{"id":6217,"date":"2025-08-14T16:16:38","date_gmt":"2025-08-14T15:16:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/amtivo.com\/uk\/standards\/\/\/business-obligations-environmental-laws\/"},"modified":"2025-12-15T16:16:12","modified_gmt":"2025-12-15T16:16:12","slug":"business-obligations-environmental-laws","status":"publish","type":"standard-post-filter","link":"https:\/\/amtivo.com\/uk\/standards\/iso-14001\/insights\/business-obligations-environmental-laws\/","title":{"rendered":"Business Obligations &amp; Environmental Laws"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As both society and the governments that work for them, increase their focus on environmental concerns it is expected that there will be an increase in regulations designed to force businesses into reducing their environmental impact. We explore these in more detail and consider how your business can be prepared.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While it\u2019s impossible to force all industries to adapt to a completely environmentally friendly way of operating overnight, there are restrictions and limits placed on industries to ensure they don\u2019t overstep their boundaries.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p>Sustainability is not just a trend but a necessity. Learn how <a href=\"\/uk\/standards\/iso-14001\/certification\/\">ISO 14001 certification<\/a> can help your organisation meet environmental obligations and goals, or dive into our <a href=\"\/uk\/standards\/iso-14001\/insights\/ultimate-guide-to-iso-14001\/\">full guide to ISO 14001<\/a> for a thorough understanding.<\/p>\r\n<h2>\u00a0<\/h2>\r\n<h2>Environmental Laws for Businesses<\/h2>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are an increasing number of obligations and laws which organisations have to adhere to. These will vary dependent on the type of industry you operate in and the products or services you provide. For example, if you\u2019re a business that produces a large amount of chemical waste, you\u2019ll be held to a much higher standard than a company such as a parcel distributor.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Owing to this variance, it\u2019s difficult to relay standard expectations for every business. Instead, you\u2019ll need to adopt a policy which helps you identify the key obligations your company has regarding the environment.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can do this by:<\/span><\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Assessing the primary risks your business poses to the wider community<\/strong> \u2013 Take an analytical view of the substances and side-effects of what your business produces. Carrying out a risk assessment will highlight hazardous or polluting factors. This will also help boost efficiency. The more you scrutinise your business, the better improvements you can make.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Working alongside a regulator<\/strong> \u2013 In some instances, a regulator, usually provided by local authorities, can help you make these types of assessments. Organisations are set up with the express purpose of dealing with environmental management in industry.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Deciding if you need an environmental permit<\/strong> \u2013 There\u2019s a good chance if you\u2019re a manufacturer, for example, you\u2019ll need to ensure you have an environmental permit. This document actively encourages you to reduce environmental harm as much as possible.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Getting advice<\/strong> \u2013 It may even be the case you need to employ a <a href=\"https:\/\/amtivo.com\/uk\/find-an-iso-consultant\/\" rel=\"noopener\">specialist consultant<\/a> who comes in and intimately assesses all aspects of your business. A professional of this nature will be able to supply you with the fastest results<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Once you\u2019ve assessed how susceptible your business is to these obligations, it\u2019s time to find out in greater detail what actually needs to be done. The types of measures to be taken can be separated into three categories.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<h3>Waste<\/h3>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When it comes to waste, there are a number of steps you\u2019ll need to adhere to:<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Packaging should meet environmental standards, and be recoverable and reusable<\/span><\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You need to register with a compliance scheme if you have a revenue of over \u00a32m and handle more than 50 tonnes of packaging a year<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Waste should be stored in such a way it can\u2019t have the potential to leak into nearby water supplies or public areas<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A professional contractor should be brought in to dispose of your waste properly<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Waste transfers must be covered with the use of a note<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Waste heading to a landfill must be treated to reduce environmental impact<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hazardous waste will need a special kind of storage, and should be disposed of separately<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The same applies to waste containing electrical devices<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It\u2019s likely you\u2019ll need a permit to allow you to burn waste<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Gov.uk<\/a><\/span><\/p>\r\n<h3>Air Pollution<\/h3>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The same applies when it comes to air pollution:<\/span><\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If your company produces a lot of pollution, you\u2019ll need a permit to allow it<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You\u2019ll always need approval from your local authority before you install a new boiler or furnace<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dark smoke should never be produced (as a result of burning inappropriate substances)<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fuel used can never exceed limits regarding sulphur content<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your business must ensure there is no adverse impact on nearby properties<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This will be assessed dependent on the location (stricter sanctions will be applied in neighbourhood areas)<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Specific obligations dictated by local councils might require a company to make adjustments<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h3>Water and Land Contamination<\/h3>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Similarly, water and land contamination also need to be taken into account:<\/span><\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Trade effluent needs to be discharged into the sewers<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Regular effluent (such as water) can be discharged into an ordinary sewer<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You must comply with any conditions included in the consent from the local water company<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You need to apply to your environmental regulator for authorisation if you\u2019re going to dump either liquid or solid waste into a river stream<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Oils and chemicals must meet specific requirements<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Natural substances must not become contaminated on your property (for example, rainwater being harmed by pesticides on your land)<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Any land you do contaminate must be cleaned by you<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If there are any lingering questions regarding laws and jurisdiction, you can always contact your local council or environmental consultant to ensure you\u2019re sticking to the sanctions of the law.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Gov.uk<\/a><\/span><\/p>\r\n<h3>Punishment for Breaking these Laws<\/h3>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are a variety of different penalties available for companies who do not stick to the laws. These will vary depending on the nature and severity of the breach to the rules.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Enforcement notices<\/strong> \u2013 These are handed to a business when they\u2019ve been notified a change to their conduct is required, after a breach of environmental law. There\u2019s a potential for a business to be temporarily closed down until they address the problem in question<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Clean-up notices<\/strong> \u2013 This type of notice is handed to a business after they have caused a contamination. If a company fails to address the notice, they could face criminal charges.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Fines and imprisonment<\/strong> \u2013 Practically any breach of environmental law can be chalked up as a criminal offence. Depending on how far the prosecution of a crime is taken, you\u2019ll face alternating maximum charges:<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Magistrates Court<\/strong> \u2013 a maximum fine of up to \uffe150,000, and six months\u2019 imprisonment<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Crown Court<\/strong> \u2013 an unlimited fine and up to two years\u2019 imprisonment<\/span>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Anyone working for a business has the potential to be prosecuted, so long as it was proven they were partially responsible for the disregard of the law.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Civil sanctions<\/strong> \u2013 These have recently been introduced as an alternative to outright prosecution. They\u2019re usually in the form of fixed monetary penalties and enforcement undertakings.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Related orders<\/strong> \u2013 In the case of more serious breaches, the court can issue a related order. This includes:<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>A director\u2019s disqualification order<\/strong> \u2013 Which legally prevents someone from acting as the director of a company.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Recovery of assets<\/strong> \u2013 It\u2019s possible for a prosecutor to implement sanctions that see certain items related to a breach confiscated from an environment.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>A serious crime prevention order<\/strong> \u2013 This can be issued after a person has committed a serious offence. This includes dumping waste without the use of a permit.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p>Learn more by reading our related article on <a href=\"\/uk\/standards\/iso-14001\/insights\/faqs-for-an-environmentally-friendly-workplace\/\">How to create an environmentally friendly workplace.<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"While it\u2019s impossible to force all industries to be environmentally friendly, there are obligations and laws all companies must comply with.","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":6218,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_searchwp_excluded":"","footnotes":""},"standard-post-categories":[31],"standard-post-tags":[89],"class_list":["post-6217","standard-post-filter","type-standard-post-filter","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","standard-post-categories-insights","standard-post-tags-iso-14001"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.2 (Yoast SEO v27.2) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Business Obligations &amp; 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