FAQ on the Environmental Management System

What are the main careers in the environmental sector?

The National Observatory of Jobs and Occupations in the Green Economy (Onemev) lists more than 200 “green” occupations. The main sectors are energy and water production and distribution (43%) and sanitation and waste treatment (36%). Positions in demand: site managers, waste management consultants, waste treatment technicians, water operations technicians, hydrogeologists, hydraulic engineers, climate engineering technicians, renewable energy development officers…

But environmental issues are also a concern for companies that do not operate in the eco-industry sector. In other words, every company! To address this, they rely on in-house QSE (Quality, Safety, Environment) specialists. An environmental manager is responsible for minimizing the impact of the company’s activities on the environment, while preserving their innovative nature and profitability. They ensure compliance with regulations and propose solutions to limit the environmental impact of equipment, procedures, transportation, and the handling of materials and waste. To do this, they must have a thorough understanding of the ISO 14001 standard. The environmental manager may be assisted by environmental engineers (master’s degree), environmental project managers specializing in a specific field (thermal, waste, greenhouse gases, etc.), and environmental technicians (bachelor’s degree).

Environmental management also involves auditing. Environmental auditors conduct audits either within the company where they work (internal audits) or on behalf of third-party certification bodies, such as AFNOR Certification. The purpose of these audits is to obtain or renew a management system certification (ISO 14001), a product or service certification (NF Environment, European Ecolabel), an assessment (AFAQ Biodiversity, AFAQ Eco-design, AFAQ Circular Economy), or the Organic Agriculture label.

Standards: What does the Environmental Code say about them?

The word “standard” and its derivatives appear more than 300 times in the Environmental Code, which compiles the legal texts pertaining to environmental law. However, the term is never accompanied by the adjective “voluntary.” And for good reason.

Whether they are French (NF), European (EN), or international (ISO), voluntary standards should not be confused with regulations. In this context, the term “standard” refers to a mandatory environmental measure, such as the requirement that automobile manufacturers not exceed the limit values for pollutant emissions in exhaust gases, for example (emissions standards). Nevertheless, voluntary standards provide a means of meeting the objectives set by regulations. In fact, a decree or European regulation may specifically cite a standard as a means of fulfilling an obligation. In such cases, compliance with the standard is considered to constitute a presumption of regulatory compliance.

Unlike regulatory standards, voluntary standards are developed by consensus among all stakeholders (businesses, trade associations, consumer groups, government agencies, etc.). When applied to environmental issues, they help these parties develop common protocols for accounting for greenhouse gas emissions, implementing an environmental management system, and determining the requirements for an eco-label. They can also serve as the basis for certification, which demonstrates an organization’s commitment to applying the standard, while remaining optional.

How can you identify and reduce your environmental impact?

Every product has an impact on the environment. Even the greenest ones. Their production always requires raw materials, energy, natural resources, packaging, transportation, and labor—including workers who commute and need to eat in order to make them. But we can limit this environmental impact by choosing products that are the least harmful to the planet, while offering the same level of quality and functionality.

The first step involves analyzing the environmental situation of the company or community based on key indicators of impacts on air, water, and natural resources, including: greenhouse gases, ozone, emissions of toxic pollutants, water consumption, eutrophication, water pollution, primary energy consumption, and non-renewable raw materials…

The results identify the levers for limiting environmental impacts and, as a first step, for rethinking supply chains, industrial processes, waste management, energy choices, employee training, and more. This can extend to eco-design, which encourages considering more sustainable manufacturing and usage processes right from the product design phase—for example, by limiting the use of non-renewable raw materials.

To improve efficiency, a company, local government, or institution is strongly encouraged to implement an environmental management system (EMS) based on the ISO 14001 standard. By establishing the principle of continuous improvement, this process greatly facilitates the identification, monitoring, and reduction of environmental impacts.

What is the definition of environmental management?

Environmental management refers to the organizational framework established within a company or other economic entity to identify, monitor, and reduce over time the environmental impacts resulting from the production of goods and services. As with quality (QMS) or energy (EnMS), this is referred to as an environmental management system (EMS). It is led by a designated individual within the organization who is a specialist in the QSE field and trained specifically in ISO 14001, which provides guidelines for establishing an effective EMS.

Its role is to engage every part of the company in the commitment to reduce environmental impacts, using the right metrics: from production to communications, including marketing and all levels of the workforce. No step in the process is overlooked, including seemingly peripheral services such as the company cafeteria or restrooms… An EMS always aims for continuous improvement in the company’s environmental performance by reducing the impacts associated with its operations (raw materials, water, energy, waste), which therefore requires setting regular check-ins to assess progress.

When implemented effectively, an environmental management system can lead to ISO 14001 certification, thereby recognizing the efforts made.

What is ISO 14001?

ISO 14001 defines the requirements necessary for establishing an effective environmental management system (EMS). This voluntary standard is intended for all organizations, regardless of their size or field of activity. All sectors are covered: industry (food processing, metallurgy, textiles, mechanical engineering, chemicals, etc.) as well as the medical, social, and administrative sectors. You can receive training in this area through AFNOR Compétences.

It follows the four steps of the PDCA cycle (Plan, Do, Check, Act) in a continuous loop to ensure ongoing improvement. Revised in 2015, ISO 14001 now incorporates the HLS (High Level Structure), which provides a common framework for all management system standards, thereby facilitating the implementation of integrated management systems (with ISO 9001 for quality, for example).

The voluntary ISO 14001 standard can lead to certification following an internal audit or one conducted by an independent body. This process demonstrates the company’s environmental responsibility to its customers and partners while strengthening the commitment of management and employees. ISO 14001 certification also provides a significant competitive and financial advantage, as evidenced by the AFNOR Certification study on feedback from ISO 14001-certified organizations (PDF, 2018).

How can you tell if a product or service is environmentally friendly?

It is not always easy to determine a product’s environmental quality. Consumers may be swayed by claims or logos that turn out to be misleading, as they are simply based on self-declaration. Packaging labeled “100% recyclable” often refers only to the container, not the contents, which may contain substances harmful to the environment.

To navigate these options, you should carefully read the information on the packaging (text, logo, pictogram) and the label. Some of this information is required by law. For example, a dishwasher, a car, or an apartment must display its energy efficiency rating using a letter grade (A, B, C, D, E…). Similarly, the label on a DIY product intended for indoor use—such as insulation, paint, varnish, or adhesives—must indicate its levels of air pollutant emissions, such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

In the food industry, the list of ingredients is also revealing: it specifically lists the various additives—such as colorings, flavor enhancers, and thickeners—that are included in the recipe. However, one must still be able to recognize them and assess their impact on health and the environment.

At the same time, the company marketing the product or service may choose to highlight its environmental benefits using a label or certification granted following a third-party audit. Displaying the logo indicates that the company complies with specific standards, such as the Organic Farming label, the NF Environment label, or the European Ecolabel. Finally, the company may opt to use the environmental labeling required by law.

What are eco-labels?

Whether private (Ecocert, PEFC, etc.) or public (AB Label, Eurofeuille, NF Environnement), green labels guarantee high-quality products that meet strict environmental criteria, which are set out in a specification and regularly monitored. They are awarded following a certification audit conducted, upon request, by an independent body accredited by Cofrac, such as AFNOR Certification.

AFNOR Certification offers the Organic Agriculture label (for producers, processors, distributors, and importers of organic products), the NF Environment label, and the European Ecolabel, recognizable by its small flower symbol.

To make it easier for consumers to make choices, a new voluntary environmental labeling system called “Environmental Impact” is currently being rolled out. The rating assigned (from A to E, with A being the highest score) summarizes the product’s main environmental impacts, calculated over its entire life cycle using a standardized methodology.

On its website, ADEME lists the top 100 environmental labels (“Excellent Choice” and “Very Good Choice”) for 12 categories of everyday products.

What is a life cycle assessment? What methods are used to conduct one?

The life cycle assessment (LCA) of a product, service, company, or process is a standardized method (ISO 14040 and ISO 14044) that goes beyond a simple carbon footprint calculation. An LCA measures greenhouse gas emissions at various stages of a product’s or service’s life cycle. When applied to newspaper production, for example, a carbon footprint does not account for the origin of the paper or the quality of the inks—criteria that are nonetheless crucial in determining whether the product is environmentally friendly. LCA, on the other hand, tracks all incoming and outgoing material and energy flows at every stage of a product’s life cycle: raw material extraction, manufacturing, distribution, use, and end-of-life.

Life cycle analysis helps professionals make informed decisions. Is it better for the environment to use PEFC- or FSC-certified paper, or recycled paper? Should one choose a particular process, use vegetable-based inks, and if so, which ones? It is through an understanding of the environmental impacts of their choices and close collaboration with paper manufacturers and printers that publishers can produce newspapers with a lower environmental footprint.

What is eco-design? How can you incorporate it into your business?

Eco-design involves minimizing a product’s environmental impact starting from the design phase, in order to reduce the impact of subsequent phases (transportation, distribution, use, and end-of-life). It integrates environmental protection into the design of a good or service from the very beginning. Objective: to optimize the use of resources (energy, water, raw materials) and limit the ecological footprint by reducing pollution, nuisances, and the amount of waste. This involves, for example, choosing single-material products, as multi-material products complicate the sorting and recycling process once the product has been used.

Eco-design is a process of balancing economic costs against environmental costs, as well as between different environmental impacts. For example, improving a building’s insulation reduces its energy consumption during use. However, this requires more materials and energy to extract them. Taking a life-cycle perspective therefore helps determine whether the resulting effect is truly positive or negative.

The process can be validated through an AFAQ Ecodesign assessment to demonstrate the validity of the company’s commitment.

What is the purpose of environmental certification processes?

Environmental certifications validated by an independent and duly accredited body offer several advantages. For the producer or service provider, certification serves as proof of their genuine commitment to the planet, backed by a seal of objectivity and impartiality, going beyond mere compliance with national and international regulations. Unlike a self-declaration, a third-party certifier verifies on-site that the chosen standard or set of specifications is being properly applied.

The certification process boosts motivation among staff and management. It facilitates innovation while enabling savings in water consumption, raw materials, energy, waste recycling, and industrial processes. Certification also provides a competitive advantage that should be highlighted, particularly in the context of competitive bidding, where it is sometimes a prerequisite. Finally, it enhances the company’s image among stakeholders, public authorities, and consumers (through certifications).

Certification requires undergoing an audit and committing to continuous improvement. It is typically valid for three years and requires follow-up audits. In the field of environmental management, the best-known certification is ISO 14001, which is based on the voluntary standard of the same name.

What is greenwashing, and how can you spot it?

Greenwashing is a marketing tactic and communication ploy that gives a company a “green” image even though its claims are far from reality. A product is presented as entirely eco-friendly when only one of its components is, or the visual imagery contradicts reality (for example, a processed food product set against a backdrop of lush greenery). Similarly, when misused, offsetting techniques (carbon offsetting, biodiversity offsetting) can play into the hands of greenwashing, as they can give the impression that the company is “buying” a clear conscience by investing in ecological projects outside its own sphere of influence, while doing nothing within it.

Such a communication strategy can be very risky, as being accused of greenwashing by NGOs or consumers can permanently tarnish a company’s image, especially on social media. By sowing confusion, greenwashing undermines the awareness-raising efforts of organizations and public authorities to encourage the consumption of more environmentally friendly products.

Because it involves the involvement of an impartial and objective third-party organization, certification serves as a safeguard against greenwashing—provided it is maintained over time and renewed regularly. Finally, it is worth noting that ADEME has published an anti-greenwashing guide for businesses.

What is biodiversity? How can we account for its impacts?

Biodiversity encompasses all interactions among living organisms, as well as their interactions with their physical and chemical environment. The term refers to the diversity of the living world at all levels: diversity of habitats (ecosystems), species diversity, and genetic diversity within a single species. All of these levels are themselves interdependent.

The threats to biodiversity caused by human activities (pollution, climate change, etc.) have accelerated in recent decades. We are witnessing an alarming decline in the populations of insects, birds, pollinators, and other species—to the point that scientists fear a sixth mass extinction.

Long neglected, biodiversity conservation is beginning to be taken into account by economic actors through the ERC approach: avoid, reduce, and offset. For example, an aggregate company looking to establish a quarry will first seek to avoid deforestation; then, if that is not possible, to minimize the deforested area as much as possible; and finally, if that is not possible, to invest in reforestation elsewhere to offset its own deforestation. Reinforced by the 2016 Biodiversity Act, this principle applies primarily to the real estate and construction sectors.

Biodiversity considerations can be incorporated into an environmental management system (ISO 14001). Certifications such as AFAQ Biodiversity or AFAQ Clean Ports demonstrate an organization’s commitment to biodiversity issues and attest to the seriousness of its approach.