There are a number of Environmental Management Systems (EMS) and sustainable business certifications available today. Both EMS and certification programs incorporate elements that include a continual cycle of planning, implementing, reviewing and improving the processes and actions that an organization undertakes to meet its business and environmental goals.
These types of programs can result in both business and environmental benefits that include:
Improving environmental performance
Enhancing compliance
Preventing pollution and conserving resources
Reducing/mitigating risks
Attracting new customers and markets (retaining access to customers and markets with EMS requirements)
Increasing efficiency
Reducing costs
Enhancing employee morale and possibly enhancing recruitment efforts
Enhancing image with public, regulators, lenders, investors
Achieving/improving employee awareness of environmental issues and responsibilities
Qualifying for recognition/incentive programs such as the EPA Performance Track Program
There are a number of programs and certification systems including those from the EPA and ISO, amongst numerous others, as well as an increasing number of sustainability analytic tools. Overall the essence of these programs and analytical tools is quite basic: what is measured can be managed and improved.
We work with clients to develop a report/roadmap to identify the baseline, establish metrics, determine data to be collected and identify additional data that may need to be tracked in order to pursue the most appropriate certification(s) and which sustainability analytical tools will be the best fit for your organization. Our deep experience covers most any market sector, from government to lodging and from utility to manufacturing.
