ISO 14000 - The Future for Environmental Management

1.	Introduction


1.1	There is a growing need for nations to become accountable for their actions 
towards the environment and to develop comprehensive, integrated and 
progressive environmental policies and management tools which focus on 
sustainability and "green" planning


1.2	From an environmental standpoint, these policies and tools must enable the 
maintenance of a dynamic environmental equilibrium in which overall demands 
on the environment are in balance with its regenerative capacity for the future


1.3	National government bodies, industry and other organizations need to be 
proactive to react to environmental issues as they emerge and to deal with 
problems quickly and effectively through the implementation of efficient and 
comprehensive environmental management systems


1.4	Environmental policies need to focus on stewardship and a collective 
responsibility toward future generations, with a maintenance of the overall quality 
of life, continued access to natural resources and the avoidance of lasting 
environmental damage


1.5	The introduction of the ISO 14000 series will provide organizations with 
guidance on how to sustainably and successfully manage and reduce 
environmental impacts through management functions, while at the same time 
allowing for high levels of socioeconomic growth and dedication to sustainable 
development



2.	Sustainable Development


2.1	The concept of sustainable development was introduced in the 1987 Brundtland 
Commission Report, published by the World Commission on Environment and 
Development (WCED), and entitled "Our Common Future"


2.2	The WCED report, designed to serve as a framework for future environmental 
policies, described sustainable development as "...a process of change in which 
the exploitation of resources, the direction of investments, the orientation of 
technological development...institutional change and the ability of the biosphere 
(where life is found: air, water and land) to absorb the effects of human activities 
are consistent with future as well as present needs"


2.3	Conditions leading to the call for sustainable development include;-

· Increasing population densities
 
· Increasing concentration of populations in urban areas
 
· Increasing rates of per capita resource use
 
· Overharvesting of renewable resources
 
· Exhaustion of nonrenewable resources
 
· Mismanagement of natural capital
 
· Degradation of environmental quality
 
· Extinction of species
 
· Greater risks to individual human health, safety and security
 
· Increasing disparity in living standards
 
· Escalating terrorism, local warfare and threats to national security



2.4	Sustainable development implies that the earth's resources will be used in a way 
that does not compromise the ability of future generation's to meet their own 
needs


2.5	In short, sustainable development involves the balancing of economic growth with 
environmental protection which may involve implementing pollution prevention, 
reducing the use of toxic and waste substances and slowing the depletion of 
non-renewable resources


2.6	Sustainable development holds mankind responsible for existing environmental 
circumstances and challenges man to accept the responsibility to institute the 
changes necessary to achieve sustainability in future development


2.7	The concept of sustainable development consists of four interrelated ideas, 
including;-

· Meeting both present and future needs--which establishes the goal for 
sustainability
 
· Meeting needs--which defines the goal for development
 
· Maintaining consistency between population size and ecosystem 
productive capacity--which recognizes that there are limits and 
requirements for balance
 
· Implementing a process of change--which acknowledges that the 
definition of needs and the requirements for attaining a sustainable 
balance will change with situations, conditions and time


2.8	The idea of sustainable development emerged in a broader sense as a result of 
agreements entered into at the United Nations Conference on Environment and 
Development (UNCED), the Earth Summit, in Rio de Janeiro in 1992


2.9	The conference called upon the need for further internationally accepted and 
adopted environmental standards and increased focus on environmental 
management issues


2.10	Following the Rio conference, a series of standards and guidance documents 
were produced which outlined principles for achieving sustainable development 
in environmental policy and other environmental and quality management issues, 
including;-

· Agenda 21
 
· BS 5750, BS 7750
 
· ISO 9000 series
 
· Eco Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS)



	Sustainable Development in Hong Kong

2.11	Plans were announced in the Second Review of Progress on the 1989 White Paper 
"Pollution of Hong Kong--A Time to Act" in 1993 and the 1994 Policy Address 
to consider how best to incorporate the concept of sustainable development into 
the Hong Kong environmental policy and planning framework


2.12	The Third Review of the White Paper, published on 25 March 1996 outlined the 
Government's views on the intention of the government to carry out a study on 
sustainable development and in July 1996, Legco approved HK$40 M to be 
directed towards a study of sustainable development for Hong Kong


2.13	The study will examine how environmental sustainability in Hong Kong should 
be defined and applied, taking into account economic and social factors, and what 
systems or institutional mechanisms would be necessary to help its achievement


2.14	The study will include environmental and ecological baseline studies to assess the 
environmental and ecological conditions currently present in Hong Kong and will 
provide essential information for implementing the concept of environmental 
sustainability into the development of Hong Kong into the 21st century



3.	Development of ISO 14000


3.1	The Geneva-based International Organization for Standardization (ISO) is a 
non-government body whose purpose it is to develop voluntary, consensus 
private sector standards


3.2	ISO formed the Strategic Advisory Group on the Environment (SAGE) in mid-
1991 to assess the need for international standards in environmental management 
and to recommend an overall strategic plan for their development;  in 1992, 
SAGE returned the recommendation that ISO develop a series of standards in the 
field of environmental management


3.3	ISO is in the process of developing the new ISO 14000 standards, under the 
auspices of the appointed Technical Committee 207, TC 207, (secretariat 
awarded to Canada)


3.4	TC 207 originally was set up in January 1993 to study the need for 
standardization of environmental management practices and to produce a final set 
of standards for;- 

· Environmental management systems
 
· Environmental audits 
 
· Environmental labeling assessment 
 
· Environmental performance evaluations 
 
· Product life cycle management


3.5	The scope of TC 207 specifically excludes the setting of traditional, limit-level, 
prescriptive standards and instead covers more strategic policy; to develop 
process standards for environmental management systems and associated 
management tools


3.6	Furthermore, TC 207 is excluded from;-

· developing test methods for pollutants which are the responsibility of 
ISO/TC 146 (Air Quality), ISO/TC 147 (Water Quality), ISO/TC 
190 (Soil Quality) and ISO/TC 43 (Acoustics)

 
· setting limit values regarding pollutants or effluents
 
· setting environmental performance levels
 
· standardization of products



3.7	TC 207 is also aimed at ensuring a close co-operation with ISO/TC 176 in its 
work in the quality management (ISO 9000) and audit standards (ISO 10000) 
field 



4.	Goal of ISO 14000


4.1	The development of the ISO 14000 standards was based on the need to create a 
standardized, guidance infrastructure that would allow nations, on a global scale, 
to approach environmental issues in an integrated, comprehensive and 
progressive fashion with a focus on achieving sustainable development


4.2	Four main benefits of developing the ISO 14000 series include;-

· having a single, global set of environmental management system 
guidance standards
	
· the development of a common, global approach to voluntary and 
self-directed environmental management
	
· enhancement of the ability to measure levels of sustainability and 
environmental performance through auditing methods
 
· harmonization of non-uniform standards for a range of environmental 
impact issues



4.3	The ISO 14000 series was instigated partially as a result of the growing pressure 
on companies/industry, from the government, the public, stockholders, financial 
institutions, environmental groups, consumers, etc,  to demonstrate better 
environmental stewardship, management and accountability both domestically 
and across international borders


4.4	The ISO 14000 standards should lay out the tools and systems for the 
management of environmental issues and impacts and the conduct of product 
evaluations


4.5	The series aims to provide guidance on process issues rather than developing 
prescription based regulations; ISO 14001 is a specification standard to which 
companies may register for certification as followers of the guidance standards for 
developing environmental management systems


4.6	The ISO 14000 standards are meant to be applicable to large, medium sized and 
small organizations in both developed and developing countries



5.	Timetable for Implementation


5.1	TC 207 has given priority to the development of the environmental management 
system (EMS) standards including guideline and specification documents as well 
as standards for the auditing of an EMS including documents for principles, 
procedures and auditor qualifications


5.2	In all, 17 ISO 14000 documents were completed or in progress by late 1995; 
current drafts of ISO 14000 are scheduled for review and processing to begin in  
Summer 1996


5.3	ISO 14004 (EMS Guideline Document) and ISO 14001 (EMS Specification 
Document) and three Environmental Auditing documents dealing with Audit 
Procedures, Auditing Principles and Auditor Qualifications are projected to 
progress to full International Standards status in Fall 1996


5.4	See Table 1 for the ISO 14000 series of documents and the target publication 
dates



Table 1. ISO 14000 Series of Environmental Management Documents 
(as of July, 1995)
(Source: Green Productivity, September 1995)

Doc. No.
Document Title
Committee
Status
Target 

ISO 14000
EMS- General Guidelines on 
Principles, Systems and 
Supporting Techniques
SC1/WG2
DIS
Fall '96

ISO 14001
EMS- Specification with Guidance for 
Use
SC1/WG1
DIS
Fall '96

ISO 14010
EA- General Principles of 
Environmental Auditing
SC2/WG1
DIS
Fall '96

ISO 14011.1
EA- Audit Procedures- Part 1: 
Auditing of EMS
SC2/WG2
DIS
Fall '96

ISO 14012
EA- Qualification Criteria for 
Environmental Auditors
SC2/WG3
DIS
Fall '96

ISO 14020
EL- Basic Principles of Environmental 
Labeling
SC3/WG3
Working Draft
-

ISO 14021
EL- Self Declaration- Environmental 
Claims- Terms and 
Definitions
SC3/WG2
Committee Draft 
for Ballot
-

ISO 14022
EL- Symbols
SC3/WG2
Working Draft
Fall '97

ISO 14023
EL- Testing and Verification 
Methodologies
SC3/WG2
Preparation Stage
Fall '97

ISO 14024
EL- Practitioner Programs- Guiding 
principles, practices and 
certification procedures of 
multiple criteria (type1) 
programs
SC3/WG1
Committee Draft 
for Ballot
-

ISO 14031
Environmental Performance 
Evaluation
SC4/
WG1&2
Working Draft
1998

ISO 14040
LCA- General Principles and Practices
SC5/WG3
Committee Draft 
for Ballot
-

ISO 14041
LCA- Goal and Definition/Scope and 
Inventory Assessment
SC5/
WG2&3
Working Draft
Fall '96

ISO 14042
LCA- Impact Assessment
SC5/WG4
Preparation Stage
1998

ISO 14043
LCA- Improvement Assessment
SC5/WG5
Preparation Stage
Fall '97

ISO 14050
Terms and Definitions
SC5
Working Draft
-

ISO 14060
Guide for the Inclusion of 
Environmental Aspects in 
Product Standards
WG1
DIS
Spring '97




6.	ISO 9000 as a Precursor to ISO 14000


6.1	ISO 9000 is an international standard for a basic management system of quality 
assurance that is intended to equalize quality systems between companies and 
countries


6.2	ISO 9000 standards on quality management and quality assurance are essentially 
the forerunners of the developing ISO 14000 standards in the field of 
environmental management 


6.3	The ISO 9000 series of standards describes the basic elements of a quality 
management system and provides guidance for implementing and auditing the 
quality system


6.4	The standards focus on basic management elements such as developing policies 
for quality, putting a system in place to achieve objectives, measuring and 
monitoring progress, reviewing and auditing the system and making appropriate 
improvements


6.5	Although the ultimate purpose of the ISO 9000 standards is to improve products 
or services, the standards do not specifically apply to products or services 
themselves but to the processes and systems that produce those products or 
services


6.6	Thus, the ISO 9000 standards focus on the management process of an 
organization, which in turn yields consistency of the products produced


6.7	Marketplace pressure has been the primary driver for third-party ISO 9000 
registration although additional internal benefits for registration include;-

· better operating efficiency
 
· higher quality of products
 
· reduced costs
 
· greater productivity


6.8	A key concept from ISO 9000 quality management standards has been integrated 
into the scope of work for TC 207, namely that management standards were 
process standards and , as such, were not to specify end goals



7.	What is ISO 14000?


7.1	ISO 14000 refers to a series of voluntary, consensus international environmental 
standards designed to provide guidance in developing effective and appropriate 
environmental management systems, tools and audits 


7.2	The ISO 14000 series is not intended to set performance goals, benchmarks or 
limits but to specify the elements of a system that aims to achieve a consistent and 
reliable process to consistently meet environmental aims and obligations


7.3	Despite their being voluntary standards, the ISO 14000 series may become a de 
facto market-driven requirement for companies, both domestically and 
internationally (similar to ISO 9000), and is designed to enable the provision of 
assurance of performance through audits


7.4	The ISO 14000 series addresses a broad range of environmental impact issues, 
including;-

· Environmental management systems
 
· Environmental auditing
 
· Environmental labeling assessment
 
· Environmental performance evaluation
 
· Product life cycle management


7.5	Despite the voluntary status, the series is being prepared with the participation 
and support of more than thirty countries, encompassing most of the important 
trading nations, including; the United States, the United Kingdom, Singapore, 
Korea, Japan, Germany, France, the People's Republic of China and Canada


7.6	Once the ISO 14000 series is fully published, it is envisaged that the governments 
of many of these countries will encourage and support its adoption within their 
borders either through direct incorporation into national legislation or through 
local amendment processes



8.	Key Elements of ISO 14000


8.1	The ISO 14000 series consists of voluntary guidance standards which do not 
assign conformance responsibility to participating organizations,- ISO 14001 is 
an exception in that it is an EMS specification document with which organizations 
may seek third-party verification/ registration


8.2	The series is intended to serve as an effective guidance system through which 
organizations may become responsible citizens with a management focus on 
commitment and the implementation of efficient and sustainable environmental 
policies and environmental management systems 


8.3	Key requirements of the policy which the series encompasses include;-

· Environmental protection as one of the highest corporate priorities 
with clear assignment of responsibilities and accountabilities to all 
employees
 
· Compliance with all environmental laws and regulations applicable to 
the company's activities, products and services
 
· Ongoing communications on environmental commitment and 
performance with all shareholders
 
· Strategic planning that sets forth environmental performance 
objectives and targets, implemented through a disciplined 
management process
 
· Periodic performance measurement (as well as systems audits and 
management reviews) to achieve continual improvement wherever 
possible
 
· Full integration with health and safety, quality, finance, business 
planning and other essential management processes
 
· Focus on EMS and looks for attributes that would sustain sound 
environmental decision making and performance
 
· Top management commitment
 
· Third-party registration, through ISO 14001, or self-declaration for 
companies that meet the ISO 14000 standards 



9.	Comparison of ISO 9000 and ISO 14000


9.1	The ISO 9000 and ISO 14000 standards share the goal of developing process 
rather than performance standards


9.2	Other aspects of both standards are presented in the following table and include;-



ISO 9000
ISO 14000


Aims

Provides to supplier organizations 
a means for demonstrating to 
customer organizations the 
achievement of requirements for 
quality; enhances the achievement 
of a supplier organization in 
providing overall performance in 
relation to objectives for quality.


Provides organizations with the 
elements of an environmental 
management system; provides 
assistance to organizations 
considering the implementation or 
improvement of an environmental 
management system, including 
advice on enhancing such a system 
to meet environmental 
performance expectations.


Structure




Mixture of management activities, 
process requirements, and 
verification requirements; separate 
guidance standard.
Adheres to "plan-do-check-act" 
type of business model; separate 
guidance standard.




Contents
Both ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 include the elements of management 
commitment and responsibility, management system documentation, 
document control, operational control, training, monitoring and 
measurement, nonconformance and corrective action, records and 
audits




ISO 9001 includes discrete 
elements of quality planning, 
product identification and 
traceability, and statistical 
techniques.

ISO 14001 includes discrete 
elements of environmental aspects, 
legal requirements, objectives and 
targets, environmental 
management program, 
communications, and emergency 
preparedness and response.

	


10.	What is an Environmental Management System (EMS)?


10.1	Definitions of EMS as provided by three separate documents on environmental 
management systems;-


· ISO 14001:
 "the organizational structure, responsibilities, practices, procedures, 
processes and resources for implementing and maintaining 
environmental management"
 
· BS 7750:
 "the organizational structure, responsibilities, procedures, processes 
and resources for implementing environmental management"
 
· Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS):
	"that part of the overall management system which includes the 
organizational structure, responsibilities, practices, procedures, 
processes and resources for determining and implementing the 
environmental policy"


10.2	The major elements of an EMS include reviews of activities and organizational 
structure, responsibilities, practices, procedures and resources for determining, 
documenting and implementing relevant and effective environmental policy


10.3	An EMS generally involves the following;-

· an assessment of the existing practices and situation of an 
organization
 
· a register of all environmental effects associated with the company's 
activities, established through an initial environmental review
 
· a list of all legislation relevant and applicable to the environmental 
aspects of the activities, products and services of the organization
 
· development of a corporate environmental policy and environmental 
management plan, both working towards fulfilling the concept of 
sustainable development and including a mission statement of the 
company, its strategic objectives and operational plans
 
· the setting of environmental performance objectives and targets for 
both current and future activities, which may include;-
 
 -suppliers, contractors, etc.
 -product stewardship
 -environmental communications
 -regulatory relationships
 -environmental incident response and preparedness
 -process risk reduction
 -hazardous material management/substitution
 -waste and water management
 -air quality management
 -energy management and transportation
 -occupational safety and health issues
 -management and employee training 
 
 
· development of environmental performance evaluation procedures
	
 
· clarification, documentation and communication of management 
responsibilities and appointment of a green manager with a focus on 
employee commitment
 
· establishment of an effective environmental training program for all 
employees within the organization which will raise awareness, 
enhance skills for dealing with environmental issues and stress 
compliance with relevant legislation
 
· implementation of a system which reliably manages the performance 
of the organization, for both current and future activities
 
· documentation of the system communicated to all employees and 
distributed to all interested parties, especially to the public
 
· establishment of non-conformance and corrective and preventive 
action procedures
 
· regular checking, reviewing and auditing of company practices and 
management commitment to reflect changing conditions with a focus 
on continual improvement

	
10.4	An environmental management program should be developed as part of the EMS, 
the goals of which shall include;-

· plans for the achievement of set environmental objectives and targets
 
· the designation of committed, responsible actions of all individuals at 
every level within the organization
 
· a reasonable and achievable timeframe for the implementation of 
planned changes 


10.5	From a managerial point of view, an EMS enables a company to develop and 
maintain a well organized management structure that ensures compliance with 
environmental legislation and focuses on pollution prevention, minimization of 
environmental impacts and continual improvement in the environmental arena  


10.6	Additional incentives to forming an EMS include potential financial gains which 
may be achieved by reducing unnecessary wastes and emissions and by having a 
high level of overall environmental performance


10.7	Five key areas of focus for an environmental management system, as identified by 
ISO 14000 requirements include;-

· Environmental Policy
 
· Planning
 
· Implementation and Operation
 
· Checking and Corrective Action
 
· Management Review



11.	Benefits of EMS Implementation


11.1	Some potential benefits resulting from the implementation of a coordinated EMS 
for an organization include;-

	Natural

· Clean Air, Water, Soil
 
· Prevention and/or significant reduction of pollution and waste 
generation
 
· Improved health and safety of interested parties
 
· Reduction in the use of non-renewable resources
 
· Improved conservation and efficient use of natural resources
 

	Corporate

· Reduced financial costs through reduction in consumption of 
resources and through waste minimization
 
· Reduction and/or avoidance of potential emergency situations
 
· Avoidance of incidence of non-compliance with legislation and 
reduction in fines and cleanup costs
 
· Reduction in the cost of gaining capital, financial backing, insurance 
and valuation by becoming an "environmentally friendly" 
organization
 
· Improved marketing advantage as a "green" operation
 
· Increased staff morale and occupational safety and health standards
 
· Improved customer, client and community relations
 
· Increased documentation, communication and feedback of 
environmental policies and initiatives
 


12.	Division of ISO 14000 into Categories


12.1	The ISO 14000 series of standards and guidance documents may be divided into 
two separate areas;-

· ORGANIZATION EVALUATION, which includes three 
subsystems;-
 
 			-Environmental Management Systems (ISO 14000, 14001)
 
 			-Environmental Auditing (ISO 14010-12)
 
			-Environmental Performance Evaluation (ISO 14031)


· PRODUCT EVALUATION, which consists of three separate 
applications and includes environmental aspects in;-
 
 			-Product Standards 
 
 			-Environmental Labeling (ISO 14020-24)
 
 			-Life Cycle Assessment (ISO 14041-44)
 
 

12.2	The following figure is a representation of the ISO 14000 series of environmental 
management standards and their relative organization




	Table 2.
			ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT





ORGANIZATION EVALUATION		PRODUCT &  PROCESS EVALUATION




	Environmental					Life Cycle 
	Management 					Assessment
	System		

Environmental		Environmental  	Environmental		Environmental
Performance 		Auditing		Labeling		Aspects
Evaluation								in Product
									Standards









13.	ISO 14000, TC 207 Subcommittees and Working Groups


13.1	To fulfill its aims, the program of work of TC 207 has been divided up among six 
subcommittees and numerous working groups, resulting in over 20 active 
projects


13.2	Each of the six Subcommittees (SCs) deals with separate, specific areas, 
including;-


· SC1, Environmental Management Systems (EMS)

	-has made significant distinction between management systems' 
specification for certification or registration purposes and a more 
broadly defined management systems guide not intended for 
registration purposes

	-the specification document, ISO 14001,  will contain the core 
verifiable elements of the system and can be used much like the 
quality assurance standards ISO 9001, ISO 9002 and ISO 9003

-the five key aspects of ISO 14001 include;-
			
			-Commitment and policy
			-Planning
			-Implementation
			-Measurement and evaluation
			-Review and improvement


-elements defined within ISO 14001 delineate a comprehensive EMS, 
and although they are all required to be in place, the document is 
flexible in its approach to implementation














	-the divisions and requirements of ISO 14001 are as follows;-


ISO 14001 Requirements


4.1
Environmental policy

4.2.1
4.2.2
4.2.3
4.2.4
Environmental aspects
Legal and other requirements
Objectives and targets
Environmental management program

4.3.1
4.3.2
4.3.3
4.3.4
4.3.5
4.3.6
Structure and responsibility
Training, awareness and competence
Communication
Environmental documentation
Document control
Operational control

4.4.1
4.4.2
4.4.3
4.4.4
Monitoring and measurement
Non-conformance and corrective and preventive action
Records
Environmental management system audit

4.5
Management review




	-the ISO 14000 guidance document will view environmental 
management as a tool which will enable both improved environmental 
performance and a competitive business advantage for participating 
organizations


· SC2, Environmental Auditing (EA)

	-documents have been prepared which draft general principles of 
environmental auditing, applicable to the audit of any element of an 
organization's environmental management program and which 
outline procedures for the auditing of an environmental management 
system


· SC3, Environmental Labeling (EL)

	-deals with product environmental labeling programs, addresses 
environmental labeling self-declaration claims and is involved with 
other basic principles of environmental labeling

	-standards are in development for harmonizing over two dozen 
national eco-labeling programs and the environmental claims made by 
product manufacturers regarding the associated environmental 
impacts of products and product packaging


· SC4, Environmental Performance Evaluation (EPE)

	-plans for standardization in the field of environmental performance 
evaluation for use by organizations to measure, assess and 
communicate their environmental performance for appropriate 
management purposes


· SC5, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)

	-goal is to provide environmental managers and life cycle assessment 
practitioners with an introduction to the life cycle concept for products 
and goods and to provide a description of life cycle methodology

	-functions through five working groups including; Life cycle 
assessment-general principles and procedures, Life cycle inventory-
general, Life cycle inventory-specific, Life cycle impact assessment 
and Life cycle improvement assessment


· SC6, Terms and Definitions (T&D)

	-functions to serve the other five subcommittees; shall produce an ISO 
standard on terms and definitions within the environmental field and 
will seek to develop and maintain liaisons with relevant internal 
bodies on air and water quality and quality management etc.


13.3	Additionally, TC 207 and several of the subcommittees are taking steps to 
establish and strengthen links with organizations that will use or reference 
standards in the ISO 14000 series, including;-

· European Committee for Standardization (CEN)
 
· World Trade Organization (WTO)
 
· ISO/TC 176 in the quality management systems, and the
 
· ISO Council Committee on Conformity Assessment (CASCO)






13.4	The ISO/TC 207 structure is displayed in the following table;-



			SECRETARIAT:  CANADA




	Subcommittee 1				Subcommittee 2
	Environmental 				Environmental 
	Management					Auditing
	Systems							
	UNITED KINGDOM			NETHERLANDS





	Subcommittee 3				Subcommittee 4
	Environmental 				Environmental 
	Labeling					Performance
							Evaluation
	AUSTRALIA					UNITED STATES





Subcommittee 5		Subcommittee 6		Working Group 1
Life Cycle			Terms and 			Environmental 
Assessment			Definitions			Aspects in Product 
FRANCE							Standards
& GERMANY		NORWAY			GERMANY















13.5	The ISO standards development process is presented in the following 
	flowchart;-

ISO Standards Development Process


							New work item proposal


TC votes as appropriate
					
	
				Accepted		New work item assigned	
							to SC; SC assigns to WG


Rejected							
							Working Draft (WD)

SC votes to progress 
document to committee
draft (CD)					
				Accepted
							Committee Draft (CD)
Rejected


SC votes to progress
document to draft
international standard
(DIS)							

				Accepted		
							Draft International 
							Standard (DIS) 
Rejected




ISO & TC vote to
progress document to
international standard					
					
			Accepted			International Standard



14.	Impact of ISO 14000
 

14.1	It is expected that ISO 14000 will be a very significant development in 
environmental management system standards and will exert tremendous influence 
at various levels


14.2	The implementation of EMSs that comply with ISO 14000 requirements and 
achieving third-party registration with the ISO 14000 series may well become a 
de facto requirement to do business


14.3	The ISO 14000 series will have a number of impacts on companies, industry, the 
government, nations and policymakers


· Company

-the ISO 14001 standard could help companies demonstrate sound 
environmental management by providing a vehicle for third party 
certification of adherence to its provisions

-ISO 14000 will affect the ways in which an organization conducts its 
dealings with suppliers, contractors, customers, bankers, creditors 
and other parties

-it will affect the ways in which the company operates and manages 
internal procedures

-production processes, use of materials, management practices and 
employee relationships can all be affected through the 
implementation of ISO 14000

-several countries are considering giving preference in procurement 
contracts to companies that install an EMS that conforms to ISO 
14000 requirements

-market pressure may drive registration to ISO 14001 since there is a 
growing trend for organizations and government institutions to want to 
deal with environmentally sound companies


· Industry

-with ISO 14000, industry must improve not only environmental 
performance but also business performance, not just for large 
transnational companies but for SMEs and businesses in developing 
countries

-ISO 14000 will exert pressure on industrial or business sectors that 
cannot meet the suggested environmental standards, as these 
industries may be labeled environmentally 'unfriendly' operations

-ISO 14000 will produce opportunities for the creation of new 
industries that conform to higher environmental standards and 
expectations

-with the global acceptance of ISO 14000, achieving third-party 
certification will enable manufacturers to avoid adverse publicity and 
green activist campaigns by complying with high and internationally 
recognized standards


· National

-ISO 14000 may affect international trade

-if a country is slow to follow ISO 14000, it seems highly plausible 
that firms within that country will find it increasingly difficult to do 
business in other countries; a country's competitiveness may drop, 
and it may find itself in the awkward position of having its business 
opportunities taken away by other countries that are better prepared 
for the adoption of ISO 14000

-pending the establishment of registration programs, many countries 
are taking the initiative to develop EMS pilot programs to help bring 
international traders up to speed with ISO 14001-with the view that 
registration will become a business imperative post-1996


· Policymakers

-policymakers must take a proactive role in watching the development 
of the ISO 14000 standards and must fully understand their 
implications for interested parties

-policymakers will need to assess the ways in which companies and 
industries in their particular country will be able to cope with the 
requirements of ISO 14000 before formulating any intervention 
policies

-governments in developed countries with strict environmental 
regulations are interested in ISO 14000 as a useful alternative to 
complex and expensive "command and control" regulations

-other developing nation governments are looking at the use of ISO 
14000 as a way to enhance regulatory systems that are either 
nonexistent or are weak in their environmental performance and 
management requirements

-although the standards are voluntary and are developed for the 
private sector, government bodies may elect to convert an ISO 
standard to a required or legal standard



15.	Conformance with ISO 14001  


15.1	The ISO 14000 standards have the potential for becoming international 
environmental benchmarks for conducting business in the global marketplace of 
the 21st century


15.2	Although the standards are designed to be voluntary, conformance may become a 
necessary requirement to enter or maintain business in the international arena as a 
result of pressures from interested parties to deal with organizations that are 
committed to high standards of environmental management


15.3	ISO 14001 will become the dominant voluntary environmental management 
system standard worldwide, presenting standards against which organizations 
may be measured objectively



16.	Benefits of ISO 14000 Accreditation


16.1	To become registered under ISO 14000, an organization need only show its 
conformance to the EMS document- ISO 14001


16.2	Benefits of conformance with and accreditation to ISO 14000 may be 
summarized as follows:-


· Increased access to markets

-conformance will allow entry into international markets, as 
customers will require the firms they do business with to have high 
standards of environmental management


· Reduced costs

-an ISO 14000 EMS program is likely to lead to cost savings through 
better management of the environmental aspects of an organization's 
operations

-conformance with ISO 14001 standards can help to increase efficient 
use of raw materials, decrease energy usage, reduce waste generation 
and lead to cost savings through recycling programs  

· Reduced liabilities

-improved environmental management systems will provide for 
sustained, effective environmental performance, reducing the 
potential for regulatory, non-conformance enforcement penalties and 
insurance claims

-the concept and practices of environmental due diligence will be 
undertaken for major transactions and infrastructure projects in order 
to allow increased conformance and better environmental 
management records


· Enhanced corporate reputation

-conformance demonstrates environmental commitment to investors, 
lenders, insurers, regulators, shareholders, green groups, consumers 
and the local community, thereby enhancing an organization's 
reputation as a responsible corporate citizen

-ISO 14000 registration can demonstrate an organization's 
commitment and credibility regarding the minimization of 
environmental impacts and the support of sustainable environmental 
practices


· Reduced insurance rates and improved access to capital

-some large institutional investors have begun to make investment 
decisions based on a corporation's environmental track record

-insurance companies will be more willing to issue coverage for 
pollution incidents if the company requesting coverage has a proven 
environmental management system in place with an associated and 
documented environmental management program




· Competitive advantage

-all of the benefits associated with conformance with the ISO 14000 
series ensure that corporations will have a competitive advantage over 
firms that do not successfully meet the ISO 14000 challenge



17.	What Can Be Done Before ISO 14000 Publication?


17.1	Although the ISO 14000 series will not be published in full for at least two years 
(late 1998) governments and industry can still take a proactive and responsible 
approach in dealing with environmental issues


17.2	Governments should require the submission of an Environmental Impact 
Assessment (EIA) for all new organizations, with the inclusion of an 
environmental management system, in order to ensure that all environmental 
aspects and impacts are catalogued and managed in a suitable and sustainable 
fashion


17.3	Governments may set up councils on sustainable development which can include 
business, labor, government, environmental groups and consumers and which may 
be used to institutionalize sustainable development and address the need for 
collective solutions to environmental problems


17.4	Identification of target sectors for environmental issues and associated 
environmental working groups, including;-

· industry
· energy and fossil fuels
· traffic and transport
· agriculture, forestry and water management
· tourism
· management of minerals and natural resources
· consumers
· top corporate management


17.5	Government development of a strategic environmental planning sector whose job 
it is to establish goals and strategies, monitor actual environmental conditions to 
assess progress and build in the means to adjust policy to reflect changing 
environmental conditions


17.6	Publication, by the government environmental division, of regular progress 
reports which will present an overall picture of the state of the environment and 
assess the impacts that social behaviors and development have on it


17.7	Issuance of a regular environmental policy statement, or white paper, which will 
present the government's proposals for environmental priorities, goals, and 
specific initiatives and actions


17.8	Governments may institute principles of environmental protection to focus on key 
environmental  issues and potential problem areas, including;-
 
· respect for human and environmental critical load limits
 
· use of the best available technology
 
· requiring each country to ensure that activities within its borders do 
not cause environmental damage in other countries
 
· the precautionary principle (anticipating, preventing and attacking 
sources of 	environmental degradation as well as not using scientific 
uncertainty as an excuse for inaction- and the belief that critical loads 
on nature should not be exceeded)
 
· the polluter pays principle
 
· the substitution principle (hazardous substances should be replaced 
by less hazardous ones whenever possible)
 

17.9	The government may require businesses to publish yearly environmental reports 
which detail their resource use and environmental impacts and mitigation 
measures


17.10	Governments should concentrate efforts on becoming an "eco-cyclic" society by 
adopting a life cycle approach to production and consumption within and across 
all industries and by making producers/suppliers more responsible for the 
recycling and reuse of their products


17.11	This approach is similar to the life cycle management guideline of ISO 14000 and 
includes reducing the use of materials and energy in production, emphasizing 
product quality over quantity, producing more durable goods, and recycling and 
reusing as much as possible


17.12	Other initiatives may include the development of a strong environmental database, 
computer modeling, and environmental indicators; efforts to integrate 
environmental data into national economic accounting; analyses of industrial life 
cycles and of consumption patterns; and research into environmental technologies



18.	ISO 14001 Basic Terms and Definitions


18.1	Organization

	Organization is referred to in Clause 3.12 of ISO 14001 as;

	 "a company, corporation, operation, firm, enterprise, institution, parts or 
combinations thereof, whether incorporated or not, public or private that has its 
own function and administration"  

	If a company is registering to ISO 14001, the actual scope of the registration may 
apply to a site, a plant, a portion of a site, or several sites that share the same 
environmental management system.  

	A note to the definition adds the clarification that "for bodies or establishments 
with more than one operating unit, a single operating unit may be defined as an 
organization"  

	It is up to the organization, working with the registrar, to define the precise scope 
of the EMS and the products, processes and services to which it applies.


18.2	Environment

	The environment is defined in ISO 14001 as the surroundings in which an 
organization operates, including "air, water, land, natural resources, flora, fauna, 
humans and their interrelation"  

	The environment extends from within the organization to the global system.

	From a practical point of view, the environment that concerns a company would 
be the surroundings in which an organization's activities, products and service 
have a significant environmental impact and over which the organization can 
exercise some reasonable control or influence.  This influence and control can 
extend from local, through regional, and even to global conditions, depending on 
the nature of the organization.




18.3	Environmental Aspect

	An environmental aspect is defined in ISO 14001 as an "element of an 
organization's activities, products and/or services which can interact with the 
environment."  

	A note to the definition defines a significant environmental aspect as "an 
environmental aspect which has or can have a significant environmental impact." 

	It is up to the organization to identify the environmental aspects of its products, 
processes, and services when setting up an EMS.


18.4	Environmental Impact

	An environmental impact is "any change to the environment, whether adverse or 
beneficial, wholly or partially resulting from an organization's activities, 
products and/or services."  
	
	The environmental aspects of an organization's activities create environmental 
impacts.


18.5	Environmental Management System

	An environmental management system is "that part of the overall management 
system which includes organizational structure, planning activities, 
responsibilities, practices, procedures, processes and resources for developing, 
implementing, achieving, reviewing and maintaining the environmental policy."


18.6	Environmental Management System Audit

	This is a "systematic and documented verification process to objectively obtain 
and evaluate evidence to determine whether an organization's environmental 
management system conforms to the environmental management system audit 
criteria" that are set by the organization itself. 

	 The definition also adds that the results of the EMS audit process must be 
communicated to management.


18.7	Environmental Performance

	Environmental performance refers to "measurable results of the environmental 
management system, related to an organization's control of the environmental 
aspects based on its environmental policy, objectives and targets."

	There is a need for organizations to accept and define environmental mandates 
	within the appropriate context of their environmental impacts.


18.8	Continual Improvement

	Continual improvement refers to the "process of enhancing the environmental 
management system to achieve improvements in overall environmental 
performance in line with the organization's policy."  

	A note adds that "the process need not take place in all areas of activity 
simultaneously."


18.9	Interested Party

	An individual or group which is concerned with or affected by the environmental 
performance or impacts of an organization.


18.10	Prevention of Pollution

	Use of processes, practices, materials or products that avoid, reduce or control 
pollution, which may include recycling, treatment, process alterations, control 
changes, efficient use of resources (renewable and non-renewable) and material 
substitution.



19.	Evaluation and Self-Assessment Checklist in Preparation for 
	ISO 14000

	The following questions aim to determine the extent to which an organization has 
a working EMS that will fit the future standards set out in the ISO 14000 series;-




19.1	Environmental Policy
	Principle 1: Commitment and Policy


19.1a	Has top management defined the organization's environmental policy?


19.1b	Is this environmental policy appropriate to the nature, scale and environmental 
impacts of its activities, products or services?


19.1c	Does the environmental policy include a commitment to continual improvement 
and prevention of pollution?


19.1d	Does the environmental policy include a commitment to comply with relevant 
environmental legislation and regulations, and to other requirements to which the 
organization subscribes?


19.1e	Does the environmental policy provide the framework for setting and reviewing 
of environmental objectives and targets?


19.1f	Is the environmental policy documented, implemented and maintained, and 
communicated to all employees?


19.1g	Is the environmental policy available to the public?



19.2	Planning
	Principle 2: Planning

19.2a	Is there a procedure to identify the environmental aspects of your business over 
which you have control or influence and to determine actual or potential 
significant impacts on the environment?


19.2b	Are aspects related to these significant impacts considered in setting 
environmental objectives?


19.2c	Do you have a procedure to identify and have access to legal requirements 
applicable to the environmental aspects of your activities, products or services?


19.2d	Have environmental objectives and targets been established and documented and 
are there procedures for maintaining these documents?


19.2e	Has an environmental management program for achieving the objectives and 
targets been established and maintained?



19.3	Implementation and Operation
	Principle 3: Implementation

19.3a	Have roles, responsibility and authorities been defined, documented and 
communicated?


19.3b	Does management provide the resources essential to the implementation and 
control of the environmental management system?


19.3c	Have all training needs been identified?


19.3d	Have procedures been established to make employees or members at each 
relevant function and level aware of environmental issues?


19.3e	Has it been ensured that personnel performing tasks which can cause significant 
environmental impacts are competent?


19.3f	Have appropriate procedures been established for internal and external 
communications regarding the environmental aspects and the environmental 
management system?


19.3g	Is there documentation which describes the environmental management system?


19.3h	Have proper document control procedures been established?


19.3i 	Are all documents in a proper state and format?


19.3j	Have those operations and activities associated with the significant environmental 
aspects been identified?


19.3k	Have such operations and activities been planned in such a way as to ensure they 
are carried out under specified conditions?


19.3l	Have proper procedures been established to identify the potential for and to 
respond to accidents and emergency situations?


19.3m	Are such procedures periodically tested and reviewed/revised after tests or after 
actual incidents? situations?



19.4	Checking and Corrective Action
	Principle 4: Measurement and Evaluation


19.4a	Have procedures been established for monitoring and measuring on a regular 
basis the key characteristics of the operations and activities that can have 
significant environmental impact?


19.4b	Are there established documented procedures for the periodic evaluation of 
compliance with relevant environmental legislation and regulations?


19.4c	Have procedures been established for defining responsibility and authority for 
handling non-conformance and the taking of corrective and preventive action?


19.4d	Have procedures for the identification, maintenance and disposition of 
environmental records been established and maintained?


19.4e	Does the organization have (a) program (s) and procedures for periodic 
environmental management system audits?



19.5	Management Review
	Principle 5: Review and Improvement


19.5a	Has top management reviewed the environmental management system?	



20.	Case Study 1
	Environmental Management Plan for the Proposed Butterfly 
Beach Medical Laundry	



20.1	Classification

	Environmental Management Plan (EMP) for Development Project and 
	Environmental Management System (EMS) for Project Operations


20.2	Background

	Not required by the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) to conduct 
	an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) due to the limited environmental 
	nuisances associated with the proposed facility; local community has voiced 
	objection to potential, localized environmental impacts


20.3	Objective
	
· To assure the local community of management commitment to 
establish a "green" corporate image for the proposed laundry

· Provision of suggestions and methodology through which the 
proposed laundry may be community and environmentally friendly 
during both the construction and operations phases


20.4 	Contents
	
· Construction Phase EMP

-Concentrates upon the identification of environmental effects during 
planning and building works and proposes practical methods to 
minimize and mitigate these effects

-Trigger, action and target levels are recommended as well as a 
comprehensive program to carry out the annotation of environmental 
data

-Summarizes the processes of carrying out regular audits and reviews





· Operation Phase EMP: Environmental Management System

-Outlines all methodology by which environmental issues at the 
laundry should be tackled once it has been commissioned

-Lays down guidelines for the incorporation of environmental issues at 
all levels of management, with suggestions as to the allocation of 
human resources to carry out specific tasks

-Gives details of environmental objectives and targets to be met, 
documentation procedures and mitigation measures for environmental 
impacts


20.5	Conclusion
	
· This EMP suggests ways by which the proposed laundry facility may 
be community-friendly and interact well with the public
 
· Through an active environmental approach and the implementation of 
positive measures, the laundry will be able to assure both local 
residents and the general public of its environmental commitment to 
high standards of environmental management
 
· This project was endorsed by Legislature in July 1996


21.	Case Study 2
	Environmental Management System for Hang Heung Cake 
	Shop Company (HHCSC)



21.1	Classification

	Environmental Management System (EMS) for the complete operations 
	(lotus seed paste manufacturing and bakery workshop) of HHCSC, following BS 
7750: 1994, Specification for EMSs


21.2	Background

· HHCSC has a long history (9 years) of incidents of non-compliance 
with Environmental Protection Department (EPD) regulations for air 
emissions and trade effluent discharge
 
· Emission problems are present at both the lotus seed paste 
manufacturing and bakery workshop processes


21.3	Objective

· HHCSC seeks to reduce its impacts on the environment through the 
implementation of a coordinated EMS
 
· HHCSC is committed to the continual improvement of the system, 
having as the core of its environmental operations the following 
objectives;-

			-minimization of pollution and effluent discharges
			-sustainable use of natural resources
			-wise use of energy
			-risk reduction
			-environmental commitment
			-good neighbor policy
			-assessment and annual audit









21.4	Contents
		
· Outlines methodology by which environmental effects and impacts at 
both the lotus seed paste manufacturing and bakery workshop 
processes may be mitigated
 
· Identifies target, action and trigger levels for the appropriate 
respective environmental effects with the aim of indicating any 
potentially deteriorating environmental quality and allowing a 
proactive response to be taken
 
· Establishes a framework for improved management roles (Green 
manager, Environmental Committee, etc.) and stresses the adoption 
of comprehensive training programs which focus on employee 
awareness and responsibility
 
· Establishes an audit program which will determine whether 
HHCSC's activities conform to the management program and 
whether or not the EMS is fulfilling the environmental policy of 
HHCSC


21.5	Conclusion

· This EMS aims to be a natural extension of HHCSC's existing 
management system
 
· Working in harmony with HHCSC employees, this EMS will form the 
centerpiece of the "green" operations of both the lotus paste 
manufacturing factory and the bakery workshop
 
· The EMS will satisfy all Environmental Monitoring and Auditing 
Program (EM&A) requirements for the operations of HHCSC


22.	Case Study 3
	Environmental Management Plan for Universal (Hot-Dip) 
Galvanising Limited  (UHDG)



22.1	Classification 

Environmental Management System (EMS) for Project Operations


22.2	Background

The EMS is not required by the EPD; it has been created to serve as a supplement 
to UHDG's application for chemical waste storage and air pollution control 
licenses 


22.3	Objective

· The EMS documents UHDG's commitment to environmental 
protection within and external to the facility's operations 
 
· The implementation of  the EMS suggestions into daily operations 
will allow  UHDG to comply not only with domestic EPD regulations 
but also with forthcoming international standards such as ISO 14000


22.4	   Contents

· Environmental Policy 
 Outlines UHDG  commitment to the environment and the fundamental 
philosophies at the core of  its daily operations 
 
· Organization and Personnel 
 Explains the organization/hierarchy of key environmental positions, 
and the criteria of the individuals filling these positions
 
· Register of Regulations  
 Summarizes all regulations and guidelines followed by the EMS
 
· Register of Interested Parties  
 Lists all organizations/individuals that are affected by plant 
operations
 
 
· Environmental Effects Evaluation 
 An examination, assessment, and compilation of all direct, indirect, 
beneficial and adverse impingements of the environment on UHDG 
operations  
 
· Environmental Objectives and Targets 
 Outlines trigger, action and target levels for each area of 
environmental concern within the facility
 
· Environmental Management Program 
 Details methods and mitigation measures required in order to meet 
environmental objectives
 
· Environmental Management Manual 
 Includes legislation detailing the formation of an environmental 
manual which will summarize the recommended environmental 
mitigation measures and guidelines to be communicated to all 
employees
 
· Operations Control  
 Details the methods by which activities affecting the environment are 
to be carried out
 
· Environmental Management Records 
 Explains the system by which environmental records are to be kept
 
· Environmental Management Audits 
 Details auditing guidelines and procedures
 
· Environmental Management Reviews 
	Details EMS review guidelines


22.5	Conclusion

· This EMS details the means by which UHDG will be able to operate 
and manage its facility operations in an environmentally responsible 
and sustainable fashion
 
· Through the implementation of this EMS, UHDG will be able to 
achieve compliance with environmental legislation, thereby reducing 
the risk and financial burden of future non-compliance incidents 



23.	Case Study 4
	Environmental Management System for Kuen Fung Lard 
	Rendering Works


23.1	Classification

	Environmental Management System (EMS) for the project operations


23.2	Background

Incidents of air emission non-compliance have resulted in Kuen Fung Lard 
Rendering Works seeking a comprehensive environmental management system to 
deal with environmental impacts resulting from current operations; changes in 
factory procedures, as suggested by the EMS, should enable compliance with all 
relevant environmental legislation and a reduction in harmful emissions and 
dangerous working conditions at the plant


23.3	Contents

· The EMS adopts an overall management approach to the operations at 
Kuen Fung Lard Rendering Works and outlines the methodology by 
which environmental issues at the plant should be tackled
 
· A major concern of the EMS involves air emissions of the plant 
through an air impact assessment; options for air pollution mitigation 
measures have been evaluated in light of the physical constraints and 
economic costs on the plant
 
· Proper wastewater treatment and disposal concerns and procedures 
are suggested as are procedures for dealing with solid waste, and 
noise problems
 
· An organizational structure is suggested for the Lard Rendering 
Works with the "green manager" being the key personnel in the 
organizational structure for the successful implementation of the EMS
 

23.4	Conclusion

· By adhering to the suggested mitigation measures for the 
environmental impacts and by maintaining high environmental 
objectives and targets, the Kuen Fung Lard Rendering Works will be 
able to operate successfully and in an environmentally friendly fashion
 
· A proactive approach towards environmental issues has been 
emphasized within the organizational structure of the plant such that 
high standards of environmental quality and sustainable development 
are promoted openly
 


24.	Case Study 5	
	Environmental Management Plan for Hong Kong Air Cargo 
Terminals Limited (HACTL) Operations at Chek Lap Kok



24.1	Classification

	Environmental Management Plan (EMP) for Construction Phase Operations of 
HACTL at Chek Lap Kok airport, Hong Kong


24.2	Background

EMP required by Airport Authority for both construction and operations Phase of 
HACTL; this EMP covers the first phase of construction


24.3	Objective

· To identify and minimize the environmental effects associated with 
HACTL construction
 
· To ensure that construction is managed in an environmentally 
responsible manner
 
· To provide HACTL with monitoring and auditing requirements for 
both phases
 
· To comply with Airport Authority guidelines and to conform with 
forthcoming ISO 14000 standards


24.4	Contents

· Concentrates on the identification of all environmental effects 
associated with the construction phase of infrastructure at Chek Lap 
Kok, with a focus on air quality, noise emissions, water quality, solid 
waste, and chemical and hazardous materials and associated 
mitigation measures
 
· Identifies environmental objectives and targets and establishes trigger, 
action and target levels identified by the Airport Authority which 
should not be breached during HACTL's construction phase
 
· Establishes construction monitoring and on-site controls and 
corrective action in the case of non-compliance
 
· Identifies the need for regular records, audits and reviews in order to 
document and demonstrate compliance with the EMP and the extent 
to which objectives and targets are being met
 
 

24.5	Conclusion

· This EMP suggests ways by which HACTL may be able to comply 
with all Airport Authority regulations during construction phase 
activities at Chek Lap Kok
 
· The EMP includes details on how to review the continuing suitability 
of the EMP, its effectiveness and any possibilities for modification
 
· ECEL is currently preparing the EMS for HACTL at Chek Lap Kok 
which would be extended to serve Kai Tak's operation



25.	Case Study 6
	Environmental Management System (EMS) and Environmental 
Impact Assessment (EIA) for Sheung Shui Slaughterhouse



25.1	Classification
	
	Environmental Impact Assessment and Environmental Management System for 
the proposed project of Sheung Shui Slaughterhouse


25.2	Background

· A proposal for the new slaughterhouse has remained at the planning 
stage for the past 18 years until ECEL developed the EIA and the 
Legislature approved finance for the construction phase
 
· The proposed slaughterhouse is designed to have a daily slaughtering 
capacity of 5,000 pigs and 400 cattle; it will consist of specific blocks 
allocated to the various activities (i.e., unloading, lairages, by-product 
plant, slaughter halls, meat dispatch area, administration block and 
wastewater treatment plant).
 
· The study site for the proposed project lies within the River Indus 
drainage basin, a low lying area adjacent to an existing sewage 
treatment works  

  
25.3	Objective

	The study aims to minimize the residual environmental impacts arising from the  
slaughterhouse by devising appropriate, sound and effective mitigation measures 
for project  construction and operations


25.4	Contents

	Environmental Impact Assessment

· The EIA study provides specific information on the individual and 
cumulative potential environmental impacts resulting from the 
slaughterhouse; details on appropriate mitigation measures have also 
been recommended
 
· Baseline monitoring was conducted for  the existing environment, 
including air, noise, and water conditions; the cumulative effects of 
the slaughterhouse's construction and operation were studied in 
relation to identified "sensitive receivers" (including nearby villages)
 
· The various aspects of environmental concerns were identified, with 
special emphasis on the most significant impacts during the 
construction and operational phases
 
· Mitigation measures have been suggested in order to minimize 
adverse effects on the environment, i.e. wastewater high in organic 
compounds and nutrients requires special treatment and several 
options were considered; the study recommended a Sequential  Batch 
Reactor technology  to ensure that the local water quality would not be 
affected
 
· The implications in adopting the available technology  for mitigation 
measures are evaluated in the study
 
· Studies of cost breakdowns are made before recommending the 
preferred mitigation technology
 


	Environmental Management System

· The EMS aims to be an extension of operation management; it 
provides the framework for the slaughterhouse to be environmentally 
friendly and acceptable to interested parties
 
· Mitigation measures and action plans to comply with the 
environmental objectives are detailed 
 
· Suggested environmental monitoring and audit requirements will 
ensure that high levels of  environmental performance are maintained 
and improved on a continual basis 


25.5	Benefits

· Projects that cause nuisance to the environment and to the community 
are less likely to be supported by all interested parties, especially 
given the increasing level of environmental consciousness of the 
public
 
· The EIA and EMS for Sheung Shui Slaughterhouse represent 
systematic approaches to the implementation of a project which will 
be developed without creating detrimental environmental 
effectswhere detrimental effects
 
· Any environmental impacts associated with the project will be 
minimized effectively through the suggested mitigation measures


25.6	Conclusion

· Without the EIA and EMS, developed by ECEL for Sheung Shui 
Slaughterhouse,  potential environmental nuisances during the 
construction and operation phase will not be mitigated (see Table 1a & 
1b) 
 
· The creation of pollution is not only environmentally unacceptable, 
but is also in direct conflict with the goal of sustainable development




Table 1a: Summary of Environmental Concerns and Recommended Mitigation Measures for  
the Construction Phase

Environmental 
Consideration
Potential Environmental 
Impact
Recommended Mitigation 
Measures

Construction Phase





Air
Fugitive dust


Gaseous emissions
Paving/gravelling and regular 
watering, cleaning and maintenance 
of vehicles and equipment.
Few vehicles and no temporary 
generators.


Noise

Piling, equipment, and 
machinery noise
Silencers on equipment, no parallel 
activities, use of portable sound 
barriers, route planning, no 
temporary generators.


Water

Contamination of surrounding 
watercourse
No untreated run-off, re-use for dust 
suppression, sediment and grease 
traps, spillage clean-up action plan, 
impervious ground for chemical use.


Waste
Solid and chemical waste 
disposal
Separation and recycling, chemical 
wastes handled and disposed of 
appropriately.


Visual Impact

Unsightly
Decorated hoardings and covered 
walkways, ordered site, early 
landscape planting.



Table 1b: Summary of Environmental Concerns and Recommended Mitigation Measures          
for the Operation Phase

Environmental 
Consideration
Potential Environmental 
Impact
Recommended Mitigation Measures

Operation Phase




Emissions


Air


On-site Odor
State of the art odor reducing technologies 
i.e. odor neutralizing agent, wet scrubbers, 
ozone; high stack dispersion; negative 
pressure in buildings so no leakage; pigs 
from China cleaned on arrival. 


Off-site Odor
Livestock and trucks washed before transit 
to Tsuen Wan, containerized waste to 
landfill.


Animals and plant activity
Acoustically treated panels and silencers in 
the lairage.

Noise
Traffic noise
Sound barrier (700m long, 3m high) along 
Po Wan Road, re-surface road.


Meat dispatch area, train 
noise
Sound barriers erected along the north, west 
and south-east of site boundary.


Water

Contaminated effluent 
discharge
Specifically designed, fully automatic, 
underground wastewater treatment plant, 
reduce and re-use practice, effective 
internal drainage network


Waste

Solid and chemical waste 
disposal
Separation and recycling, chemical wastes 
handled and disposed of appropriately, 
by-product plant to reduce/recycle, sludge 
used as soil conditioner on farmland, 
minimum wastes to landfill.

Impact on Land Use
Incompatibility with other 
land uses
Present surrounding land use (agriculture 
and ponds) maintained through "buffer 
zone", no drainage impact


Visual Impact

Unsightly
Landscaping and site periphery planting, 
additional screen planting, sensitive color 
schemes and choice of building materials.