Design of an environmental management plan for the artistic university workshops of the Royal and Pontifical University of San Francisco Xavier de Chuquisaca

Abstract

This study presents the design and implementation of an Environmental Management Plan (EMP) based on the ISO 14001:2015 standard. The EMP is intended to improve the environmental performance of art workshops at the Universidad San Francisco Xavier de Chuquisaca. A comprehensive internal environmental audit identified and prioritized significant environmental aspects associated with artistic teaching activities, including noise, water consumption, atmospheric emissions, waste management, and socioeconomic effects.

Based on these findings, an EMP manual was developed. The manual establishes specific environmental policies for the workshops, as well as quantifiable environmental objectives, targets, and operational procedures for managing the identified environmental aspects. It also establishes training and awareness strategies, internal and external communication mechanisms, and protocols for operational control, performance verification, and the implementation of corrective and preventive actions.

An economic and technical evaluation demonstrated the EMP's feasibility and profitability, validating its potential for successful implementation and continuous improvement of environmental performance within the context of university art education. The implications of these results for sustainability in higher education institutions with intensive practical activities are discussed.