Step 1 - Commitment and Policy
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According to clause 4.1, the first step in designing an EMS is to define an environmental policy and ensure commitment to it. ISO 14001 defines an environmental policy as a statement by the organization of its intentions and principles in relation to its overall environmental performance. The environmental policy gives an overall sense of the organization's direction and commitment to the environment and provides a framework for setting goals and objectives. Many organizations already have environmental policies. For those just getting started on theirs, the most important areas to focus on would be regulatory compliance or potential environmental liability. The policy can refer to industry associations, government, or public interest groups. It can consider the organization's mission, core values, the requirements of interested parties, and specific local conditions. It will respond to financial and business requirements. The policy should be set organization-wide by the owners, or other governing body, and top management is responsible for formulating, implementing, and modifying the policy. The policy should be clear, be reviewed periodically, and be revised to reflect changing conditions.
The ISO 14004 guidance standard advises organizations just getting started on developing a policy to begin where they can achieve obvious benefits, such as focusing on regulatory compliance, limiting sources of liability, or identifying mote efficient ways of using materials and energy .
Whatever the specific contents of an organization's policy, ISO 14001 requires that it: Be appropriate to the nature, scale, and environmental impacts of the organization's activities, products, and services. Include a commitment to continual improvement. Include a commitment to pollution prevention. Include a commitment to comply with Relevant legislation, regulations, and other requirements to which the organization subscribes. Provide a framework for setting and reviewing environmental objectives and targets. Be documented, implemented, maintained, and communicated to all employees. Be made available to the public. As with any management system, policies without top-management commitment are worthless. Top management should communicate the environmental policies and its commitment to them to all employees. The message is that achieving the policy is everyone's commitment.
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