Benefits of ems implementation

􀁸 integration;

􀁸 better systems;

􀁸 systematic approach;

􀁸 lower costs and less regulation;

􀁸 formalizes good environmental management;

􀁸 new business opportunities;

􀁸 credibility;

􀁸 priority-setting;

􀁸 increases staff awareness;

􀁸 attracting investment;

􀁸 employee morale and team building;

􀁸 customer confidence

􀁸 harnesses innovation,

􀁸 competitive advantage.

􀁸 increases company profile;

􀁸 improved relations with customers, community, regulators and the parent company.

13. Please, highlight the challenges of ISO 14001 certification in Kazakhstan and step to overcome these challenges.

Challenges of iso 14001 certification in Kazakhstan

• Preparation for the environmental certification as well as for the certification of quality systems is much more efficient and cheaper to be realized by the company itself. Holders of certificate of the auditor may participate in the audits in the certification of Kazakh companies on the international ISO 14000, conducted so far only foreign certification authorities (because Kazakhstan has not been accepted in the IQNet) and therefore very expensive.

• It is expected that the standard registration process will take anywhere from 12 to 18 months, about the same time as the company is implementing an environmental management system.

Steps to overcome the challenges

• Promotion of ISO 14000, including through the publication of the Kazakh/Russian-language text of standards;

• Promotion of the basic principles of an environmental audit of industrial enterprises;

• Training of auditors;

• Development of the regulatory framework for environmental auditing;

• Introduction of a national system of environmental certification and labeling of products as well as a first step - the formal recognition of the specific eco-labeling of imported products

14. Please, describe more detailed the key elements of EMAS

Performance: EMAS is a voluntary environmental management scheme based on a harmonized scheme throughout the European Union with the objective to improve the environmental performance of organisations by committing themselves to evaluate and reduce their environmental impact.

Transparency: Public information on an organization’s environmental performance is an important aspect of the scheme’s objective. It is achieved externally through the environmental statement, which provides information to the public on the environmental impact and performance of that organization, and within the organization through the active involvement of employees in the implementation of the scheme. The EMAS logo which can be displayed on letterheads, environmental statements, and adverts for products, activities and services is an attractive visual tool to demonstrate an organization’s commitment to improving its environmental performance and indicates the reliability of the information provided.

Credibility: The external and independent nature of the EMAS registration and verification process (competent bodies, accreditation bodies and verifiers under the control of the EU Member States) ensures the public credibility and reliability of the scheme including the environmental management system and the organisation’s information to the public (environmental statement).