Management Commitment

To ensure succuess, an early step in developing and improving an EMS involves obtaining commitment from the top management of the organisation to improve the environmental management of its activities, product or services. The on-going commitment and leadership of top management are crucial.
ISO 14004 4.1.2

One way of achieving this commitment of executive management is to raise their awareness of the environmental issues that affect the organisation. This is necessary in order to obtain :

• approval for the program;
• the authority and resources to put the foundation for an environmental management system into place, and
• commitment through awareness of the risk and benefits for them as directors/management in the organisation.

Gaining Management Commitment

If management commitment is lacking it is generally due to a lack of information regarding the business risk and opportunities available by implementing an EMS. Some members of the top management may be informed as to the implications for the business. Many members of the management team may not. It may be necessary to raise regarding:

• the financial and operational benefits to the business from implementing an environmental managemeny system;
• the dangers of anaction including the due diligance drivers;
• the opportunities which could arise from being seen as an environmentally responsible organisation committed to the provision of environmentally sound goods and services;
• the financial implications for investment requirements necessary to implement a system;
• current management issues within the organisation;
• positives and negatives;
• the history of environmental management including near misses and incidents;
• the organisation's capability of making the changes necessary to implemented an environmental management system; and
• any potential hindrances or hurdles to implementation.