Environmental Non-Governmental Organizations
and Environmental Management Systems:
North Carolina Groups Share Their Views
Mischi Binkley
c/o Dogwood Alliance
PO Box 1598 Brevard, NC 28712
phone: (828) 883-5889, fax: (828) 883-5826
Brian Buzby
NC Conservation Network
112 S. Blount Street Raleigh, NC 27601
phone: (919) 857-4699, fax: (919) 839-0767
Nat Mund
Conservation Council of NC
PO Box 12671
Raleigh NC 27605
phone: (919) 839-0006, fax: (919) 839-0767
Jane Preyer
Environmental Defense / North Carolina Office
2500 Blue Ridge Road
Raleigh, NC 27607
phone: (919) 881-2601, fax: (919) 821-5093
Karen Priest
c/o Alliance for a Responsible Swine Industry
4608 Cedar Avenue, Suite 101
Wilmington, NC 28403
phone: (910) 794-1088, fax: (910) 794-1088
John Runkle
Conservation Council of NC
PO Box 12671
Raleigh NC 27605
phone: (919) 839-0006, fax: (919) 839-0767
Marion Smith
Neuse River Foundation, Inc.
PO Box 15451
New Bern, NC 28561
phone: (919) 637-7972, fax: (919) 514-0051
Hope Taylor
Clean Water Fund of NC / Western NC
29 1/2 Page Avenue
Asheville NC 28801
phone: (828) 251-1291, fax: (828) 255-7053
Janet Zeller
Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League
PO Box 88
Glendale Springs, NC 28629
phone: (336) 982-2691, fax: (336) 982-2954
Lou Zeller
Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League
PO Box 88
Glendale Springs, NC 28629
phone: (336) 982-2691, fax: (336) 982-2954
Diane Bloom
INFOCUS
114 Mendel Drive
Chapel Hill, NC 27514
phone: (919) 929-8941, fax: (919) 968-9042
Sharon Gladwell
DPPEA / NC DENR
1639 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1639
phone: (919) 715-6514, fax: (919) 715-6794
Beth Graves
DPPEA / NC DENR
1639 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1639
phone: (919) 715-6506, fax: (919) 715-6794
Kathleen Gray
Environmental Resource Program, UNC-CH
CB# 1105, Miller Hall
Chapel Hill, NC 27599-1105
phone: (919) 966-9799, fax: (919) 966-9920
Sharon Johnson
DPPEA/ NC DENR
1639 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1639
phone: (919) 715-6509, fax: (919) 715-6794
Dr. Frances Lynn
Environmental Resource Program, UNC-CH
CB# 1105, Miller Hall
Chapel Hill, NC 27599-1105
phone: (919) 966-3335, fax: (919) 966-9920
Introduction In the 1980s and early 1990s, many companies used total quality management (TQM) as a tool to systematically manage manufacturing processes. TQM was also adopted by other organizations including the service sector and government agencies. This tool is based on the plan-do-check-act model, where a plan is developed, implemented, evaluated and modified for better performance. Although TQM was focused on quality, the emphasis on efficiency and doing things right the first time resulted in environmental benefits in the form of reduced raw materials use, reduced waste, and increased recycling.
In 1989, the Rio Earth Summit heightened international interest in environmental management. A committee was formed that eventually led to the development of an international standard for environmental management systems (EMS) based on the plan-do-check-act model used in the quality arena. The lead organization in developing this standard was the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
ISO is an international non-governmental organization created by businesses interested in developing international manufacturing, trade, and communication standards. Since its inception, ISO's focus has expanded from setting technical engineering standards to developing quality management standards in the early 1990s and an environmental management system standard, ISO 14001, in 1996. ISO 14001 is voluntary and is a specification standard, which means an organization can receive certification or registration if they conform to it. Its purpose is to assist in the establishment of a global approach to environmental management.
The basic components of an EMS as described in the ISO 14001 standard include the following:
In addition to these basic elements, an organization implementing an EMS may involve external stakeholders in determining the significance of environmental impacts or in setting improvement goals. Organizations may also choose to disclose reports on their environmental performance to stakeholders.
The EMS provides the framework for a company to meet the environmental goals and objectives that it sets but does not establish additional environmental compliance requirements or any performance levels. The EMS also provides a structure to protect the environment in a reliable and consistent manner and offers a tool for an organization to go beyond compliance but does not prescribe additional environmental protection. An organization may be self-certified or third-party certified.
The EMS standards provide a framework for an organization to improve its environmental performance through a systems management approach and continual improvement principles. This continual improvement approach can extend outside an organization as industries look at their supply chain. For example, some industries now require their suppliers to certify or conform to the ISO 14001 standard to continue to do business.
The ISO 14001 standard presents a generic model of an EMS for an organization to systematically manage their environmental activities, products, and services. Although an organization may choose to follow the ISO 14001 model, some organizations choose to develop a corporate EMS model or integrate other programs such as The Natural Step into their management systems.
The North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), with the Division of Pollution Prevention and Environmental Assistance as the lead agency, is conducting a pilot program to evaluate the effectiveness of EMS in improving environmental performance and compliance as well as pollution prevention.
DENR is also a founding member and serves on the coordinating committee of the Multi-State Working Group (MSWG). MSWG is a voluntary group of participants from state, federal, non-governmental, business, and higher education organizations interested in the effectiveness of EMS.
Specifically, DENR's interest in the pilot program is to:
The purpose of our December 1 meeting is to discuss EMS and similar voluntary programs and regulatory flexibility incentives. Specifically DENR would like to better understand the perceptions of NC environmental groups on these approaches to assist the agency in participating in national public policy discussions.
Information on ISO 14001 and EMS from DENR: http://www.p2pays.org/iso/index.htm
Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) Initiative on ISO 14000: http://www.ecologia.org/iso14000/
ISO Home Page http://www.iso.ch/welcome.html
An environmental management system (EMS) provides a framework for an organization to improve its environmental performance using a systems-management approach and continual improvement principles.
The basic components of an EMS as described in the ISO 14001 standard include the following:
Optional elements include involving
external stakeholders in determining the significance of environmental impacts
or in setting improvement goals, and disclosing reports on environmental performance
to stakeholders. An organization may be self-certified or third-party certified.
This document is not available for publication on the World Wide Web.
To obtain a copy, please contact the Environmental Resource Program (erp@unc.edu)
Table of Contents | Executive Summary | Introduction | Findings | Conclusion | Appendices