOTE THE ADOPTION OF ISO
14001?
Providing information
sharing and consulting between U.S. accreditors and their Asian
counterparts.
Strengthening the technical and
institutional capacity of the local certifying groups through
training.
Assisting Asian national
accreditation bodies with the preparation and training necessary to
establish ISO 14000 certification programs recognized by the
International Accreditation Forum.
US-AEP provides information sharing and consulting through training
and professional exchanges for representatives of Asian national
accreditation bodies. Through these US-AEP programs, Asian
organizations can gain information and skills that facilitate the
recognition of their national ISO 14000 accreditation and
certification programs by the International Accreditation Forum (IAF).
US-AEP has worked with accreditation organizations in India,
Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines. Additionally, US-AEP is
working with regional organizations such as the ASEAN Consultative
Committee on Standards and Quality to promote the transparency of
accreditation and certification procedures for ISO 14000 throughout
Asia.
Co-sponsoring or supporting ISO
14000 training, conferences, and seminars that encourage industry to
implement EMS in their facilities.
In 1996, US-AEP developed an ISO seminar series on the "American
Experience with Environmental Management" held in Korea, Taiwan,
Hong Kong, Indonesia, India, Thailand, and Malaysia. The
participants in the seminars included certifying organizations,
consulting groups, government agencies, and private companies. The
result of the ISO seminar series is an increased awareness of ISO
14001 in the Asian industry and government sectors.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF IMPLEMENTING ISO 14001?
Competitive
Advantage. Environmental Management Systems, which are
being adopted by proactive companies worldwide, are effective tools
for understanding how to increase efficiencies and decrease waste
and pollution.
Supplemental tool for
compliance. ISO 14001 is an effective way to monitor, assess,
and continually improve compliance with government regulations.
Cost Controls. Adoption of
EMS promotes efficient management of raw materials and waste
products, leading to reductions in remediation cost.
Improved Corporate Image.
Adoption of an EMS helps validate a company's environmental
commitment to the community, customers, employees, and investors.
Reduced Insurance Costs and
Business Risk. Banks take environmental performance into account
when making credit and lending decisions. Using an ISO 14001 type
EMS reflects a commitment to environmental performance.
CASE STUDY: PHILIPPINES
In early 1996, the Philippine
Government adopted ISO 14001 as their national EMS standard, a part of
the "Philippine 2000" plan for sustainable development. The Bureau of
Product Standards (BPS) at the Department of Trade and Industry was
selected to be the national accreditation body. BPS serves as the
Philippine representative to the International Organization of
Standardization and actively promotes the adoption of the ISO 14001
standard in the Philippines.
In order to effectively carry out
the implementation of the standard, BPS created an Advisory Council,
drawing members from the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB), the
Department of Science and Technology, the Department of Energy, the
private sector, and academia. US-AEP assisted BPS with the formation
of this council and participated in its meetings.
Learning from U.S. Experts
In June 1997, a Philippine
delegation of BPS and industry representatives traveled to the United
States under the auspices of US-AEP's Environmental Exchange Program.
The exchange enabled the Filipinos to meet with U.S. accreditation and
certification bodies, training providers, government agencies, and
industry associations. Discussions included ISO 14001 accreditation,
promotion and certification and industry experience.
Following the event, BPS Director
Jesus Motoomull declared, "The exchange was very successful and
well-received. We learned several approaches that are applicable in
Asia."
Mr. Motoomull reported that the
experience gained during the exchange is helping BPS to determine
which companies should be accredited as ISO 14001 certifiers; form an
action team with members of other agencies to implement promotional
events; set up information centers around the country on standards
such as ISO 14001; and conduct training and seminars.
Training and Seminars
At present, BPS is running a
publicity campaign that includes seminars and training. In September
1997, BPS participated in a US-AEP-supported seminar organized by the
American Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines and the Management
Association of the Philippines. The seminar, entitled "Corporate
Strategies in the Environmental Age," brought together seven
American-based multinational firms to share their environmental
management experiences. BPS Director, Jesus Motoomull, highlighted the
benefits of its US-AEP exchange in which the delegations became
familiar with ISO 14001 promotion, accreditation, certification, and
current industry experience.
Information Centers
Texas Instruments
(Philippines), Inc. was ISO 14001 certified in February 1997, leading
the way as the first ISO 14001 certified company in the Philippines.
However, for ISO 14001 implementation to begin on a large scale, more
education and information about the EMS standard and certification
process is necessary. The nongovernment organization Philippine
Business for the Environment (PBE),with support from US-AEP, is
working to provide information on ISO 14001 to industry.
PBE's initiatives in environmental
management strive to raise the level of environmental awareness and
performance within industry. With support from US-AEP, PBE established
the Center for Clean Technology and Environmental Management in
Manila. The Center conducts seminars on ISO 14001 and houses
up-to-date books, journals, and tapes on topics such as ISO 14001
international standards, EMS guidelines, and environmental auditing.
International Reciprocity
The exchanges and seminars
supported by US-AEP will further the efforts of BPS and the
Philippines to gain international recognition of their certification
and accreditation agencies by the International Accreditation Forum (IAF). |
