Environmental Management Systems (EMS)

What is an EMS?

As stated in the Government's outline of ISO 14001:2004 -

"An Environmental Management System (EMS) is the system by which a company controls the activities, products and processes that cause, or could cause environmental impacts and in doing so minimises the environmental impacts of its operations. Environmental Management Systems are very much related to quality management systems. They are mechanisms that provide for a systematic and cyclical process of continual improvement".

Establishing an effective environmental management system is essential to ensure you are complying with legislation and effectively managing any activities which pose a risk to the environment. It is also essential if you wish to achieve external accreditations such as ISO 14001, EMAS and Achilles, which are increasingly stated as a standard requirement by larger companies when looking for contractors to work with.

At GPT, our experienced auditors will develop a tailored EMS that includes a comprehensive legal compliance register and a detailed register of your environmental aspects. This foundation supports the creation of clear policies and procedures to help you manage environmental risks effectively and meet regulatory requirements.

We also guide you through achieving external accreditations and support your ongoing improvement efforts to maintain and enhance your environmental performance over time.

EMS Audit

Once an Environmental Management System (EMS) has been implemented, regular auditing is essential to ensure it remains effective and compliant. At GPT, our IRCA Lead Auditor-trained professionals will assess how well your EMS is performing and identify areas for improvement.

Independent audits can be staged and are often scheduled ahead of formal accreditation assessments for ISO 14001, EMAS, Green Dragon, or Achilles. Our pre-accreditation audits are designed to highlight any issues within your EMS, giving you the opportunity to address them before the official audit.

Following each audit, we provide a comprehensive report aligned with the structure used by major accreditation bodies - detailing Observations, Minor Non-Conformities, and Major Non-Conformities. The difference being that our audit reports include practical recommendations to help you strengthen your system, before the official audit.

Our EMS consultancy services are fully tailored to meet your needs. Whether you require a straightforward environmental policy or a complete, accreditation-ready EMS, we’ll ensure your system complies with legislation, meets best practice standards, and supports your clients’ and stakeholders’ expectations.

Next Steps...

Once you have an established EMS and had it externally accredited, we can then help you maintain your environmental accreditations by conducting periodic Environmental Control Inspections.

For information on ISO 14001, Environmental Management System, visit the British Standards Institution website here.