Environmental Management Systems
An Environmental Management System (EMS) is a series of elements that allows an organization to organize and continually improve its environmental performance. There are many examples of EMSs, but the Environmental Stewardship Initiative (ESI) uses the international standard of ISO 14001 in its training and assistance. The ESI has developed an in-depth overview training course that is open to any interested organization. See the training page for upcoming sessions.
The ESI has developed a variety of no-cost trainings on Environmental Management Systems. The ISO 14001 Overview is open to any organization that is interested and the others are reserved specifically for ESI members as a benefit of their program participation. In addition to the ISO 14001 Overview, ESI Members may join sessions of:
- EMS Module Series – a set of seven in-depth classes to assist members in developing or improving their EMS
- Internal Auditor – members may request this as an on-site session and consists of a morning of classroom style learning followed by a mock audit at the host facility.
Email esi@ncdenr.gov to become a member of the ESI program or to learn more about the program. For upcoming training and events open to all organizations, visit the ESI Events page.
The ESI has developed a Design Guidance Document to assist in developing and implementing an ISO 14001 based environmental management system. An interactive version of this workbook is available to ESI members.
In addition, the following example documents have been modified from those provided by NCSU Industry Expansion Solutions to meet ISO 14001:2015.
4.0 – Context
4.1 – Understanding organization & context
4.2 – Understanding needs & expectations of interested parties
4.3 – Determining scope
4.4 – EMS
5.0 – Leadership
5.1 – Leadership & commitment
5.2 – Policy
5.3 – Roles, responsibilities & authorities
6.0 – Planning
6.1 – Actions to address risks & opportunities
6.1.1 – General
6.1.2 – Environmental Aspects Procedure EP-01 | ForM EF-01ABCD
6.1.3 – Compliance Obligations Procedure EP-02 | ForM EF-02ABC
6.1.4 – Planning action
6.2 – Environmental objectives and planning to achieve them Procedure EP-03 | Form EF-03ABC
6.2.1 – Environmental objectives
6.2.2 – Planning actions to achieve environmental objectives
7.0 – Support
7.1 – Resources
7.2 – Competence Procedure EP-05 | Form EF-05AB
7.3 – Awareness Procedure EP-05 | Form EF-05AB
7.4 – Communication
7.4.1 – General
7.4.2 – Internal communication
7.4.3 – External communication
7.5 – Documented Information
7.5.1 – General
7.5.2 – Creating & Updating
7.5.3 – Control of documented info
8.0 – Operation
8.1 – Operation planning and control Procedure EP-08 | Form EF-08A | Form EF-08BC | Form EF-08DE
8.2 – Emergency preparedness & response Procedure EP-09 | Form EF-09A-D
9.0 – Performance evaluation
9.1 – Monitoring, measurement, analysis, and Evaluation Procedure EP-10 | Form EF-10A
9.1.1 – General
9.1.2 – Evaluation of Compliance Form EF-10B
9.2 – Internal Audit
9.2.1 – General
9.2.2 – Internal audit program