Financial

• Cost savings through the reduction of waste and more efficient use of natural resources (electricity, water, gas and fuels.)
• Less fines or penalties for not adhering to environmental legislation.
• Reduction in insurance costs because of a improved risk profile.
  
  
  

Operational and Internal

• Improved overall performance and efficiency
  
  

External

• Better public brand perception which leads to increased turnover through sales
• Increased community support due to demonstrating the reduction of the imp act (e.g. noises, smells, dust) of your operations on the community in which you operate.
  
  

What is ISO 14000?

When referring to an Environmental Management System we refer to ISO 14000, What is ISO 14000?
ISO 14000 is the international specification for an environmental management system
(EMS)

The ISO 14000 environmental management standards exist to help organizations minimize the imp act of their operations on the environment in which they operate.

It specifies requirements for establishing an environmental policy, determining environmental aspects and imp acts of products/ activities/services, planning environmental objectives and measurable targets, implementation and operation of programs to meet objectives and targets, checking and corrective action, and management review.

ISO 14000 is similar to ISO 9000 quality management in that both pertain to the process (the comprehensive outcome of how a product is produced) rather than to the product itself. The overall idea is to establish an organized appro ach to systematically reduce the imp act of the environmental aspects which an organization can control.

As with ISO 9000, certification is performed by third-party organizations rather than being awarded by ISO directly.

Benefits of an Environmental Management System?

• Reduction in waste, costs and inefficiencies.
• Preservation of natural resources and reduction in the cost of finding new and more resources.
• Better utilization of materials already purchased and reduction in purchasing costs.
• Cleaner emissions and reduction in the severity of spills, leaks, and other accidents.
• Reduction in permitting costs, remediation costs, worker comp costs, insurance costs, law suit costs and fines, and many other costs and fees.
• Purchasing smaller amounts of materials or purchasing less toxic materials which then leads to reduction in OSHA reporting and record-keeping requirements and costs.
• Improvement in worker safety and morale, leading to more productive workers.
• Purchasing less hazardous materials reduces the need for and the costs associated with the need for special equipment, special training, and specially designed storage areas.
• Reduction in disposal costs.
• Keeps regulators and inspectors out the plant.