Guidelines for Good Environmental Management

The requirements of the ISO 14001:2015 environmental management system standard are not always easy to understand. At the 7th IMS Breakfast, Jana Brauweiler and Anke Zenker-Hoffmann explained how the requirements for an environmental management system can be implemented pragmatically with the help of the ISO 14004 and 14031 guidelines.

This was demonstrated, on the one hand, by examining the roles, responsibilities, and authorities that must be defined within the environmental management system. The companies reported on how their top management is involved in the environmental management system and which organizational and communication structures have proven effective.

The second example focused on practical guidance for identifying and evaluating environmental aspects and achievement. The discussion centered on the criteria and level of detail companies use to measure their environmental impact, as well as which environmental indicators are established to track improvements.

Under the heading “Did You Know,” Nino Gehler, a student in the bachelor’s program in “Ecology and Environmental Protection,” presented the “Urban Gardening” collaboration project between HSZG, the City of Zittau, and Zittau schools, followed by a short walk to the Amaliengarten in beautiful summer weather.

Finally, Henry Schmidt, Sales Area Manager for the Central/Eastern Region at TÜV Rheinland Akademie GmbH Dresden, explained the resources companies can use to further develop their most important asset: their employees. An IMS training series—launched by TÜV Rheinland Akademie GmbH Dresden and the Chair of Integrated Management Systems in collaboration with the ZWT—will complement the product portfolio. More information can be found here.