The standard that guides organisations on implementing an environmental management system has been updated to reflect ISO 14001: 2015.
BS 8555 environmental management systems – phased implementation guide aims to help firms ensure that environmental management is integrated into business processes and that the supply chain is evaluated, according to British standards body BSI.
The standard allows organisations to implement and maintain an environmental management system (EMS) using a step-by-step approach, with the option to stop at any of the five stages. The phased approach enables an organisation to choose the pace it implements an EMS and to identify and maximise the areas of greatest potential return on investment, BSI said.
BS 8555 has been reformatted and the language made clearer so that each phase follows a clear structure.
David Fatscher, head of market development for sustainability and services at BSI, said: ‘A successful environmental management system helps organisations remain commercially successful without compromising their environmental responsibilities.
‘However, such projects can sometimes seem daunting and management may be unable to commit the required resources. By phasing implementation with BS 8555, all organisations, whatever the nature or scale of business, can improve their environmental performance.’
Panel members involved in the development of BS 8555 included representatives from IEMA, CIRIA, the UK Accreditation Service, the Environment Agency and environmental consultancies. Some of whom were also involved in the revision of ISO 14001.
