Glossary - Explanation of the relevant terms
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
ABC/XYZ-analysis
A method used to assess the environmental impact of a particular aspect
of operations within an enterprise, such as materials or processes. The
classification occurs on the basis of a division of such aspects into
three categories A, B or C. A represents high, B medium, and C minor environmental
impact. Quantitative effects and the duration of environmental impacts
can be addressed through complementary XYZ-categories.
Audit (pursuant to ISO)
Periodic, formalized and systematic evaluation of the environmental management
system and environmental protection measures within
an enterprise as to whether these are in conformance with the specified
requirements, i.e., whether the system is fully operational and the environmental
policy promotes the objectives and programmes of that enterprise.
Auditor
A person or group that belongs to the staff
of an enterprise or is hired from outside, but is, in either case, independent
of the audited areas. This person or group must possess a professional
qualification for the performance of an environmental audit.
Auxiliary supply
Materials that become part of a product, but only as secondary components
(e.g., enamel, adhesives, lubricants; q.v. operating supplies,
raw materials).
Benchmarking
A comparison of key figures within one or more enterprises and fixed standards
or targets, used to identify measures and objectives for improvement.
BS 7750
British Standard 7750, dealing with environmental management. It is frequently
considered the original standard for environmental management systems.
Company officers (e.g., for waste
management)
Employee of an enterprise authorized and required by law or internal regulations
to promote the introduction and development of environmentally friendly
products and processes, monitor compliance with legal rules, and inform
employees on questions of environmental protection (with regard to water,
soil, air, waste etc.). This officer is endowed with special rights.
Controlling
Division of management charged with planning, controlling and coordination
tasks in order to provide decision-makers with the information required
to manage an enterprise.
Dangerous substance
Substances or preparations which are deemed to be explosive, oxidizing,
flammable, toxic, corrosive, sensitizing, carcinogenic, toxic for reproduction,
mutagenic or hazardous to the environment.
Ecosystem
Soil, water, air and living organisms (natural resources) as well as the
interactions between them.
Emissions
Air pollution, noise, vibrations, light, heat, radiation, and similar
harmful effects originating from an installation. The notion of emissions
can encompass such effects under different spatial and temporal aspects.
Whereas immissions designate the air pollution occurring
at the location of impact, emissions describe the air pollution occurring
in the direct vicinity of the installation at the time of discharge.
Emission limit values
Values limiting the amount of pollutants discharged by an installation.
These values are regularly determined in accordance with the state
of the art (q.v.). Emission limit values are stipulated by regulations
or administrative directives.
End-of-pipe-technology
Technical environmental protection measure performed at the end of a process
with the aim of reducing environmental impacts by treating or processing
waste, exhaust air or waste water.
Environment
Surroundings in which an organization operates,
including air, water, land, natural resources, flora, fauna, humans, and
their interrelation. In this definition, the environment extends from
the organization to the global system.
Environmental aspect (pursuant to ISO)
Element of an organization's activities, products or services that can
interact with the environment.
Environmental audit (pursuant to EMAS)
The environmental audit is an internal assessment performed by an internal
or external auditor, who is not an environmental verifier.
The environmental audit is a management tool comprising a systematic,
documented, periodic and objective evaluation of the performance of the
organization, management system and processes designed to protect the
environment.
Environmental impact
Any change to the environment, whether adverse or beneficial, wholly or
partially resulting from an organization's activities, products or services.
Environmental management
Means of specifying and implementing the environmental policy of an enterprise.
Environmental management is a part of the overall management of an enterprise.
Environmental management system (pursuant to ISO
and EMAS)
Every part of an overall management system that includes organizational
structure, planning activities, responsibilities, practices, procedures,
processes and resources for developing, implementing, achieving, reviewing
and maintaining the environmental policy.
Environmental objective (pursuant to ISO)
Overall environmental goal, arising from the environmental policy, that
an organization sets itself to achieve, and which is quantified when practicable.
Environmental performance (pursuant to ISO)
Measurable results of the environmental management system, related to
an organization's control of its environment aspects, based on its environmental
policy, objectives and targets.
Environmental policy (pursuant to EMAS)
An organization's overall aims and principles of action with respect to
the environment including compliance with all relevant regulatory requirements
regarding the environment and also a commitment to continual improvement
of environmental performance. The environmental policy provides the framework
for setting and reviewing environmental objectives and targets.
Environmental politics (pursuant to ISO)
Statement by the organization of its intentions and
principles in relation to its overall environmental performance
which provides a framework for action and for the setting of its environmental
objectives and targets.
Environmental programme
A description of environmental objectives and measures, including the
measures taken or envisaged and the deadlines specified for achieving
the environmental objectives and targets at a particular site.
Environmental protection officer
As a representative of environmental considerations, the environmental
protection officer must be included in all decision-making relating to
the investment in, and development of, new products. He monitors compliance
with environmental legislation and proposes feasible measures to safeguard
compliance with current and future requirements in the long term.
Environmental protection representative (top management
representative)
The environmental protection representative of management is responsible
for the strategic development of environmental protection in an enterprise
and participates as a coordinator in the solution of environmentally relevant
issues.
Environmental statement
Periodically compiled document by which organizations participating in
EMAS can communicate their environmental performance for every site to
the public.
Environmental target (pursuant to ISO)
Detailed performance requirement, quantified where practicable, applicable
to the organization or parts thereof, that arises from the environmental
objectives and that needs to be set and met in order to achieve those
objectives.
Generally accepted rules of technology
Principles and solutions which have been proven reliable in practice and
have thus become established with the majority of practitioners (q.v.
state of the art).
Immissions
Air pollution, noise, vibration, light, heat, radiation and similar effects
on the environment which affect human beings, animals and plants, the
soil, the water, the atmosphere as well as cultural assets and other material
goods; q.v. emissions.
Industrial accident
Deviation from regular operations causing a discharge of dangerous substances
(q.v.) and posing a significant threat to the environment.
Operating instructions
Written prescriptions covering certain activities and the use of certain
substances, and designed to prevent health and safety risks, as well as
negative impacts on the environment. Operating instructions are prescribed
by law in certain cases, e.g., when using dangerous substances in an enterprise
or when operating certain machines and facilities.
Operating supplies
Substances and materials which are not part of a finished product, but
are required for its production (e.g., cooling fluids, solvents, q.v.
auxiliary supplies, raw materials).
Operation guidelines
Operation guidelines are comprehensive written instructions designed for
the implementation of external and internal norms within an enterprise
(especially in the areas of environmental protection, quality assurance
and safety). Operation guidelines can be fleshed out by work assignments
concerning individual workplaces.
Organization
Company, corporation, firm, enterprise, authority or institution, or part
or combination thereof, whether incorporated or not, public or private,
that has its own functions and administration.
Organization chart
Graphical representation of the organizational structure
(q.v.) of an enterprise.
Organizational structure
The organizational structure, represented by an organization chart (q.v.),
describes conditions and relationships within an enterprise. It comprises
individual units as its smallest constituents, and superior units formed
by joining these smaller units. The organization chart specifies rights
and duties of employees in the organizational hierarchy.
QS9000
Quality standard adopted by the US automobile industry on the basis of
ISO 9001 and applied to suppliers worldwide.
Raw materials
Substances used as the main component of a product (e.g., wood, metal,
plastic; q.v. operating supplies, auxiliary
supplies)
Records
Records (e.g., minutes, log entries) facilitate the documentation and
description of the status quo.
SCC
Safety Contractors Certification is a system of safety management developed
by the petrochemical industry.
Stakeholders
Individuals or groups who feel affected or have been harmed by the environmentally
detrimental activities of an organization.
State of science and technology
State of development of advanced processes, facilities or modes of operation
required for adequate environmental protection pursuant to recognized
scientific research.
State of the art
The state of development of advanced processes, facilities or modes of
operation for restricting emissions. This development should generally
have reached a stage which ensures the practical suitability of measures.
As a rule, such measures will have been successfully proven in practical
operation, although this is not a necessity.
Validation of the environmental statement
Validation of an environmental statement involves its review by an external,
accredited environmental verifier with regard to its accordance with applicable
law.
VDA 6.1
Quality standard adopted by the German automobile industry in accordance
with the American QS9000 standard and applied to suppliers. VDA 6.1 addresses
manufacturing enterprises, VDA 6.2 service enterprises.
Work asignments
Work assignments are internal arrangements adopted by enterprises in order
to ensure compliance with internal and external rules (in particular with
rules relating to environmental protection, quality and safety) during
specific activities. Work assignments are always workplace-related (q.v.
operating instructions, operation guidelines).
