An Environmental Management System (EMS) is a structured approach to addressing an organization's environmental performance and it provides a process for continuously improving this performance over time. ISO 14001 is the world’s most recognized EMS framework. Some of the key components of the Tembec ISO 14001 registered EMS are;
- An environmental policy that states Tembec’s broad environmental commitments,
- Identification of environmental aspects and impacts as well as a comprehensive environmental impact assessment,
- Environmental objectives and management programs (action plans) to meet those objectives,
- A listing of all the legal requirements that Tembec must comply with as well as other voluntary standards and codes of practice that Tembec has agreed to abide by,
- Provision of adequate environmental training of all employees and contractors,
- Documentation of the management structure and people’s responsibilities,
- Internal and external environmental communication strategies,
- Document control to ensure that all procedures are up-to-date and readily available,
- Operational controls to ensure impacts to the environment are minimized or eliminated,
- Emergency preparedness/response procedures,
- Monitoring/measurement protocols to verify environmental performance,
- Nonconformance/corrective actions as another mechanism to ensure environmental performance standards are being met as well as all legal requirements are being met,
- Records to demonstrate conformance to the ISO 14001 standard and regulatory requirements,
- Regular environmental audits, and
- An annual review of performance by senior management to ensure that the organization continually improves.
In summary an EMS is a “plan, do, check, and act” process built around the organization’s environmental policy.
In January 2001, Tembec’ Forest Resource Management (FRM) group and the Pine Falls Mill successfully registered their EMS to the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), Environmental Management System Standard (14001). Annual audits are conducted by an independent ISO 14001-accredited auditing firm to confirm Tembec’s compliance with the ISO 14001 standard.
The EMS is an integral component of a larger Tembec initiative called the
Forever Green Environmental Management Program. Forever Green provides a pathway for Tembec to achieve environmental performance and social responsibility.
The following provides links to important components of the Tembec Environmental Management System:
Tembec “Taking Our Environmental Responsibilities Beyond The
Boardroom”
Tembec Environmental Policy
Tembec’s Forever Green
FRM Departmental Operating Procedures (DOP’s)
Forest Resource Management Field Operation Work Instructions in:
