1 -  Secure top-level management commitment and develop an environmental policy

An environment policy sets out the key objectives of implementing an Environment Management System (EMS) and communicates commitment to stakeholders.

For members of staff to take the EMS seriously it is important to secure commitment from top-level management who should approve resources beforehand.

2 – Record and analyse impacts

Environmental impacts occur when your organisation’s activities, products or services cause a change in the environment.

These impacts should be identified to assess your current situation and form a basis of comparison with future progress. This enables monitoring of environmental performance so that evidence of improvement can be shown to stakeholders.

3 – Identify priorities

Having identified your environmental impacts, it is important to prioritise these in order of risk and/or expenditure. From this exercise, the areas which have the largest environmental impact will be evident and should be targeted.

4 – Set targets and take action

Developing and following an action plan gives your organisation direction and concrete goals to aim towards, this will ensure success.

5 – Monitor progress

Will give an indication of how well your organisation is progressing and will demonstrate continual improvement to stakeholders.

6 – Accreditation

Achieving an environmental standard ensures that you are following best-practice in running your EMS and   demonstrates to stakeholders your commitment and progress in reducing your environmental impact.