The environment has become a major factor in corporate decision making. Environmental issues are more and more associated with virtually all aspects of an organisation's management, from financing to production, from marketing to corporate reporting. In this scenario, it is all the more important to have a systematic and integrated approach to questions such as: How to manage environmental issues throughout the company's activities? How to consistently and visibly improve a company's environmental performance?

UNEP, the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and the International Federation of Consulting Engineers (FIDIC) continue to promote the EMS Training Resource Kit:

UNEP / FIDIC / ICC
Environmental Management System Training Resource Kit

The Kit is a practical guide to environmental management systems (EMS) designed as a "train the trainer" tool to give trainers and company managers the elements necessary to conduct courses in EMS for companies. It can very well be used by all those interested in understanding EMS and implementing it in their organisation.

In the latest edition of the kit, special attention is given to the structure and elements of an EMS which are in common with the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) EMS Standard: the ISO 14001. However, the kit goes beyond the standard and gives also instructions on how to report about a company's environmental performance and how to integrate EMS with other systems such as Health and Safety and Chemicals Management.

The kit is available in 15 languages.

Two more documents complement the EMS Kit and make it a perfect tool for EMS practical implementation and ISO 14001 registration:

1. UNEP/ICC/FIDIC Environmental Management System Handbook
   
2. The Guide to ISO 14001 for Certification / Registration

UNEP/ICC/FIDIC
Environmental Management System Handbook

The EMS Handbook is intended to be used by participants to the seminars organised using the EMS Training Resource Kit.

The Handbook can assist seminars' participants to follow the lessons in a very simple and visual way. After the seminar, the Handbook provides them with the necessary instructions for the practical implementation of an EMS.

The Handbook's central feature is a step by step check list followed by more detailed information on the purpose and objectives of each step and by a series of fact sheets on global environmental issues for rapid consultation.

As the EMS Kit, the Handbook can be used as a stand alone guide or as a training resource. Its best use is however in connection with the Kit.


The Guide to ISO 14001 for Certification / Registration

The Guide is intended for organisations that aim at developing their EMS to a level that will enable certification. The Guide provides description of the requirements of ISO 14001, discussion on the necessary documents and records, as well as guidance on the various requirements for certification. In addition, the guide illustrates the philosophy upon which ISO 14001 is based and describes the Eco-management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) of the European Union. The core of the Guide is the illustration of the requirements of ISO 14001 in a user friendly manner. For instance, the Guide differentiates between the documents and records which are required for certification and those which are simply optional.

UNEP, FIDIC and ICC, trust that these three documents can help organisations and professionals understanding, implementing and demonstrating sound environmental performance thus contributing to the achievement of responsible entrepreneurship.

Order Information
The three documents are available in English:

• in hard copy
  
• CD Rom
  
• Web format

from Earthprint, UNEP's online bookstore or the FIDIC website.