Environmental Management Systems
Create Business Value through Comprehensive Performance Management

Wisconsin’s Green Tier program places great value on Environmental Management Systems (EMS). Tier 1 participants must have an ISO-14001 certified or a functionally equivalent Environmental Management System (EMS) in place within the first year of participation. Tier 2 participants must have a well-developed EMS (ISO certified or functionally equivalent) at the time of application with a documented history of results.

Environmental Management Systems: An Introduction

An EMS is a tool to help your organization understand its environmental impacts and systematically operate more efficiently by reducing energy usage, minimizing waste and reducing pollution. Proactively addressing environmental impacts allows your organization to find and utilize the most cost effective corrective measures and avoid costly noncompliance fees.

A comprehensive look at your environmental impacts can also lead to innovative ways to improve conditions for employees, strengthen relationships with the community, impress existing clients and attract new ones.

Instead of simply following mandated environmental procedures, an effective EMS guides exploration of environmental opportunities that are compatible with your organization’s current practices.

Continual Economic and Environmental Improvement

An EMS is a way to manage your company’s environmental impacts in a manner that creates continual environmental and economic improvement through the ‘Plan, Do, Check, Act’ cycle.

The Basics of ‘Plan, Do, Check, Act’:

• Plan: Formulate an environmental policy, stating environmental goals, intentions, and an overall mission. Set specific goals to improve environmental performance, detailing how goals will be met and employee responsibilities in meeting these goals.
• Do: Delegate responsibilities, set-up and conduct employee training, and communicate EMS goals and procedures with employees.
• Check: Assess environmental impacts, goal attainment and methods used to monitor and measure environmental impacts. Record past environmental issues and the mechanisms utilized to prevent recurrence.
• Act: Evaluate the system in terms of effectiveness and appropriateness for reaching company goals. Identify new goals and make adjustments to the EMS.