Natural Capital - Environmental and Sustainable Development Consultancy

Environmental Management Systems (EMS)

Natural Capital offers a full implementation service for EMSs. We have a strong track record in facilitating and developing ISO 14001, EMAS and other EMSs within a range of sectors.

Services

Working together with you and using our expertise we will develop an EMS that helps to:

• minimise your impact on the environment
• exceeds compliance with all relevant regulations
• deliver cost savings
• constantly improve efficiency
• satisfy stakeholders

Specifically we can provide the following:

• An environmental review and gap analysis of existing management systems against the requirements of ISO 14001/ EMAS
• Implementation of ISO 14001/ EMAS including policy development; aspects register; customised register of legislation; objectives and targets development; facilitated workshops/ training sessions for all; integration with existing management systems; management programmes and procedures; documentation
• Design and implementation of customised management systems
• Environmental performance improvement initiatives

 

Key Projects

Private Sector

• Assisting Sunrise Medical UK to achieve ISO 14001 accreditation (September 2006) through a facilitated programme of EMS development including policy, programmes, documentation and training.
• Assisting EWOS Ltd to achieve ISO 14001 and providing ongoing auditing, compliance and training advice.
• ISO 14001 systems guidance and development for BPB Paperboard.

Public Sector

• ISO 14001 maintenance, auditing and training for the Scottish Executive 1998 to 2004.
• ISO 14001 gap analysis and EMS systems development for 12 Public Bodies and Agencies within the Scottish Executive (2004 – ongoing).
• EMS development (modeled on ISO 14001) for Historic Scotland, Registers of Scotland, National Museums of Scotland and Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd.

Environmental Audits

Although auditing often gets a bad name in companies and organisations because of its common connection with policing and regulating it can, if approached positively, be an important management tool in the performance improvement process. Carrying out inspections, checks, interviews and reviews can be an effective way of maintaining performance and benchmarking against industry codes of practice and international standards.

Services
Natural Capital has considerable experience in undertaking audits of all kinds including, environmental, social and sustainability audits and appraisals. We can quickly identify gaps and suggest realistic actions to improve performance in all three areas. This can help to pin-point areas of attention and improvements to current systems and reporting.

Services include:

• management system audits (for ISO 14001, EMAS)
• internal audits
• supplier audits
• social audits (ASA 1000)

Benchmarking against:

• FTSE4Good
• Dow Jones Sustainability Index
• GRI Standards

Key Projects

• Sustainability audit for JMP Consulting (transport planners and, working with the company to ensure that sustainability principles are at the heart of the company and will help to further shape and differentiate the business.
• Compliance auditing and regulatory reviews for EWOS.
• Compliance and environmental auditing for Unilever Bestfoods Margarine Factory in Purfleet.

Getting more from ISO 14001

• Are you getting the most from your IS0 14001 system?
• Has the drive to improve faltered as senior management and other staff motivation takes a dip?
• Has progress in environmental improvement started to flounder?
• Are you driving the system or is the system driving you?
• Or have you simply not got started yet?

 

Services

There may be a need to take a fresh look at the business in order to get yourself started or regain the momentum. This is where Natural Capital can help - we can take that look (together with you) at your business and make sure that you are getting the most from systems like ISO 14001. Some of our clients are going further towards combining environment with quality and health & safety to create a truly integrated approach to business management.

Much to gain..........Hidden benefits

There is much to be gained from getting the most out of ISO 14001 or your own environmental management system:

• a genuine contribution to creating a sustainable future
• cutting costs in areas like waste management, use of raw materials, energy usage, water management and chemical control
• overall better cost control revealing hidden profit
• reducing risks and managing potential liabilities more effectively
• the potential to increase profit and satisfy a wider range of stakeholders
• re-energising and motivating staff

Key Projects

• Assistance to Unilever Bestfoods in systems development and maintenance (compliance, auditing, training, systems improvements).
• Assistance to Scottish Executive including an overhaul of documentation, refining of procedures and streamlining overall ISO 14001 certified system.

Environmental Reporting

Many organisations are already doing a great deal in terms of improving their economic, environmental and sustainability performance but are failing to report this to stakeholders. Our experience has shown that providing clear information about how an organisation is performing in these areas improves stakeholder perceptions and market value of the organisation. Natural Capital can prepare full reports or provide support to any in-house efforts.

Companies with a genuine interest and concern for their future success are moving beyond a focus on environmental matters alone, they see that in order to sustain their future they need to perform well in the three key areas that underpin sustainable development:

• economic performance - sustaining economic and manufactured capital
• social and ethical performance - sustaining social and human capital
• environmental performance - sustaining natural capital

 

So why narrow your vision? Why not gain more benefits from your efforts?

Sustainability reporting delivers:

• a true framework for improving your progress towards a more sustainable business;
• satisfaction to ever more demanding stakeholders;
• respect and admiration from legislators and regulators;
• a competitive edge when dealing with demanding customers;
• a more effective coverage of business risks; and
• all leading to greater business success.

Services

We can help:

• design and structure your report;
• develop meaningful indicators;
• independently verify the report; and
• ensure that the relevant sustainability issues are being addressed.

Key Projects

• Support to Historic Scotland in compiling an internal environmental report ensuring that this would meet the requirements of the Scottish Government.
• Work with Registers of Scotland, the Government Agency responsible for Scotland’s land and property registers, in formulating its first environmental report.