What is an Environmental Impact?

Once the environmental aspect and the cause of that aspect have been identified, the next step is to identify the potential environmental impacts associated with it that may adversely affect the environment and human health. An environmental impact is described in BS EN ISO 14001 as a “change to the environment, whether adverse or beneficial, wholly or partially resulting from an organisation’s environmental aspects”

Using a live cycle approach, the principal types of impacts are those associated with: Inputs, eg extracted resources used in the form of raw materials and energy — that can give rise to land degradation and depletion of natural resources. Outputs, eg emissions to air, discharges to water and waste arisings — that may cause pollution. On-site activities and processes, eg storage, cleaning, assembly and packaging — that can also cause pollution or loss of materials and other resources.