Why an EMS ?

Having an EMS can help an organisation provide confidence to its interested parties:

• A management commitment exists to meet the provisions of its policy objectives and targets;
• Emphasis is placed on prevention rather than corrective action;
• Evidence of reasonable care and regulatory compliance can be provided; and 
• The systems design incorporates the process of continual improvement.

An organisation that has implemented an EMS can achieve significant competitive advantages.

Economic advantages can be gained from implementing an EMS. These should be identified in order to demonstrate to interested parties, especially shareholders, the value to the organisation of good environmental management. It also provides the organisartion with the opportunity to link environmental objectives and targets with specific financial outcomes and thus to ensure that resources are made available where they provide the most benefit in both financial and environmental outcomes.

The potential benefits associated with an effective EMS include :

• maintaining good public/community relations,
• satisfying investor criteria and improving access to capital.
• obtaining insurance at reasonable cost,
• enhancing image and market share,
• improving cost control,
• reducing incidents that result in liability,
• conserving input materials and energy,
• facilitating the attainment of permits and authorizations and meeting their requirements,
• promoting environmental awareness among suppliers, contractors and all persons working for or on behalf of the organisation,
• fostering development and sharing of solutions to environmental problems, and
• improving industry-goverment relations.

The need for tools  such as environmental management systems is emphasised in the introduction to AS/NZS ISO 14001:

Many organisations have undertaken environmental "reviews" or "audits" to assess their environmental performance.On their own, however, "reviews" and "audits" cannot provide an organisation with the assurance that its performance not only meets, but will continue to meet, legislative and policy requirements. To be effective, they need to be conducted within a structured management system and integrated with overall management activity

An environmental management system provides a systematic and structured approach to managing environmental performance.

The overall aim of the standard is to support environmental protection and prevention in balance with socio-economic needs

 AS/NZS ISO 14001

The decision to implement an EMS is a strategic one for the business.