ABSTRACT
Under the ISO 14004 guidelines, the initial environmental review (IER) is the first step taken by a company in considering, systematically and strategically, all the aspects underlying the complex relationship between its production systems and the ecological and social environments. The basic framework of the proposed methodology to perform IERs is illustrated. In the first phase, termed selection, the limits of the study are defined. In the second phase, termed inventory, the main site processes are modelled by means of flow charts, highlighting relations between various important process phases and the induced environmental impacts. The last phase in identifying significant environmental impacts is the assessment of the inventory data. The role of environmental experts, health, safety and environment (HSE) managers and production managers is to estimate objectively the impact of different environmental aspects and to express judgements on the relevance of each external and internal amplifier factor.
