1. INTRODUCTION

Survival and development are closely linked with the environmental management. Over exploitation of natural resources for development resulting in degradation of environment has brought the planet earth at the verge of losing its balance. The increase in the scale of impact of human activities on the earth together with the increased understanding of ecological processes are indicative of the fact that the environment can no longer be taken for granted and viewed as a relatively stable background factor. The green house effect, the depletion of the ozone layer and the increasing air pollution are posing a threat so far unquantified to human life.

The humanity is now faced by a range of environmental problems. The health and well being of people and the environment depends on what people do today. Unless people make drastic changes to the way they live, work and play, the earth will continue to suffer; the environment on which they depend for survival will continue to deteriorate. The environmental problems are global in the strong sense that they affect everyone. Sustainable development has therefore assumed a global dimension. Managing the environment demands on high levels of cooperation and policy coordination among nations. Pollution can travel through the air, rivers, and ground water from one country to another, having severe effects on the quality of life of people living downwind or down river from the source of the pollution.

The industry, government and public seeking solutions to environmental problems initially made efforts towards model regulations that attempted to stop pollution at the discharge pipe. This resulted in proliferation of environment-related statutory and regulatory requirements and a growing number of product-related environmental standards often varying from country to country. The regulatory command and control approach focused on end-of-pipe solutions to environmental problems. But with the passage of time emphasis shifted to interdisciplinary approach to effect cleaner production.

The global environmental problems such as global warming and ozone layer depletion gave environmental concern a global perspective and led to emergence of international efforts to environmental protection. The United Nations Conference on Environment and Development commonly known as Earth Summit held at Rio in June 1992 triggered a worldwide awakening on the importance of preservation of environment and prevention of degradation to make the earth a safe place to live. To realize the objectives enunciated in the earth summit declaration, the countries have evolved their strategies for environmental protection.

Industry can be major source of the most serious local and international environmental problems, particularly those related to pollution of the air, water and soil. This has led industry to realize that current patterns of production and consumption are unsustainable and in order to stay in business, they need to increasingly integrate environmental considerations into their business strategies and long term planning. Also there has been a gradual shift from a position of limiting pollution and waste in compliance with government regulations towards one of preventing pollution and waste. These brought at the centre stage of environment and development, the environment management system to minimize the impact of economic activities on environment. ISO 14000 series of international standards on environmental management system has now become sine qua non for environmental protection around the world.

The industry is taking a more pro-active stance and is recognizing that adoption of sound environmental management system based on ISO 14000 on a voluntary basis can enhance corporate image, increase profits and competitiveness, reduce costs and obviate the need for further legislative measures by the authorities. Evidence of this is seen in the move towards "green products" with the increasing use of "life cycle analysis" - looking at the environmental impact of a product "from cradle-to-grave".

2. ISO 14000 SERIES OF STANDARDS

2.1 Basic approach

The ISO 14000 series of standards were brought out in 1996. These standards are designed to a more environmentally sensitive industrial culture, which will result in more efficient use of raw material and waste material, reduction of emission and increase investment in pollution control abatement and cleaner technologies. The development of ISO 14000 series is based on the well-defined principles of management. These standards encompassing a full range of issues including those with strategic and competitive implications are intended to provide organizations with the elements of an effective environmental management system which can be integrated with other management requirements to assist organizations to achieve environmental and developmental goals. These standards specify the core elements of an environmental management system to support environmental protection in balance with socio-economic needs.

It is an evolving series of generic environmental management standards that provides enterprise's management with the structure for managing aspects of activities having environmental impacts. Environmental management, however, as the totality of environment-related activities of an organization involving all aspects within the framework of an environmental management system, has only recently begun to meet with keener interest. Environmental management concentrates on the fulfillment of external and internal environmental requirements both by product or service and by incidental outputs to ensure" sustainable development".

2.2 Requirement standard

ISO 14001 Environmental Management Systems- Specification with guidance for use- specifies the basic elements (See Fig 01)for an EMS which can be audited for conformance. It is the only standard in the series against which an organization's EMS could be certified. Implementation of ISO 14001 requires the organization to specify its policy, identify the environmental aspects, set objectives and targets and comply with appropriate legislation. This standard thus enables an organization to identify specific aspects, whether actual or potential that adversely affects the environment, and corrective and preventive measures for their control.

This standard also requires an organization to review the system and continually improve the performance of their products, services and operations as measured by their environmental impact. This is accomplished by regular environmental audits conducted to evaluate how effectively environmental issues are being managed, and to identify opportunities for improvement.

The standard encourages implementation of Best Available Technology (BAT) and Occupational Safety and Health management into the EMS but does not require their integration. This approach of commitment and implementation parallels the quality movement and the ISO 9000 quality standards. Although adoption of the standard does not guarantee environmental compliance, it is believed that companies that implement these commitments will improve environmental performance. In other words, a company says "what it will do, then does what it has said".

ISO 14001 does not specify absolute requirements for environmental performance, but calls for a commitment in the environmental policy to prevention of pollution and continual improvement, and compliance to regulatory legislations. This is a graduating system and is designed to meet local regulatory requirements and set a path for continual improvement. The adoption of this standard therefore does not necessarily imply same level of compliance by all enterprises opting for EMS but needs a formal commitment to EMS and thus would improve the environmental performance.

2.3 Guideline standard

ISO 14004 Environmental Management Systems- General guidelines on principles, systems and supporting techniques provides general guidance for establishing the Environmental Management Systems based on a set of guiding principles (See Box 1) that should be adopted by an organization. These principles require the organization to:
a) define and adopt an environmental policy;
b) ensure organizational commitment to environmental improvement;
c) formulate a plan with objectives and targets to fulfill the environmental policy;
d) implement the plan by developing capabilities and resources to achieve environmental policy, objectives, and targets;
e) measure, monitor, and evaluate environmental performance; and
f) review periodically and institute mechanism for continual improvement.

2.4 Supporting systems

Environmental Auditing (ISO 14010, ISO 14011 and ISO 14012)
Environmental Labelling Standards (ISO 14020, ISO 14025)
Environmental Performance Standards (ISO 14030)
Life cycle assessment (ISO 14040)
Environmental Terms and Definitions (ISO 14050)
Environmental Aspect in Product Standard (ISO 14060)

3. ESTABLISHMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

Conceptual Frame

The environmental management system standards recognize continual improvement in environmental performance. To develop and implement an Environmental Management System in an organization enunciating a path of continual improvement, the "Deming model" of Quality Management, set out in ISO 9000, provides the framework for most Environmental Management Systems. It divides the enterprise's actions into four phases:

a) Plan (a planning phase) - the overall objectives and goals of the enterprise are established and the methodologies for achieving them are developed.
b) Do ( an action phase) - the plan is implemented and the agreed measures are taken in pursuit of the enterprise's goals.
c) Check (an evaluation phase) - the action taken under the plan are checked for effectiveness and efficiency, and the results are compared to the plan.
d) Improve (a corrective action phase) - any deficiencies or shortcomings identified are corrected, the plan may be revised and adapted to changed circumstances, and procedures are reinforced or reoriented, as necessary.

The Environmental Management Systems in operation comprise tools derived from this model. The environmental management standards follow this model. The new national and international environmental management standards are all based on it. It is the concept behind the structure of the ISO 14001 standard.

Plan

The enterprise needs to ask the fundamental questions "where are we now and where do we want to go? Answering these questions involves three steps:

a) Initial Environmental Review- Understanding the enterprise's existing environmental position, the requirements put on the enterprise, the relevant environmental aspects, its performance and practices; identifying strengths and weakness;

b) Obtaining a Clear Vision of the Future- Understanding the likely future of environmental effects and their implications for the enterprise in order to identify risks and opportunities, and an Environmental Policy stating how the enterprise will respond to current and anticipated environmental issues;

c) Policies must be developed- Defining goals that should be supported and monitored throughout the entire chain of command. The personnel at the operational levels have an important role to play to ensure that the goals are technically, financially and organizationally feasible.

The enterprise should determine, develop and implement the necessary structures and procedures and commit the necessary resources to implement the strategy. The development of strategic goals, action plans and procedures build on one another. An Environmental Management Programme should addresses key issues, including objectives and targets, priorities, responsibilities and accountabilities, schedules and milestones, communications (internal and external), and resource allocation. The more the views and interests of all levels of the enterprise are taken into account, the more realistic it is likely to be and the more understanding and support it will gain from the employees who will be responsible for implementation.

Do

The environmental management system designed is implemented in the organization. Responsibilities and procedures of the personnel who are responsible for their implementation are defined and implementation of each procedure should be as effective and efficient as possible. The programme of training and internal communication should also be defined in the management programme.

Consideration should also be given to external communication of the enterprise. External communication is an essential elements of an EMS, but not all the aspects dealing with external communication have been taken into account in a standard on EMS. Environmental Reporting is a very useful tool, which is largely left to the discretion of the enterprise to be used or to be disregarded.

Check

The enterprise should have tools to answer the question: "how are we doing?" These monitoring and control tools usually include requirements for records on environmental emissions, wastes, and performance. They also include corrective and preventive actions, environmental audit procedures and programmes. The purpose of this phase is to assess the enterprise's actual environmental performance (See ISO 14031) against its stated policies, and against the objectives and targets set.

Improve

A periodic Management Review ensures that the EMS continues to be responsive to changing circumstances, including for example new scientific knowledge about the environmental effects of a chemical, changing national or international markets for products, government regulation, and changes in consumer requirements.

The ultimate aim is to continue improving the enterprise's environmental performance. Opportunities for improvement may be found in better implementation of programmes, technological innovation, new processes and products, new markets, training, etc.

The Deming's model is a dynamic one (See Fig. 2). When the enterprise has identified changes that should be made to the EMS it will inevitably return to the Plan phase to introduce those changes into the environmental policy and EM Programme.

Initial Environmental Review

The Initial Environmental Review provides data and information that forms the basis for the development of environmental management system. Enterprises often have limited knowledge of the environment on their activities and products. This knowledge is the foundation of an environmental programme. It enables the enterprise to focus on the most important issues, leading to an EMS that is likely to be complete and effective.

The Initial Environmental Review should address four areas:

a) Identification and evaluation of the potential environmental issues and concerns arising from the operations; for example, what substances and wastes are generated that could harm the environment,
b) Existing management and operational practices and procedures; for example, who is responsible for hazardous waste disposal and how are those wastes stored on site; what are the environmental issues relating to the enterprise's activities that are not directly related to the environment,
c) Previous environmental accidents, incidents, fines/penalties and resultant abatement/preventive measures, and
d) Legislative and regulatory requirements and the status of the operation with respect to these requirements; for example, does the operation have the necessary permits for its wastewater discharge.

3.3 Environmental policy

The Environmental Policy and the Environmental programme of an enterprise express the first principle for environmental management of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Business Charter for Sustainable Development: " To recognize environmental management as among the highest corporate priorities and as a key determinant to sustainable development; to establish policies, programmes and practices for conducting operations in an environmentally sound manner" and expressed need of ISO 14001.

Effective environmental management is based on a step-by-step approach, beginning with a realistic and active Environmental Policy. An Environmental Policy is a statement by an organization of its principles and intentions in relation to its overall environmental performance. It establishes the overall sense of direction, providing a framework for action and for the development of more specific environmental objectives and targets.

The Environmental Policy acts as the driving force behind all of the enterprise's activities in the environmental field, and can have far-reaching business implications for the future direction of the enterprise. It should be integrated into the enterprise's overall business strategy and should also be compatible with other organizational policies such as Quality or Occupational Health and Safety. It must therefore be initiated, developed and actively supported at the highest levels within the organization.

3.4 Documentation and document control

ISO 14001 recognizes (and emphasizes) that documentation and document control are essential elements of an effective environmental management system. Well-written EMS documentation increases employee and management awareness, aids implementation, and makes it easier to evaluate the EMS. One of the strengths of the standard is that it does not specify how the documentation will be written, organized, or maintained. The standard (ISO 14001, Subsection 4.4.4 and 4.4.5) requires the organization to document the core elements of the management system and interactions among the elements, to specify related documentation, and to control documentation.

One of the criticisms of the ISO 9000 standard is that the documentation never ends. Remember that the purpose of the standard is to improve the management of the environmental programme and to build measures of quality into the system. This does not mean that a totally new documentation system must be created or that every action must the documented - using a lot of paper does not guarantee success. The documentation must be sufficient to provide the controls needed to ensure that the EMS works. Recognize that it will take time to identify organizational needs and to draft, evaluate, and revise any needed documentation. Work systematically and build on existing documentation. More than likely, many components are already in place.

It is best for an organization to resist the temptation to squeeze itself into someone else's documentation. Even though there are commonalities between organizations performing similar functions, each organization's way of doing business is unique and therefore, needs unique documentation. Simply filling in blanks without tailoring documentation to the organization is likely to result in inefficiencies. The intent of the standard is for each organization to develop documentation that fits the organization's individual needs.

Environment management system documentation consists of:

¨ Environmental policy,
¨ Environmental manual (Optional),
¨ Environmental Procedures,
¨ Work instructions ,where required,
¨ Forms/formats to generate records.

The document control system should ensure that right documents are at right places of use. A document must be current, available. accessible, understandable, and easily maintained. The standard (ISO 14001, Subsection 4.4.5) requires the organization to establish procedures for controlling all documents required by the standard to ensure that:

¨ Documents can be located;
¨ Documents are periodically reviewed, revised as necessary, and approved for adequacy by authorized personnel;
¨ Documents are available in current versions at all essential locations;
¨ Obsolete documents are taken out of circulation promptly; and
¨ Obsolete documents that are maintained for legal or historical record are suitably identified.

3.5. IMPLEMENTATION AND APPRAISAL

As the documented environmental system appears in place, the next stage is the implementation of the documented environmental management System. A decision needs to be taken at this stage whether the implementation should be done in phases in different areas or whether all areas in the organization should be covered at the same time. Generally in a smaller organization, implementation, is done covering all activities of the organization. However in a larger organization, it may be better to start in phases.

Once the documentation is implemented and documentation improved practices are underway an evaluation through an internal audit should be carried out to see the effectiveness of the environmental management system. Internal audits are conducted to see whether the documented system is actually being implemented as laid down and if not , to examine the reasons for non-conformity and take suitable corrective actions. These give assurance to the management that its environmental management systems are effectively achieving the planned environmental objectives.

3.6 TRAINING

Training for various levels is necessary from the initial stages of implementation of the project. Every personnel needs to be exposed to an awareness programme right from the initial stages, so that active participation by all employees can be ensured. Training programmes are structured for different levels- senior management, middle management, supervisors and workers to include awareness of the scope and need for improvement, presentation of the basic concepts of environmental management systems and the overall relationship to the strategic goals of the organization,.

In addition to the environmental Programme focussing on awareness and how standard's requirements apply to specific functions, training may also be given in writing procedures, on auditing principles and techniques, training in specific activities including marketing, improved performance and testing processes, development of product, laws governing a particular sector etc.

4. INTEGRATING WITH ISO 9000 TO BRING SYNERGY TO PRODUCE BETTER RESULTS

The different facets of environmental management system when used in harmony with each other produce synergetic effect. Therefore articulating sustainability of product and services through a hierarchy of substitutions based on technologies, techniques, processes and practices at different levels contribute to achieving the goal such as:

a) Process level - modifying the process to be more environmentally sound (e.g. Producing less pollution, minimizing waste and emissions, increasing resource efficiency);
b) Components level - adding a new component providing an advantage without changing the overall process (e.g. end of pipe treatment plants, input substitutions);
c) Sub-system level - Substituting a better sub system for an old one (e.g. an electric motor in place of a petrol engine in a car);
d) System level - substituting a whole system or one function for another (e.g. mass transport system for private cars);
e) Value level - Questioning the very premises on which products or services are provided. This is the most difficult since it impacts on culture, social organizations and value system

ISO 9000 is now an established system for quality management is a pace setter for management system approach in international standardization. Since quality management and environmental management are the two faces in the operation of an enterprise, they should be integrated into one documented system to produces synergy for achieving better results. Moreover it will save the organization:

a) Having the need for two separate set of documented system,
b) Having the need for going to two certification bodies,
c) Having the need for two stream of internal auditors ( after all two set of ISO standards on auditing are very similar and ISO is thinking of having only one set of auditing standards for the two systems),
d) Having the need for two groups of people looking after the two systems, often having no coordination,
e) Having the need for two external audit teams visiting at different times,
f) Having the need for two steering committees for overseeing the system.

Imagine the economic gains in operating the integrated system. In my experience this the ideal cost saving operation and brings better results.

5. IMPACT ON INTERNATIONAL TRADE

The objectives of ISO in bringing ISO 14000 series inter alia was to facilitate international trade by reducing non-tariff barriers to trade. But whether these standards will create a barrier or facilitate trade will depend how these standards are implemented. It has been acknowledge that the ISO 1400 series has a potential to have negative impact on international trade if unilateral environmental management system and environmental labelling schemes are insisted upon trading partners in different countries.

The industry is now beginning to experience the pressure being exerted by their business partners. It seems plausible that firms in a country will find it increasingly difficult to do business in other countries. In a short span of time since the publication of the series, exporters from developing countries are facing pressure from their trading partners in industrialized countries to implement an environmental management system to ISO 14001 and to become certified. If the standards become a requirement for doing business in developing countries, this will become barrier to trade for the time being. This shows that it is not the standard that will create barrier but the modalities and time factor that is likely to create potential adverse effects on trade .

In order to minimize the negative effects on trade a suggested solution is to have mutual recognition and equivalence between trade partners and cooperation among sectors such as industry, government and public sector policy makers.

6. CONCLUSIONS

The endorsement of ISO 14000 by more than 100 countries around the globe is a good augury that such universal system is going to shape future of environmental protection and sustainable development. Most of the countries are also in a process of re-orienting their policies and legal frame to encourage adoption of cleaner production techniques and technologies- a shift from cleaning to cleaner concept.

There is already talk in the business circles about green and non-green companies and there is already a latent pressure building on companies to go green. Many companies are getting certification to get this tag of `green', a status symbol. To enhance worldwide harmonization process the ISO 14000 series provides a common denominator for environmental management to attain sustainable development.

6. REFERENCES

1. Sohrab; ISO 14000 Standards for Environment Management System, NITIE, Udyog Pragati,Oct-Dec,1996,India.
2. Ingrid Ritchi and William Hayese, A guide for Implementation of the ISO 14000 Series on Environmental Management; Prentice Hall, upper Sddle River, New Jersey.
3. Sohrab, ISO9000 and Environmental Management System, Quality Quest,Vol.5. NO.1,Jan,1996
4. Implications of International standards for Quality and Environmental management systems; Survey results 1997;UNIDO,ISO and ITC.
5. ISO 14000 Environmental Management Standards and implications for Exporters to Developed Markets, Private sector Development Programme; UNDP; New York 1996;
6. ISO 14000 environmental management systems standards-A mainstay of sustainable development. Asia Pacific Tech Monitor.Vol.15 No.5 SEP-Oct, 1998. Asian & Pacific Centre for Transfer of Technology (APCTT).
7. Sustainable Development-Role of ISO 14000. Udyog Pragati, October-December 1998,
8. Indian textile Industry in the new millennium- Echo for eco-friendly Textiles. Saket industrial Digest. April, 1999.
9. Role of ISO 14000.The Indian Textiles Journal, August 1999
10. Adoption of ISO 14001-A new Imperative for Food Industry- A practical implementation case study. Beverage and Food World:Vol.29.No.01 January 2002.