Maria BORKOWSKA - ECOLOGY ASPECTS IN CERTIFICATION OF THE QUALITY SYSTEMS AND PRODUCTS

Abstract

A growth of concern about environmental protection has caused an introduction of the society requirements in this area to the quality concept. International Standards on Environmental Management Systems (EMS) have been written. They are intended to be used to create an environmental objectives and to demonstration of conformance with them in certification or self-declaration process. Negative impact on the environment should be minimised during whole life cycle of product. The set of 14000 EMS ISO Standards and the European Union Draft Proposal on Impact on Environment of Electrical and Electronic Equipment are described. The rules of the marking of the ecological conformity of products and the forms of "ECO" signs are presented. Costs and benefits of certification and strategic and competitive implications for manufacturers are mentioned. In opinion of experts, to be effective, EMS and the other partial systems should be integrated with the new management system based on the 9001: 2000 ISO Standard