Asiantaeth yr Amgylchedd - cartref

Environmental management - making a start

More guidance to improve business environmental performance.

Businesses can have an impact on the environment and it's easy to think that only the effects of large companies count.  But small companies, because there are more of them, can cause more pollution.

The benefits of good environmental practice

Businesses are recognising that good environmental practice also makes good business practice.  For example, it can help you:

  • save money - reduce production and waste disposal costs by using resources more efficiently;
  • obey the law - avoid prosecution by working in a way that doesn't harm the environment;
  • comply with your environmental permits;
  • reduce risk - control risks and liabilities;
  • improve your position in the market - increase your confidence in the supply chain and improve relations with customers;
  • improve the environment - reduce climate change, prevent air and water pollution and minimise waste.

Find out about the environmental impact of your business by doing a simple review.  This could be the first step to help you develop an Environmental Management System (EMS). 

An EMS provides a framework to reduce the environmental impact of your business now and in the future.  This is something more companies are asking their suppliers about before they'll do business.  Find out more about EMS at:

Useful documents

We have several tools to help you make a start:

  • Is your site right? (PDF, 57KB)
    A 10 point checklist - with essential environmental management checks you should make.

  • Pollution Prevention Pays 
    A pack (booklet, posters and dvd) with background information and starter good practice action points for all business types. It covers site drainage, deliveries and handling, waste management, trade effluent, groundwater, and training and emergencies. The booklet is currently under review and is available for public consultation until 23 March 2012. If you would like to see the consultation please visit the below page:

Environment Management Toolkits to help specific business sectors

Working with relevant trade associations, we've developed an environmental management toolkit for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).  There are currently seven sector specific toolkits and a general business toolkit available. They will be of particular help if you have an environmental permit from us but are useful for all businesses. 

You should make someone at your business responsible for using the toolkit. Each one has a series of simple templates that will help you manage the environmental aspects of your site. 

The toolkits are available as 'PDF' files, for reference, and as Word documents that you can save to your own computer to complete and update as you need to.

Toolkit for the food and drink industry

This toolkit is also available for you to complete as an Excel file.  We recommend you save the file to your own computer and use to manage your site activities.

Toolkit for waste businesses

Toolkit for end-of-life vehicle authorised treatment facilities

Toolkit for metals recycling businesses

Toolkit for all other businesses

Toolkit for businesses with sewage discharges

Toolkit for businesses discharging waste agricultural chemicals to land

Other useful guidance