Who’s it for?
BS8555 is designed for small and medium sized companies (SMEs) to make it easier to achieve ISO14001 through a phased approach. BS8555 is useful for demonstrating a company’s commitment to environmental improvement and working towards ISO14001, particularly where a company has been asked to achieve an accreditation as a contractual requirement.
Forward-thinking companies may recognise that ISO14001 is something their contractors may soon request, and will begin working towards accreditation now via BS8555, in order to ensure long-term success of their business.
What’s involved?
The phased approach used by BS8555 breaks down the process of installing a formal EMS into five levels. A sixth level allows organisations to develop systems which will meet requirements of the international standard, ISO14001.
After each phase of the scheme has been implemented, the organisation can either assess themselves through internal audits, allow major customers to assess them against the appropriate phase criteria or be assessed by a third party to ensure that the requirements of each phase have been met.
What are the Six Phases of the Phased Implementation approach in BS8555?
The phased process is designed around a generic environmental management system, in line with ISO14001 and EMAS.
The six Phases of the standard are:
- Commitment and Establishing the Baseline.
- Identifying and Ensuring Compliance with Legal, and other Requirements.
- Developing Objectives, Targets and Programmes.
- Implementation and Operation of the Environmental Management System.
- Checking, Audit and Review.
- Environmental Management System Acknowledgement.
Business Envestors has assisted a range of companies to put in place the paperwork and procedures required to achieve an accredited environmental management system. Whether you are looking for someone to double-check your paperwork, need a kick-start with templates, training and support, or whether you want someone to intensively support and write the documentation for you, we can help.
To find out how we can support you to implement a BS8555 accredited management system contact us.