What is ISO 14001 Standard?

ISO 14001 is the global standard that lays down an environmental management system ( EMS) with effective requirements. It is a volunteer standard that organizations can approve as part of the ISO 14000 family of environmental management standards. It can further help to achieve business goals by integrating it with other management systems standards, most commonly ISO 9001.

Let us discuss ISO 14001 in detail.

What is ISO 14001?

What are its objectives?

Principles of ISO 14001

What is an Environmental Management System? 

Who can use ISO 14001? 

Benefits of ISO 14001

How many types of certifications exist? 

ISO 14001’s financial and economic gains 

What is ISO 14001?

“A part of the management system for managing environmental aspects, meeting enforcement obligations, and addressing risk and opportunities are described by the International Organization for Standardization ( ISO) as a system for environmental management. 

The new edition of the environmental management system specifications was released in 2015 called ‘ISO 14001:2015.’ Since the introduction and upgrade of the standard, most Member States have agreed to the standard that has been adopted by the majority of countries across the world and has as such been globally recognised.

What are the objectives of ISO?

There are two main ISO targets- 

• To provide a standardized and conclusively demonstrated framework to help organizations develop an efficient strategy for environmental management;
• To work with the efforts of companies to strengthen their environmental policies as an official recognition and reward.

More than 362,000 organizations worldwide were certified to ISO 14001 in 2017. In terms of the image and as a line with the demands of many companies who see this certification as evidence of a company’s environmental concerns, that acceptance is important as for today.

Principles of ISO 14001

This is not a requirement to apply ISO 14001 and, like all ISO standards, it is voluntary. Nevertheless, it requires a duty to uphold the latest environmental law and its future changes on those who are adopting it, even if it is not mandatory. The basic principle of ISO standards is to see to it that the four-stage phase of the Deming cycle continues to develop in successive cycles: 

• Plan
• Do
• Check / Study
• Act

What is an Environmental Management System?

A system of environmental management, also called an EMS, consists of procedures, methods, plans, activities, and documents specifying the rules regulating the relationship between the organization and the environment. 

This program needs to be customized to your particular company since only your company would have exact legal and environmental requirements that correspond to your business operations. However, ISO 14001 provides the framework and guidance for the creation of your environmental management system to ensure the success of an EMS does not miss important components.

Who is to use ISO 14001?

Following its established environmental policies and requirements, So 14001:2015 should be utilized by any entity that wants to introduce, strengthen, or establish a system of environmental management. Any environmental management system can take into account the specifications and requirements, to the extent determined by several factors, among which industry, environment policy, products, services, and location are determined. 

To all organizations regardless of scale, place, type of business, ISO 14001:2015 is applicable.

Benefits of ISO 14001

To organisations with environmental management programs, ISO 14001:2015 has many advantages. 

• Enhancing the efficiency of resources
• Cutting Waste
• Price management
• Ensure the environmental effect is calculated
• Get a strategic advantage in the architecture of the supply chain
• Enhance new market possibilities
• Compliance with legal requirements
• Boost consumer and stakeholder trust
• Improving global impact on the environment
• Consistency in managing environmental obligations

How many types of certifications exist?

Two types of certification exist: 

• Certification of the environmental management system of a company in compliance with the requirements of ISO 14001
• The certification of individuals to audit ISO 14001.

For your company, ISO 14001 certification involves the implementation of EMS based on ISO 14001, and the subsequent hiring of a recognized audit and approval authority for your EMS to comply with ISO 14001 standard requirements.

ISO 14001’s financial and economic gains

There are many economic and financial benefits for businesses in ISO 14001 requirements. Also, ISO 14001 certification allows companies to be more successful by increasing their brand identity and comply with international standards. 

The introduction by ISO 14001 certification of effective resource management systems allows businesses to achieve greater economic efficiency.