Concern for the environment has played a key role in transforming organisations. As environmental challenges such as climate change, loss of biodiversity and scarcity of natural resources increase, it has become more evident for organisations to recognise the need to act in a more responsible manner.
This environmental concern has driven significant changes in business practices. But to do so, it is first necessary to identify which are the most significant environmental aspects and impacts caused by the activities of organisations.
What are environmental aspects and impacts?
An environmental aspect refers to any element of an organisation’s activities, products or services that may interact with the environment. It can be related to the use of natural resources, emission of pollutants, generation of waste, energy consumption, among others.
An environmental impact is the consequence or effect that environmental aspects have on the environment. It is the result of the interaction between the organisation’s activity and the environment, which can be positive or negative.
For simplicity, an environmental aspect is considered to be “what the organisation does” and an environmental impact is considered to be “what happens in the environment as a result of a certain action”. As an example, energy consumption is an environmental aspect common to all organisations that can generate a significant impact on the environment, especially if the energy comes from fossil fuels (e.g. oil and its derivatives, coal and natural gas). In this sense, the use of energy from fossil fuels can contribute to greenhouse gas emissions and global warming.
Once these concepts are understood, it is essential to understand how to proceed with the identification and assessment of environmental aspects and impacts.
In order for organisations to be able to identify and assess their environmental aspects and impacts effectively, it is considered necessary to involve all departments and people in the organisation, as all activities carried out by the organisation generate environmental impacts. Hence, by involving all areas of the organisation, valuable inputs can be generated for this process and raise the environmental awareness of employees.
Methodologies for environmental impact assessment
There are several methodologies for environmental impact assessment, each with their own approaches and approaches. However, one of the simplest and most widely used ways is to assess impacts based on a choice of criteria such as likelihood and severity. To do this, the organisation should carry out the following steps:
Gather information on activities, processes, products and services, to identify all aspects that may interact significantly with the environment;
Identify the environmental impacts, i.e. analyse the effects of the identified aspects on the environment;
Assess the environmental impacts associated with the respective aspects identified and prioritise the most critical ones;
Establish impact mitigation measures, i.e. identify specific actions to reduce or eliminate the environmental impacts.
After these steps, it is essential to implement the defined mitigation measures, monitor them, evaluate their effectiveness and document this entire process, from the identification of aspects to the monitoring results.
ISO 14001:2015 standard
One of the requirements of ISO 14001:2015 – Environmental Management System covers the process of assessing environmental aspects and impacts, which is a crucial step in identifying potential risks and opportunities and comprises the identification and characterisation of activities, products and services that may interact with the environment (environmental aspects) and subsequent analysis of the consequences (environmental impacts).
The implementation of ISO 14001:2015 not only ensures the need to define measures to reduce the environmental impacts caused by the organisation, but also improves the environmental performance of processes and services, ensuring compliance with environmental legislation, among other benefits that can be cited.
Benefits of identifying and assessing environmental aspects and impacts in organisations
As benefits of the process of assessing environmental aspects and impacts, we can highlight:
Reduction of damage to the environment;
Optimisation of resources and cost reduction;
Strengthening of the institutional image. The organisation demonstrates that it is responsible and aware, able to take concrete measures to protect natural resources and minimise environmental damage;
It highlights the organisation’s concern for sustainability, which is valued by customers, partners and other stakeholders. This stance can also open up new business opportunities by attracting consumers who are looking for products and services aligned with sustainability principles.
By identifying and understanding the environmental aspects related to the organisation’s activities, it becomes possible to develop specific strategies and actions to mitigate environmental impacts, such as adopting cleaner technologies, optimising production processes, reducing the consumption of natural resources and implementing sustainable practices.
These benefits not only contribute to preserving the environment, but also to building a more sustainable future for organisations and society as a whole.
