Cal/EPA Environmental Management System Project
Meeting Summary: Northern California Working Group
September 19, 2000 San Jose, California
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A new phase of the California EMS Project has begun. Regional Working Group meetings are being organized to facilitate a dialogue between pilot project participants and stakeholders regarding facility EMS design and implementation. Pilot facilities are sharing information on EMS implementation, providing a facility tour, answering questions, and receiving feedback. Over twenty representatives from government agencies, other pilot companies and interested businesses, academia and public interest groups were in attendance at each of the September meetings of the Regional Working Groups. IBM gave a presentation on the design and implementation of its EMS and provided a tour of its chemical distribution center for the Northern California Working Group. Currently, IBM's San Jose facility is working toward reducing its environmental impacts in the following areas: energy use, water use, chemical use, waste discharges and employee transportation.
I. Introduction
The Northern California Working Group of the Cal/EPA Innovative Initiative Environmental Management System (EMS) Project met at the International Business Machines (IBM) facility in San Jose on September 19, 2000. The IBM San Jose facility employs approximately 7,000 workers who develop, manufacture, and market computer storage components and systems. Manufactured products include thin film magnetic recording heads, thin film storage disks, and disk drive systems.
II. Background
IBM has a long history of adopting measures to improve its environmental performance.
In June 1997, as part of IBM's program to register all of its manufacturing and development sites worldwide, the San Jose Storage Technology Division site became the first IBM facility in the U.S. registered to ISO 14001. This facility has since undergone annual audits to ensure its continued compliance with the ISO 14001 standard.
Below are bullets that identify key milestones in the design and implementation of IBM's EMS.
| Milestone | Date |
| Established Corporate EMS | 1972 |
| Certified to ISO 9001 | 1992 |
| Design of ISO 14001 EMS | 1996 |
| Implementation of EMS | 1996 |
| Certified to ISO 14001 EMS | June 1997 |
| Continual Improvement | Ongoing |
III. Unique EMS Characteristics
Because IBM is already certified to ISO 14001, they provide a unique opportunity to see pre- and post-EMS data much earlier in the pilot project process. Another unique characteristic of IBM's registration is that the company holds a single global registration. IBM's decision to have all its facilities ISO 14001 certified under one registration reflects corporate policy. It ensures international consistency, promotes efficient and effective business processes, and validates that IBM executes the same EMS no matter where in the world it does business.
IV. EMS Overview
During the September 19, 2000 meeting of the Northern California Working Group, IBM gave a presentation on the design and implementation of its EMS. After summarizing its activities at the San Jose facility, IBM provided the Working Group with information related to its EMS experience. Specifically, IBM discussed the scope of its EMS, environmental policy, process for identifying/selecting aspects, process of monitoring/measuring environmental performance, process used to perform audits, and management review of the program. IBM also provided a tour of its chemical distribution center.
Currently, IBM's San Jose facility has identified its significant environmental aspects as including energy use, water use, chemical use, waste discharges and employee transportation. The EMS implemented at this facility addresses each of its significant aspects and their respective environmental impacts. The objectives for the significant aspects are as follows:
- Reduce power consumption
- Reduce solid waste disposal
- Improve recycle rate
- Use water more efficiently
- Reduce air emissions
- Reduce traffic congestion and related air emissions
- Reduce waste generation
- Reduce wastewater flow to San Francisco Bay
- Use chemicals more efficiently
V. Progress Toward Objectives
During the presentation, IBM discussed the criteria for selecting objectives and targets which include: consistency with IBM's environmental policy, commitment to environmental leadership, prevention of pollution, and continual improvement. They also shared tables that showed a continual decrease in the impact of their significant aspects. Below is a brief description of the progress that IBM reported for several of its objectives (as part of the meeting, IBM did not have sufficient time to discuss progress towards meeting all of its objectives). However, through the pilot project protocols submitted over the next several months, Cal/EPA will evaluate IBM’s pre and post-EMS data to assess the impact of its EMS on environmental protection, as well as the quality and quantity of information available to the public.
Reduce Power Consumption
IBM anticipates meeting its energy conservation target of 4% (expressed in
kilowatt hours) for calendar year 2000. Over the past several years, IBM has
consistently met its energy conservation target, which is defined as a 4%
reduction in consumption relative to what the consumption would have been in a
given year without the conservation measures.
Reduce Solid Waste Disposal and Improve Recycle Rate
IBM presented historical information on its recycling of solid waste. IBM
has been well above the State target of 50%. Specifically, IBM is currently on
schedule to meet its current target of 73%, which exceeds its corporate goal of
67%. The primary solid wastes that are recycled include: scrap metals (41% of
the total recycled materials), wood and landscape materials (18.1%), cardboard
(14.6%), paper (9.7%), and construction materials (9.4%).
Use Water More Efficiently
As a result of its efforts to implement its SB 14 Waste Reduction Plan, IBM
anticipates a reduction in the use of water. It is currently tracking use and
will report on trends.
Reduce Traffic Congestion and Reduce Air Emissions
IBM instituted programs to increase employee participation in commute
alternatives that help to reduce congestion and improve air quality, such as
providing each employee with a free pass to use public transportation and
operating a shuttle service to the site from nearby transit stops and other
local IBM locations. IBM measures the use of key elements of its Alternative
Commute Program. For example, annual survey data shows that employee
participation in one of its programs (EcoPass) increased 52% from 1998 to 1999,
to approximately 24% of the site population.
Reduce Waste Generation
IBM uses the SB 14 Waste Reduction Plan process as a key means of
identifying the largest generators onsite and working with them to plan for
reductions. IBM strives to reduce hazardous waste generation year-to-year
indexed to production and has implemented a number of pollution prevention
projects toward that end.
Reduce Wastewater Flow to San Francisco Bay
The San Jose/Santa Clara Water Pollution Control Plant (WPCP) treats and
discharges nearly 120 million gallons per day of sanitary and pretreated
industrial effluent from households and businesses in Silicon Valley, including
IBM. IBM is constantly seeking ways to reduce its wastewater discharges to
assist the WPCP in meeting flow restrictions designed to protect the saltwater
marshes of South San Francisco Bay. For example, IBM participated in a voluntary
partnership with the City of San Jose to evaluate opportunities for water
conservation and wastewater flow reduction. IBM also provided information to
employees about home conservation opportunities as a partner in the City's
"Slow the Flow and Save the Bay" campaign.
Use Chemicals More Efficiently
As part of its efforts toward continual improvement, IBM launched a new,
coordinated effort in 2000 to review chemical uses throughout the site's
operations and evaluate opportunities to improve efficiency.
Please contact Cal/EPA EMS Pilot Project Manager, Richard Corey, at (916) 323-1079 or by e-mail, at rcorey@arb.ca.gov for more information about the Northern California Working Group.
Environmental Management Systems, http://www.calepa.ca.gov/EMS/
General Public Contact, cepacomm@calepa.ca.gov (916) 323-2514