BS7750: "Green standard at a price
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Most hauliers have at least some knowlege of the BS5750 "quality standard": another standard that is about to influence the industry is B57750, a specification for environmental management systems. Qualifying firms will be expected to adopt policies which will reduce the environmental impact of their businesses. The standard requires "an evaluation and registration of significant environmental effects"—but what this means is open to interpretation. The standard defines effects as any direct or indirect infringement of the activities, products and services of the organisation upon the environment, whether adverse or beneficial.
In order to qua* for BS7750 companies will have to carry out an initial audit and an "Eco audit". This is followed by a development programme to establish management systems to review and conduct audits, with external accredited verifiers.
Hauliers will have to look at the disposal and release of solid, liquid and gaseous waste; and they will have to examine those activities or operations which cause the waste. They will then have to look at the effects of their activities on the environment and they will have to set targets to reduce environmental impacts. The difficulties will arise in assessing and interpreting the standard. Operators are going to have to look at what activities cause environmental effects. They are going to have to categorise the causes—for example, emissions affecting air, water and land. A pilot scheme was introduced about 1 2 months ago involving some 700 firms, including the likes of British Telecom, Marks & Spencers and B&Q, and these companies may now go on to insist that their customers have BS7750.
As with BS5750, compliance will involve establishing a management system to prepare the initial review and development programme based on that review, as well as dealing with the audits themselves. Finally they will have to submit to an external audit.
Many hauliers find meeting B55750 is expensive: BS7750 is likely to be even more so because of the specialist expertise required. Customers may force you to grin and bear it.