The ISO 14000 standards were issued in September 1996 by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), a large private organization involved in the standardization of industrial management practices. Although ISO 14000 standards are the product of a non-governmental organization and compliance with these standards is voluntary, one of the main goals of these standards is to ensure that companies comply with applicable environmental laws. Companies are considering the use of ISO 14001 Certification as a self-regulatory tool, minimizing their oversight and sanctions imposed by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and its country-level partners.
The accredited certification of this standard shows that stakeholders feel committed to environmental management. When a company has properly implemented an environmental management system, it also ensures compliance with environmental regulations improves environmental performance, and provides a systematic and strategic approach to environmental issues.
The implementation of an environmental management system (EMS) has several advantages, and ISO 14001 is the world’s most recognized EMS certification.
An EMS that meets the requirements of ISO 14001: 2004 is a management tool that enables an organization of any type and size to :
Identify and control the environmental impact of its products or services
Continuously improve environmental performance
Implement a systematic approach to defining environmental goals, reach them, and show that they have been achieved
Ensuring legal compliance supported by ISO 14001 Certification
The main thing is that it is the right thing to do.
We all want to live in a world for future generations in which we have done responsible environmental protection. It can be said that an ISO 14000 certificate serves as a guide and reminder of everyone’s duty to protect the environment by preventing pollution and the air we breathe, the water we drink and the soil, we breathe, continuously improved.
Not only do you want to protect the environment, but you also want to improve your environmental performance as an organization. You can achieve this by doing what you do more effectively and with better control because you have systematically reflected and planned your actions.
The application of ISO 14001 Certification has many advantages. Here are the top 5:
1. Guarantee the commitment of the Management
According to ISO 14001, management must define and manage the implementation and maintenance of best environmental practices. The involvement of the management team increases employee engagement. As all members of the organization work toward the same goal, the likelihood of achieving that goal increases.
2. Strengthening relationships with stakeholders
ISO 14001 Certification can improve a company’s reputation and improve relationships with stakeholders. If an intervener requires ISO 14001 certification, it is clear that the relationship with the certification will improve. Even if stakeholders do not need ISO 14001 certification, this certification can increase their confidence.
3. Improve business development
When a company is looking for new customers, it can happen that a customer encounters a supplier who requires ISO 14001 certification from its suppliers.
4. Recognize risks and Opportunities
Every organization is different. With ISO 14001, organizations can identify environmental issues that affect them. It helps organizations manage, monitor and control these issues, as well as identify risks and opportunities that may improve or hinder the achievement of their environmental goals.
5. Improvement of the backup process
The certification review process can also be beneficial to an organization. A certification authority audit ensures that the management system is properly implemented and managed, and identifies opportunities for improvement and potential risks that the organization may have missed.
An organization can implement ISO 14001 without being certified. In many cases, however, it is a certification that gives confidence to stakeholders. To find an accredited certification authority, visit the ISO Update Registrar Directory.