Environmental Management System Presents Blueprint for Firms to Maintain Positive Environmental Trends Amid Economic Recovery.
In the wake of the pandemic, the environmental landscape witnessed an unforeseen respite. The National Statistics Institute (INE) reported a marked decline in fossil fuel use, energy consumption, and a significant drop in transport emissions. Amid this environmental silver lining, ISO 14001 emerges as a pivotal mechanism for organisations to sustain and further this momentum.
The 2020 Environment Statistics Report by INE highlighted a multifaceted impact on the environment due to the pandemic-induced economic downturn. Emissions from fossil fuels plummeted by 21.9%, electricity and natural gas consumption witnessed substantial declines, and waste generation showed a downward trajectory. The pandemic acted as an inadvertent catalyst, lessening the pressure on the environment and prompting shifts in consumption patterns, including a heightened concern for waste separation.
Transportation, notably air travel, faced unprecedented reductions, with passenger numbers plummeting by 67.7% and carbon dioxide emissions dropping by 56.6%. Improved air quality metrics, specifically reduced nitrogen dioxide concentrations across urban and rural areas, signalled a tangible environmental improvement.
In this context, ISO 14001, an environmental standard, emerges as a beacon for organisations seeking to perpetuate these positive changes. By facilitating the establishment of tangible reduction targets in transport and energy consumption, this framework encourages innovative approaches such as integrating remote work into business operations.
While the pandemic's economic toll has been palpable, its inadvertent environmental reprieve underscores the potential for sustainable practices, with ISO 14001 paving the way for organisations to continue steering toward a greener future.
A message from our sponsors, The Ideas Distillery:
If you would like to look at how to implement an ISO 14001 environmental management system, then simply contact us.
Or, if you want to see what's involved in more detail, then get a completely free, no obligation, totally tailored ISO Gap Analysis for your business (only available to UK businesses).
Comments