What’s ISO 14001? How to Get ISO 14001 Certification?
Any kind of business enterprise will leave a footprint on the environment. With people and governments becoming more sensitive about saving and protecting the environment, businesses have to adopt best practices in environment protection, management, and sustainability.
ISO 14001 is a set of standards in the Environment Management System for businesses and organizations. It is part of the ISO 14000 family of standards meant to address different aspects of an organization and its interaction with the environment. The standards have been created by the Geneva-based International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
The latest version of 1SO 14001:2015 came in September 2015, with a set deadline for revision every 5 years. Before this, ISO 14001: 2004 was in force that came to an end in September 2018.
What is ISO 14001:2015 certification?
ISO formulates and sets the standards but it does not certify compliance with the standards. It does not give any certificate to any business or organization that it has complied with ISO 14001:2015. The certification is done by independent organizations engaged in research, training, inspection, and certification, known as ISO Certification Body.
How to get ISO 14001 certification?
The certification process is initiated and completed by an independent certification organization ISO Certification Body on a formal request by a company or organization. It conducts an audit and suggests changes in the processes, systems, controls, and management to meet ISO 14001 standards requirements.
If all these compliances with ISO 14001 are met, the certification organization awards the certificate that the business organization meets the requirements of ISO 14001 standards. However, it is a lengthy process and it is completed in several stages.
The certificate is an assurance from the certification organization that the business organization awarded with the ISO 14001 certification meets the standards set out in ISO 14001. Usually, certification organizations are accredited by relevant Accreditation bodies. But this is not necessary and some independent certification organizations could be more reputable than an accredited one.
This is all about the overview of how to get ISO 14001 Certification.
Benefits of ISO 14001
For businesses, it’s very important that they understand their responsibilities to the environment. They should ensure that their operations do not create pollution or add to the environmental crisis.
To ensure that they don’t do so, the government has enacted laws. Even independent environment groups, both at the national and international levels, are active to spot violations and report them.
Given this, adopting the standards of ISO 14001 ensures that an organization is well ahead of the environmental benchmark. There are certain benefits of ISO 14001 that include the following:
- A greater focus on energy conservation and waste management leads to cost savings
- Enhances the image and credibility of the brand and the Company
- Makes organization future-ready by having appropriate systems and controls
- Ensures compliance with existing environmental rules and laws
- Reduces the possibility of public liability suits
Concluding Thoughts
For businesses to be better prepared to meet their responsibilities towards environmental protection, ISO 14001:2015 standards are widely used across the globe. The certification of ISO 14001:2015 compliance is awarded by independent certification organizations ISO Certification Body. It is an assurance that the organization meets the standards laid down in ISO 14001:2015.
To know more about How to get ISO 14001 Certification, kindly watch the video, provided below, which could help you to have a better understanding, of how to get ISO 14001 Certification and an overview of What is ISO 14001 Environmental Management System.