Step 1: Gap Analysis

As the first step in the development of an environmental management system, your organization’s current environmental procedures and policies should be assessed. During the gap analysis, all available documents and manuals are reviewed while interviews are also conducted with key personnel. Observation of operational processes also forms part of the gap analysis. A gap analysis is usually undertaken to determine the current status of operations at your organisation, while at the same time taking into consideration the environmental management system requirements. Areas within your business is thus identified which are already up to date, as well as those areas that are not up to date and need additional consideration. The gap analysis is thus very comparative in nature.

Step 2: Team Chartering

The second step that needs to be undertaken in the development of an environmental management system is the chartering of the environmental management system development teams. Two aspects that play an important role in the success of an environmental management system project are the following: (i) the identification of an environmental management system program manager, as well as (ii) the composition of an environmental management system steering committee and the environmental management system implementation team members.

Step 3: Awareness Training

The environmental management system steering committee and implementation team members should receive awareness training to ensure that they are familiar with the environmental management system development goals of the organisation and their role in the process. The key components of awareness training encompass the following:

• Roles and responsibilities of the environmental management system program manager, the environmental management system steering committee, and the environmental management system implementation team;
• Overview of the development and implementation of an environmental management system;
• The process concerned with identification of environmental aspects of the organisation’s operations and activities;
• The process concerned with setting targets and objectives and then developing action plans in order to meet these targets and objectives; and
• Environmental policy elements.

Step 4: Environmental Management System Manual Development

An important aspect of the environmental management system is its written communication. The written communication plays a role in communicating expectations to employees, as well as demonstrating commitment and facilitating management and control of the organisation. An Environmental Management System Manual should be developed in order to formalize the structure of the environmental management system. Thus, the manual basically provides an overview regarding the environmental management system’s organisational structure, planning activities, responsibilities, procedures and resources for implementing, reviewing, and maintaining the aims of the organisation’s environmental policy.

Step 5: Sustained Implementation

A sustained implementation of all environmental policy goals of the organisation should be maintained. The environmental management system implementation team should meet on a regular basis to discuss some key issues and ensure all levels of management are in complete control of business. The environmental management system implementation team should also conduct brainstorming sessions concerning operational and environmental improvement on a regular basis.