Standards

• ISO 14000: Your Commitment to the Environment (84 KB E-Brochure in PDF)

ISO 14001

What is ISO 14000?

ISO 14001 is the recognized international standard for environmental management. It uses the common sense approach of Plan Do Check Act in the identification, control and monitoring of environmental aspects and impacts.

Published by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), ISO 14001 is a generic standard, meant to apply equally to any type of organization. It integrates well with ISO 9001:2000 and can provide confidence both externally and internally that your organization is committed to environmental management.

Implementing ISO 14001 will enhance the efficiency of an organization's business processes, increase the effectiveness of its environmental program, and improve its performance. It will provide a defined and organized approach to relevant activities, while meeting bottom-line business needs. Registration of your EMS will enhance your organization's credibility and stature within industry and the community. It will provide a competitive advantage in today's marketplace. It could also potentially reduce the level of regulatory auditing or reporting you are currently subject to.

• environmental management systems;
• environmental auditing;
• environmental labels and declarations;
• environmental performance evaluation; and
• life cycle assessment.

What is an Environmental Management System (EMS)?

An environmental management system is a management structure that allows an organization to assess and control the environmental impact of its activities, products or services. ISO 14001, Environmental management systems — Specification with guidance for use, outlines the requirements for an EMS. According to ISO 14001, there are six key elements of an EMS:

• an environmental policy, in which the organization states its intentions and commitment to environmental performance;
• planning, in which the organization analyses the environmental impact of its operations;
• implementation and operation: the development and putting into practice of processes that will bring about environmental goals and objectives;
• checking and corrective action: monitoring and measurement of environmental indicators to ensure that goals and objectives are being met;
• management review: review of the EMS by the organization’s top management to ensure its continuing suitability, adequacy and effectiveness; and
• continual improvement.

ISO 14000 Registration?

Registration is the formal recognition of an organization’s EMS. Some organizations, mainly those outside North America, refer to this as "certification". Organizations may simply declare that their EMS meets the requirements of ISO 14001 ("self-declaration"). However, many organizations choose to have their EMS registered, usually to provide greater assurance to clients or the public, or because regulators or clients require it. An independent third party, known as a "registrar", assesses and audits the organization’s EMS to ensure that it complies with the requirements of the standard. A further level of confidence is provided by the accreditation of registrars. Accreditation is the evaluation of an organization’s competence to carry out certain functions. It provides the basis for national and international acceptance of a registrar’s certificates of registration. ANAB is the American ISO 14000 accreditation.

What are the benefits of ISO 14000?

An ISO 14000 EMS gives you the tools to monitor and improve your organization’s impact on the environment. As a result, having one may help you to:

• Decreased regulatory audits
• Creates a structure for managing environmental issues
• Improved environmental performance (enhanced profitability)
• Increased credibility and stature within industry and community
• Improved corporate image
• Reduced corporate liability