Before environmental aspect identification, comes own operations categorized by processes.
During identification system boundaries are decided for unit processes and it should be de-termined how detailed these groups are and criteria established for system boundaries (ISO
14044: 2006, 25.) It is possible to describe the whole operation using unit processes from a process flow chart. It should show the point, in the process flow chart, where the unit process begins. It will not only mention raw materials and intermediate products but also the nature of the transformations and operations that occur as part of the unit processes. The last re-quirement for unit processes is that it should mention the point in the process flow chart where the unit process ends. (ISO 14044: 2006, 27.)
When the system boundaries are set, several flows that are mentioned below should be taken into account:
Raw materials
Inputs and outputs of process
Distribution or transportation
Production and use of fuels, electricity and heat
Use of maintenance of products
Disposal of process wastes and products
Recovery of used products including reuse, recycling and energy recovery
Manufacture of ancillary materials
Manufacture, maintenance and decommissioning of capital equipment
Additional operations, such as lightning and heating
The initially defined system boundaries might be too wide, so they need to be refined more specifically later. (ISO 14040: 2006, 33.)
The significant point in the assessment process is that all operations, in every group are evaluated with equivalent assumptions and context (ISO 14040: 2006, 11). Next, there is listed nine steps that lead to establishing the most remarkable aspects at the company.
1) At first identifying all a company’s processes, such as workshops, foundry opera-tions, service and logistics as well as offices are considered.
2) Then deepen the identification to defining all activities in process by order of execu-tion. There is a long list of activities that relate to processes, such as coating, grinding, polishing and welding. Also, traveling, transportation and packing, etc. depending on a company’s business field.
3) Each activity has input flows that could consist of resources. Identifying them makes it possible to see energy, materials and other flows to the activity. Those flows are environmental aspects of activity.
4) If the process has input flows, it also has output flows. Identifying outputs from each process or activity can establish environmental impact flows such as products, waste and air, water and soil emissions.
5) Besides input flows there are aspects in process or activity that should be identified, for example cooling oil, gases in air condition facilities, etc.
6) There are also aspects regarding maintenance of equipment and installations, such as spare parts, hydraulic and motor oils, filters and lubricants. They should be identified next.
7) If a very detailed evaluation is performed then all aspects have to be identified during design and development or changes in process, activities, product and services.
8) After all these, abnormal conditions and emergency situations should also be consid-ered. Identify environmental aspects emerging from incidents, for example in cases of fire, there can be poisonous smoke, vapors and water etc.
9) When all aspects are identified then impacts should be identified, according to as-pects. Impacts could be
o pollution of biosphere, such as humans, plants and animals, o pollution of soil, water or air,
o changes of climate and landscape, o exhaustion of natural resources,
o impact on material goods and cultural heritage. (Stojanovic 2017.)
Identification will be carried out step by step and entered into the evaluation system. At first, the system will be in the form of an Excel file, but later it could be dedicated environmental management software.
Concrete environmental aspect identification needs people who are familiar with these prod-ucts and processes. They can describe activities around these targets and inform environ-mental aspects related to these targets. Also, interested parties within the assessment should be considered due to the fact that for instance neighbors of mill sites often suffer the effects of environmental aspects and impacts. Together with people, for example employees who know the process, environmental issues should be checked that could relate to the process.
Through this it is possible to establish what kind of environmental aspects and risks could exist. It is necessary to remember to also consider unconventional incidents. These could be situations that occur rarely, but could create huge harm effects if something happens. These could also be situations that occur almost every time when the process is executed, but the effects are minor. Of course, there are also situations between these extremities. After aspect identifying, it is time to identify impacts. Here could be used all the monitored information about impacts. (Stojanovic 2017.)
The identification process enables an evaluation process of environmental issues. At first, it is important to decide what kind of system is usable for assessment. It has to be a methodol-ogy that is easy to execute and it gives relevant, useful and unambiguous information. In this case, the methodology is an Excel based system where the user makes selections using drop-down menus. This leads the user to think about issues in sufficient detailed. Before the cre-ation project, the criteria was defined on how detailed informcre-ation is sufficient to collect.
Then the user adds inputs and outputs of the activity since they give beneficial information for evaluation. (Stojanovic 2017.)
After evaluation, it is time to manage significant aspects. General procedures start from op-erational controls defining. It is a phase where improvement actions are created of processes, tools are developed for effective way to handle them, and the way to work is created. Work-ing is not the only part that should be considered. Almost as important as operational controls defining, it is used to define the need for training and awareness among people in a company.
Management is meaningful if there is monitoring of environmental activity. Monitoring re-veals if the process does not work according to the idea. This also shows where the potential to improve the process is. (Stojanovic 2017.)