Siemens has set the goal of introducing and maintaining environmental management systems (EMS) based on the international standard ISO 14001 in environmentally relevant organizational units. On the basis of environmental protection and business requirements, the Divisions decide which organizational units must set up a certifiable environmental management system and whether it will be certified externally. Over the next few years, the requirements of the energy management standard ISO 50001 will also be integrated systematically in the environmental management systems at particularly relevant locations.
The environmental management systems in our Company Units are part of the integrated Environment, Health and Safety management system (EHS management system).
All units are obligated to have their environmental management system assessed by internally or externally recognized auditors, confirming the required level of maturity for successful certification.
A central element of any environmental management system is the identification of significant environmental aspects. These serve as the foundation when defining environmentally relevant processes and are the basis for monitoring environmental performance and environmental impact. They are used in environmental reporting and reflected in the definition of goals and programs.
The reasons leading to the identification of significant environmental aspects can be legal requirements, resource consumption and the environmental impact of emissions, or even key stakeholder demands (such as those of customers or investors). Siemens Environmental Protection Offices identify the aspects that have worldwide significance for Siemens, and regularly update the selection. The range of Siemens’ activities is so varied that the aspects are individually supplemented at the local level in the environmental management systems there.
2011-Mar-22 | Author