Q.     What is an EMS?

A.     It is a management system intended to improve the environmental performance of an organisation through the establishment of an environmental policy, the identification of environmental aspects and impacts arising from an organisations past, present and future activities, developing organisation structures, procedures and processes, the identification of and compliance with legal requirements, and the establishment, monitoring and review  of environmental improvement programmes.

Q.     What is ISO 14001?

A.     An international environmental standard for implementing and accrediting an EMS. The standard specifies the features and requirements necessary to help organisations systematically identify, evaluate, manage and improve the environmental impacts of their activities, products and services.

Q.     What is EMAS?

A.     EMAS (Eco Management and Audit Scheme) is a voluntary EU wide scheme (Regulation) which requires participating organisations to produce a public statement about their environmental performance. The scheme includes ISO 14001 as the requirement for EMS component. 

Q.     What is BS 8555

A.     A British Standard which breaks down the implementation of ISO 14001 into 6 stages.

Q.     What is Project Acorn?

A.     The Acorn Inspection Scheme has been developed by the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA) to enable organisations to gain accredited inspection and accreditation for their achievements at each step as they work towards ISO 14001/EMAS using BS 8555.

Q.     What is Sustainable Development?

A.     Development that meets the need of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. It is about driving down resource use and waste and working towards, social, economic and environmental wellbeing.

Q.     What is Resource Efficiency?

A.     The systematic reduction at source of all forms of waste (materials, resources, energy, effort, process and production costs) to conserve resources – a methodical approach to identifying cost and reducing waste.

Q.     What is an SME?

A.     A small or medium sized enterprise employing less than 250 people.

Q.    What is WEEE?

A.     WEEE is Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment.

Q.    What is a Carbon Footprint?

A.    Carbon Footprint is a measure of the impact human activities have on the environment in terms of the amount of green house gases produced, measured in units of carbon dioxide.