Every business has activities or products that can affect the environment in one way or the other, today I will look at Environmental aspects and impacts and how to identify them
1. WHAT ARE ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECTS?
Environmental Aspects are elements of an organization’s activities, products, or services that can interact with the environment. These include resource consumption, emissions, waste generation etc.
2. WHAT ARE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS?
Environmental Impacts are the changes to the environment, whether positive or negative, that result from an organization’s environmental aspects. For example, the use of certain raw materials might lead to habitat destruction (this is a negative impact), while energy efficiency measures could contribute to reduced greenhouse gas emissions (this is a positive impact).
HOW TO DETERMINE ASPECTS AND IMPACT.
The process of identifying environmental aspects and impacts involves assessing the potential consequences of an organization’s operations on the environment.
To determine environmental aspects and impacts, you need to conduct an Environmental Aspect and Impact Assessment (EAIA). You can ask me for a Sample procedure or you can follow this step below and develop yours. I will advise you to work with a team.
1. Frist Identify Activities by Listing all the activities your organization/business undertakes, from daily operations to larger projects.
2. Now Identify Aspects: this is very important, for each activity, identify the environmental aspects. Ask yourself what can affect the environment? e.g., energy consumption, waste generation.
3. Thirdly Determine Impacts: At this point as the question what will the aspect result in. Assess the potential environmental impacts associated with each aspect. Impacts are the changes to the environment, whether adverse or beneficial, resulting from an organization’s activities.
4. Evaluate Significance: Determine the significance of each impact by considering factors like magnitude, frequency, and reversibility. This helps prioritize which aspects and impacts to focus on. Use a risk assessment matrix for ease of allocating numbers, you can find resources on line or contact me.
5. Consider Legal and Regulatory Requirements: Ensure compliance with relevant environmental laws and regulations. Identify legal obligations related to your aspects and impacts. Note this, any aspect with legal and regulatory requirements is considered a significant aspect that must be paid attention to.
6. Ensure Stakeholder Input: Like I said from the beginning ensure you carryout this assessment with a team of internal and if possible external stakeholders. Their perspectives can provide valuable insights into the significance of certain aspects and impacts you may not be aware of.
7. Now Documentation: All your findings should be Documented, many businesses have what we refer to as an aspect and impact register.. This information will be crucial to have an effective .
8. Ensure you Regularly review and update your assessment. Environmental aspects and impacts may change over time due to changes in processes, technology, or other factors.
Getting this right is key for an effective environmental management system.
