Environmental management systems and their relevance to dermatology.

This article reviews environmental management systems (EMS), such as the ISO 14000 family of standards and the European Commission's Eco-Management and Auditing Scheme (EMAS), focusing on their framework to help organizations integrate environmental considerations into governance and operations. EMS accreditation is voluntary and distinct from statutory environmental standards, with organizations reporting improvements in resource efficiency and cost savings. While EMS adoption in healthcare, including dermatology, remains limited and unevenly distributed—often focused on estate management and corporate strategy—the article highlights potential benefits and barriers, such as costs and low awareness among healthcare professionals. It suggests that EMS could play a greater role in transforming clinical service models to support sustainability goals like the UK National Health Service's net zero carbon target by 2040, though further research is needed to assess their environmental and economic impact in healthcare.