The case study which follows is based on an Environmental Management System (EMS). Read it carefully and then answer the short structured questions that follow:

Vondax Manufacturing founded 60 years ago, is currently implementing a continuous source reduction program through an EMS, which evolved under an informal organisational structure. The company has recently completed a self-evaluation using the ISO 14001 EMS requirements and concluded that it meets all the requirements except for documentation, a key characteristic of a formalised structure.

The company has approximately 300 employees and produces fine knives and machine blades for domestic and international markets. Management at Vondax, has always integrated elimination of all kinds of waste into its process. It believes that waste of any form is not acceptable for a company endeavouring to be a world-class manufacturer. Vondax also believes that there is no end to waste-minimisation and source-reduction, as long as its business exists.

Environmental aspects and impacts

One of the few documents used in environmental management at Vondax is designed to ensure that no new material is introduced without final approval from the environmental manager. For any new material considered, the environmental manager is informed of the vendor, volume, and recyclability of the new material.

The decision process involves a team of people that consists of sales/marketing staff, design engineers, process engineers, production workers, and the environmental manager, each expressing their concerns. Also, one of the owners of the company always attends the meeting. This decision-making process demonstrates cross-functional integration. This formalised procedure assures that the company consistently identifies the environmental aspects and their impacts in response to any changes in the materials or processes used in production.

Objectives and goals

There are as many as 15 different processes in the plant. Throughout the processes, solid wastes are generated from metal forming, grinding, polishing and assembling. Hazardous wastes are generated from heat treating and coating. Vondax ultimate environmental goal is zero discharge of hazardous materials to all media: air, land, and water. The company now has broad objectives for environmental performance.

Included in the objectives are:
- nothing from the facility goes to a landfill by the year 2020
- no listed hazardous materials will be used in a volume that requires reporting to state regulatory agencies
- to remain a small quantity generator (of hazardous and non-hazardous waste).

a) Make a list of five environmental aspects of Vondax Manufacturing and state the related activity that is giving rise to the associated impacts.

b) Identify the business pressures that lead to the implementation of a formalised structure for an EMS at Vondax Manufacturing.

c) What do you understand by the term "organisational responsibility"?

d) Why it important to document formalised working procedures for the EMS at Vondax?

e) How will the company gain from investing in environmental awareness and providing appropriate training to old and new staff?

f) Why is it important to open communication and feedback from employees and how is it related to the success of an EMS?

g) Suggest an environmental policy statement for Vondax Manufacturing that can be communicated to all the stakeholders of the company. The policy statement should conform to the requirements of the ISO 14001 requirement.