By: Business and environmentally friendly companies.
XXI Century Companies have begun to understand the importance of incorporating environmental component to its operation. There were times when only enough to support an environmental cause and that was enough to be considered environment-friendly or did as an act of contrition to compensate for unreasonable action against the environment. However, this attitude was not consistent because in essence, many companies ended up understanding the support for environmental causes as a carte blanche to continue their anti-ecological activities, ie, was the model of indulgences in the Middle Ages, in which the cleric, who granted indulgences to pay current and future sins.
However, the times did reach businesses, professionals with a coherent sense of environmental employees who knew the wealth of international and national legislation that supports a responsible action by the company both in its operation, as in the creation products, even the selection of its suppliers. These new professionals steeped in environmental matters had little impact on business in the age of 90 and even into the first five years of this century, when odds were confronted in discussions with financial analysts saw each incorporation of environmental costs the product, reducing the profits of the company and thus gained the support of shareholders and directors of the company had no alternative but to hear the voices of the capital which claimed furious their growing areas, mostly in the short term.
Things were happening and three global summits on environment and sustainable development in the past had been carried out, and promoters of sustainable development were enough tools to go to governments, businesses and go to the general public to make a change from the inside of the processes. That's how all legislation incorporated in the country was being led companies through laws, decrees, agreements and deliberate actions, until they began to apply environmental principles in the company directly, either by obligation (many countries and environmental penalty is clear that in many cases bring the category of crimes), by consensus of guilds (eg Business Councils operating Sustainable Development almost everywhere in the world), or by deliberate choice of companies (many companies have taken proactive attitudes that go beyond government requirements.
With the advent of the Corporate Environmental Management Systems was proved (years after implementing ) that environmental management was a friend of the company and that could give long-term sustainability. The promoters of the atmosphere within the company strove to show such benefits as:
Technology Achievements.
cost reduction improvements in their image.
Improvements in quality of life for its employees.
Security Enhancements Improved competitiveness for international markets.
Until then corporate environmental management was carried out in many cases by external consultants, or people hired for a period of time for work on time, however, when environmental management is perceived as important within companies, it was necessary that companies have a unit that consolidates the company management. In countries like Colombia that need business was regulated by Decree 1299 of 2008, issued by the Presidency of the Republic of Colombia. In other countries the same business dynamics has been incorporating this functional area in the structure of enterprises.
The names are different, as Some countries call it Environmental Division, other environmental assistant manager, and many are known as Corporate Environmental Management Department. This is the name you use here.
A Corporate Environmental Management Department is a specialized area within the company for environmental management. Shall establish and implement measures aimed at compliance with environmental regulations, prevent, minimize and control pollutant load generation and to promote cleaner production practices, rational use of natural resources, increased energy efficiency and use of cleaner fuels clean. Must implement options for reducing emissions of greenhouse gases and protecting and conserving ecosystems.
environmental management departments should be an effective tool in implementing ISO 14001 at its different applications, which cover almost all areas to be considered a business friendly environment.
These rules are:
• Environmental Management System (EMS): specifications and guidelines for their use.
• ISO 14001:2004 Environmental management systems. Requirements with guidance for use.
• ISO 14004:2004 Environmental management systems. General guidelines on principles, systems and support techniques.
• ISO 14011:2002: Guidelines for auditing quality management systems or environmental.
• ISO 14020 Environmental labels and declarations - General Principles
• ISO 14021 Environmental labels and declarations - Autodeclaraciones
• ISO 14024 Environmental labels and declarations -
• ISO / TR 14025 Environmental labels and declarations -
• ISO 14031:1999 Environmental management. Evaluation of environmental performance. Guidelines.
• ISO 14032 Environmental management - Examples of environmental performance assessment (ERA)
• ISO 14040 Environmental management - Life cycle assessment - Framework
• ISO 14041. Environmental management - Life cycle analysis. Defining the purpose and the field and inventory analysis.
• ISO 14042 Environmental management - Life cycle analysis. Assessing the impact of the life cycle.
• ISO 14043 Environmental management - Life cycle analysis. Life cycle interpretation.
• ISO / TR 14047 Environmental management - Evaluating the impact of life cycle. Examples of application of ISO 14042.
• ISO / TS 14048 Environmental management - Life cycle assessment. Data documentation format.
• ISO / TR 14049 Environmental management - Life cycle assessment. Examples of application of ISO 14041 to goal and scope definition and inventory analysis.
• ISO 14062 Environmental management - Integrating environmental aspects into design and product development.
A Department of Environmental Management has many tasks to perform within a company and consequently, their actions are not limited to the implementation of ISO standards, even if the company is in the process, the department of environmental management can useful to guide the company on environmental issues sensitive to the survival of the company, savings in energy use and raw materials that can translate into more profit, the company avoid civil suits and criminal among other reasons.
In general, the functions of the department of environmental management are:
1. Ensure compliance with current environmental regulations.
2. Incorporate the environmental dimension in making business decisions.
3. Provide technical advice - environment within the company.
4. Establish and implement prevention, mitigation, correction and compensation of environmental impacts generated.
5. Plan, establish and implement processes and procedures, manage resources to develop, control and track the implementation of measures to direct the management environmental and environmental risk management of these
6. Promote improved environmental management and performance within the company.
7. Implementing best environmental practices within the company.
8. Leading the training activity and training at all levels of the company's environmental.
9. Keeping the company's environmental information and periodic reporting.
10. Prepare information required by the Environmental Information System.
11. Other as they emerge from their nature and are required to comply with environmental stewardship
As
operates the Corporate Environmental Management Department
A corporate environmental management department should have an action plan that includes some diagnoses over natural resources (water, air, soil, flora, fauna, etc.) involved and the effect human beings in the life of the product and in general the impacts of corporate action, a diagnosis of the state of compliance by the company regarding environmental regulations therefore have goals, objectives, activities, indicators to measure the company's progress in the various environmental aspects that determine its environmental profile.
The other major role of department environmental management is to innovate to improve environmental performance and incorporate / adapt technologies to achieve this objective.
That way the environmental management department follows this course and in compliance with the previously raised its purpose is fulfilled.
In Colombia, even the formation of the Corporate Environmental Management department has a procedure established by the regional autonomous corporations. This has enabled the unification of criteria in business. Profile
Director of Department of Environmental Management
The profile of a department director of environmental management is not yet defined, but we suggest that this must be comprehensive, a person familiar with the environment and the company can be an environmentalist with experience in business or professional business / economics with experience in environmental.
For many should be someone merely for environmental education or related, however, is not sufficient, in general this role requires entrepreneurial skills, economic, environmental / ecological, and foresight that goes well beyond mere environmental training. In this regard, the department needs a professional whose base is environmental, but also has training / experience in business, economics and forward or vice versa.
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For more information / consultancy / advice on the establishment and implementation of its Environmental Management Department, please contact Environmental Business Consultant, email: consultornegociosambientales@gmail.com
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