Building on BS EN ISO 14001 and the EU Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS), this British Standard provides guidance to all organisations on the phased implementation, maintenance and improvement of a formal Environmental Management System (EMS).

BS 8555 makes particular reference to small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) but is applicable to any organisation, regardless of the nature of the business activity undertaken, location or level of maturity.

It outlines an implementation process that can be undertaken in up to six separate phases and allows for phased acknowledgement of progress towards full EMS implementation.

It also includes advice on the integration and use of environmental performance evaluation techniques during the implementation process and the co-ordination of an EMS with other management systems.

BS 8555 will help all organisations improve their environmental performance and their supply chain relationships with the following guidance:

  • Describes a six-phase incremental approach to implementing an EMS using environmental performance evaluation.
  • Provides information to organisations on environmental performance management and the use of environmental performance indicators.
  • Helps organisations satisfy the environmental criteria increasingly being set in contract tenders by new and existing major clients.
  • Can be used by organisations who may wish to self-declare or seek voluntary phased recognition throughout the implementation process.