Leather is one of the major exports of Pakistan.
Quality of Pakistan's leather is the main factor
behind its high international demand. New regime of
international trade under WTO demands that the
production of leather is in compliance with
environmental standards. In the coming years, if these
standards are not taken seriously, Pakistani leather
and leather products will not be accepted by the
international market.
To
sustain and enhance the exports of Pakistani leather
and leather products in international market,
implementation of environmental systems is now a pre-
requisite for each tanning unit.
In
this regard, the progressive units in leather sector
have already implemented EMS and are acquiring ISO
1400 I certification.
Stages
of Environmental Management System
STAGE-I: Formulate Policy
The environmental policy is the basic tool, which
helps to improve the organization's environmental
management system, and helps to implement the same
through systematic and scientific approach. Basically
the policy is commitments of management towards the
establishment of environmental friendly process. The
policies are prepared on the basis of the
organization's defined objectives and targets.
STAGE-II: Planning
EMS planning is to decide why the company is
pursuing the development of an EMS. The key step is
gaining top management's commitment to support EMS
development and implementation. Secondly, a team is to
be developed with representatives from key management
functions (such as engineering, finance, human
resources, production and/or service) that can
identify and assess issues, opportunities, and
existing processes for planning.
STAGE-III: Implementation
At the stage of implementation the EMS is
operationalized, clear definitions of roles,
responsibilities and authorities for different
categories of employees is pre-requisite.
Simultaneously, training program, communication
system, document control system, internal standards
development, operational procedures and emergency
plans are need to be initiated.
STAGE-IV: Measure and Evaluate
Responsible personals and authorities review all
the implemented measures periodically, and if needed,
corrective actions may be taken for further
improvement
STAGE-V: Review and Improve
Top management is responsible to review and
evaluate the performances of all the implemented
measures of EMS with the aim of further and continuous
improvement in the current practices and to make it
more effective for the organization.
Environmental Management