Environmental aspects and impacts poster

ISO 14001 asks a site to know its environmental aspects and impacts. An aspect is something the site does, makes or uses that can interact with the environment, such as using electricity or washing parts. An impact is the change to the environment that results, such as greenhouse gas emissions or polluted water. This poster gives the two definitions in plain words and six plant examples, so a team can spot aspects in its own area and add them to the register.

Download the poster

The PNG is free to download now. The print-ready vector PDFs open after a short form, once.

Download PNG (300 dpi)2550 x 3300 px, prints at 8.5 x 11 in · 452 KB · no form

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The words on the poster

Aspects and impacts

What we do that touches the environment, and the change it causes.

Aspect: something we do, make or use that can touch the environment.

Impact: the change to the environment that results.

Using electricity Impact: emissions where it is generated.
Oil or coolant spill Impact: soil and water pollution.
Scrap and packaging Impact: landfill, lost material.
Washing parts Impact: polluted water if untreated.
Paints and solvents Impact: fumes, air pollution.
Noise at night Impact: disturbs neighbours.

Control the aspect, and the impact goes down.

Terms as defined in ISO 14001:2015, clause 3.2, in plain words.

On the floor

How to use it

Putting the Environmental aspects and impacts poster to work

1
Use it in environmental awareness training and in the team that updates the aspects register.
2
Walk the area and list one aspect per activity, using the poster's examples as a guide.
3
Rank the aspects by size, frequency and legal requirements, and work on the top ones.
4
Pair it with the free environmental aspects register.

Where the poster goes and how to teach with it, in the order to try them.

Which size to print

24 x 36 in or A2: a main wall or team board, read from a few metres away.
18 x 24 in or A3: a station or notice board. The A3 file also fits 11 x 17 in paper.
Letter or A4: a clipboard, binder or handout, on any office printer.

Every PDF is vector, so it stays sharp at full size. Nothing runs to the edge of the page, so no bleed is needed.