What are Environmental Aspects and Impacts?
The International Standard for environmental management systems provides the explanation below for environmental aspects and impacts.
Environmental aspects: can be described as element(s) of an organization’s activities or products or services that interacts (or can interact) with the environment.
Environmental impacts: refer to changes to the environment, whether adverse or beneficial, wholly or partially, resulting from environmental aspects.
All of an organization’s activities should be considered when identifying actual and potential aspects and impacts, with consideration to:
- Past environmental incidents.
- Emissions to air.
- Water usage and discharges to surface water groundwater and sewers.
- Land contamination caused by spillages.
- The production, re-use, recycling and disposal of controlled and special wastes.
- The storage and management of materials.
- Activities upon local ecology of operations, sites and premises.
- Environmental noise.
- Natural resources.
- Energy use and management thereof.
- Use of transport and vehicles.
- Legal issues and other regulatory requirements.
- Raw materials and packaging.
- Office activities.
- Landscaping and infrastructure.
- Other relevant issues such as odors, particulates, lighting and pests.
In addition, all business activities should be assessed to ensure that any changes to processes and operations do not result in adverse significant environmental impacts.
About this Environmental Aspects and Impacts Control Guideline
This 6-page aspects and impacts control guideline can be used to identify the environmental aspects and their impacts that pertain to your business operations, legal obligations and customer requirements.
The guideline can identify the environmental aspects and their subsequent impacts that pertain to your business operations, legal obligations and any customer requirements. For each identified aspect, the environmental impacts, operating conditions and perceived significance can be summarized to provide a list of the necessary controls.
Once completed, you would have a comprehensive record of control measures to limit potential impacts and risks that may affect your business or your environmental management system’s conformity. The guidelines already have some great examples of environmental controls in place too.
Availability and Use of this Aspects and Impacts Control Guideline
- This environmental control guideline template is accessible to you right now by clicking the ‘Checkout for Free Now’ button.
- This document and it will be delivered to you in fully editable Microsoft Word format for immediate and full use in your business.
- There are no subscriptions, contracts or ongoing costs.