In our latest industry interview, we sat down with Emma Pye, Founder and Director of PYE Management and Carbon Sherpa, to explore the evolving landscape of environmental management and carbon reduction. With more than 25 years of experience across the highways, construction, and quarrying sectors, Emma has built a career on making sustainability both practical and achievable. As Chair of the UK ISO 14001 committee and a leading voice in whole life carbon and PAS 2080 implementation, she brings a unique perspective on how organisations can move from ambition to action.
“Sustainability has to be part of everyday business”
Emma’s journey into environmental management has been deeply rooted in the highways sector. Having worked with major organisations including Amey, Holcim, Tarmac and WSP, she has consistently focused on embedding sustainability into operational practice.
Today, through PYE Management, she supports organisations with sustainability consultancy, while Carbon Sherpa provides a digital platform designed to simplify whole life carbon assessments and PAS 2080 compliance.
“I’ve always worked on the sustainability side of things,” Emma explains. “And now, my focus is on making carbon reduction something organisations can actually do, not just talk about.”
Why ISO 14001 still matters
As Chair of the UK committee for ISO 14001, Emma is closely involved in shaping the future of the leading environmental management standard.
“ISO 14001 is the key global standard for environmental performance,” she says. “It looks at an organisation’s entire environmental impact and how to reduce it. It also integrates seamlessly with ISO 9001 and ISO 45001, which makes it incredibly powerful as part of a wider management system.”
With adoption in over 180 countries, the standard remains central to how organisations structure and improve their environmental performance.
What’s changing in 2026?
A new revision of ISO 14001 is due on the 16th April 2026, and according to Emma, the updates are both practical and purposeful.
“One of the biggest shifts is around leadership,” she explains. “Top management now need to be far more engaged, more accountable, more involved in decision-making, and actively leading the management review process.”
Other updates include:
- A stronger focus on business-wide risk
- New considerations around environmental change
- Expanded guidance (Annex A) to support implementation
- Greater flexibility, especially for SMEs
“What’s important,” Emma adds, “is that these changes came directly from users. We asked organisations what they needed, and the revision reflects that.”
From ‘paper systems’ to real-world action
For organisations already certified, the transition to the new standard will be manageable, with a three-year window for recertification. However, Emma highlights a key challenge:
“If your system only comes off the shelf for audits, it won’t be enough anymore. Environmental management systems need to be living, breathing parts of your business.”
In other words, ISO 14001 is ensuring it is moving away from compliance and towards genuine operational integration.
Making sustainability accessible for SMEs
One of the most significant benefits of the update is its accessibility.
“There’s now far more guidance available,” Emma says. “SMEs don’t necessarily need a big in-house team or external consultants; they can follow the materials and implement it themselves.”
With new toolkits, checklists, and training resources being introduced, smaller organisations will be better equipped to adopt robust environmental practices.
Shifting the focus: from data to decarbonisation
Emma is also leading an upcoming LCRIG-hosted webinar focused on PAS 2080 and whole life carbon management, where she plans to address a common industry issue:
“We spend so much time talking about data but not enough time talking about how we actually reach net zero.”
Through her Carbon Sherpa platform, Emma aims to remove administrative burdens and streamline carbon calculations, allowing organisations to focus on meaningful action.
“We need to get back to basics,” she says. “What is whole life carbon and how can it help asset management strategy and asset longevity. Once people understand that they can start to see where they make an impact.”
Real-world insights and industry collaboration
Attendees of Emma’s upcoming sessions can expect practical, real-life examples drawn from her extensive experience.
“We’ll be sharing real life project case studies, showing where reductions have been made and how.”
She also emphasises the importance of collaboration across both public and private sectors, particularly in adopting whole life carbon principles.
The value of the LCRIG community
As an active member of LCRIG, Emma credits the organisation with helping her stay connected in a fast-moving industry.
“It keeps me up to date, connected, and informed. It feels like a community – almost like a family.”
Reflecting on events such as the LCRIG Innovation & Learning Festival, she highlights the value of seeing innovation brought to life.
“The live demonstrations are what I find fascinating. You get to see equipment and solutions in action, which isn’t something you always get the chance to do when working day-to-day with clients.”
Looking ahead
As sustainability continues to evolve from a strategic priority to an operational necessity, Emma Pye’s message is clear: Success lies in simplicity, accessibility, and action.
Whether through updated standards, digital tools, or industry collaboration, the goal remains the same – making environmental responsibility part of everyday business.
Find out more
You can register for Emma’s upcoming webinar on 29 April at 11am to explore PAS 2080, whole life carbon, and practical decarbonisation strategies.
You can also meet PYE Management in person at the LCRIG Innovation & Learning Festival, where they will be exhibiting as part of the Consultants Zone.
Our thanks to Emma for sharing her insights and experience.