Greening Business: An online teaching resource
Session 4: Environmental Management Systems
Session 4: Environmental Management Systems
Question sheet
Tutor notes
Some of these questions challenge the students to practise some basic environmental auditing and think
about the whole range of components of an audit. If possible, make use of a building in which several aspects
of the environmental management system are observable.
Section 1: General questions (10 marks)
1) What is an Environmental Management System? (2 marks)
2) Outline two ways in which BS 85555 differs from ISO 140001 (2 marks)
3) Give 3 reasons why an organization may implement an EMS? (3 marks)
4) Describe three types of non-conformance (3 marks)
Section 2: Carrying out an environmental audit (10 marks)
Complete a simple environmental audit based on what you can see in the building in which you
work/study and the surrounding area. Your audit should assess aspects relating to ENERGY, WATER,
PURCHASING, WASTE and TRAVEL.
You may find the Green Tourism Business Scheme criteria useful - www.green-business.co.uk
5) Provide a brief summary of your findings on the following aspects:
Energy (2 marks)
Water (2 marks)
Purchasing (2 marks)
Waste (2 marks)
Travel (2 marks)
www.esci.keele.ac.uk/greeningbusiness
z.p.robinson@esci.keele.ac.uk