Basic Information

How to Develop an EMS

An EMS is a continual cycle of planning, implementing, reviewing and improving the processes and actions that an organization undertakes to meet its business and environmental goals.

Plan, Do, Check, Act

Most EMS are built on the "Plan, Do, Check, Act" model. This model leads to continual improvement based upon:

Plan
Planning, including identifying environmental aspects and establishing goals

Do
Implementing, including training and operational controls

Check
Checking, including monitoring and corrective action

Act
Reviewing, including progress reviews and acting to make needed changes to the EMS.

Why Develop an EMS?

Benefits

EMS can result in both business and environmental benefits. For example, an EMS may help you:

Improve environmental performance
Enhance compliance
Prevent pollution and conserve resources
Reduce/mitigate risks
Attract new customers and markets (or at least retain access to customers and markets with EMS requirements)
Increase efficiency
Reduce costs
Enhance employee morale and possibly enhance recruitment of new employees
Enhance image with public, regulators, lenders, investors
Achieve/improve employee awareness of environmental issues and responsibilities
Qualify for recognition/incentive programs such as the EPA Performance Track Program.

Costs

Developing and implementing an EMS may also have some associated costs, including:

An investment of internal resources, including staff/employee time
Costs for training of personnel
Costs associated with hiring consulting assistance, if needed
Costs for technical resources to analyze environmental impacts and improvement options, if needed.

Learn more about the costs and benefits of developing an EMS.

For more information about EMS, see the Frequently Asked Questions About EMS.

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