ISO Information
ISO 14000 environmental management that encompasses a broad area which includes:
Environmental Management Systems
Environmental Auditing
Evaluation of Environmental Performance.
Environmental Labeling
Life-Cycle Assessment
ISO 14040, 14041, 14042, 14043: series (14040 to 14043), Life Cycle Assessment, discusses pre-production planning and environment goal setting.
However, ISO 14001 is the only standard intended for registration. All other standards in the ISO 14000 series are General guidelines for guidance. ISO 14001 is an internationally accepted specification for an environmental management system (EMS). It specifies requirements for establishing an environmental policy, determining environmental aspects and impacts of products/activities/services, planning environmental objectives and measurable targets, implementation and operation of programs to meet objectives and targets, checking and corrective action, and management review
Unique features of ISO 14001
Comprehensive: all members of the organization participate in environmental protection, the EMS considers all stakeholders, and there are processes to identify all environmental impact.
Proactive: it focuses on forward thinking and action instead of reacting to command and control policies.
Systems approach: it stresses on improving environmental protection by using a single environmental management system across all functions of the organization.
Continual improvement: of processes based on objective measurement.
Importance of ISO 14001 standards
ISO 14001 standards provide a standardized and structured Environmental Management Systems framework management tools for organizations who is concern to achieve and demonstrate sound environmental performance by controlling the impact of their activities, products and services. Such as:
ØImproved process efficiency
Ø Reduced waste generation resulting in reduced disposal costs
Ø Utilization of recoverable resources
Ø An environmental policy supported by top management
Ø Identification of environmental aspects and significant impacts.
Ø Identification of legal and other requirements.
Ø Environmental goals, objectives, and targets that support the policy.
Ø An environmental management planning
Ø Definition of roles, responsibilities, and authorities.
Ø Training and awareness procedures.
Ø Process for communication of the EMS to all interested parties.
Ø Document and operational control procedures.
Ø Procedures for emergency response
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Ø Procedures to correct nonconformance.
Ø Record management procedures.
Ø A program for auditing and corrective action.
Ø Procedures for management review.
Benefits of being ISO 14001 Certified
- Ø An EMS can help reduce incidents of pollution and the associated expense of recovery.
Ø Recycling manufacturing waste and unused inputs could increase revenues.
Ø Recycling need not be within the same facility, but with another one that can use the waste as input to their production.
Ø Employee health and safety can be improved, thereby improving productivity, decreasing sick days, and reducing insurable risk.
Ø Insurance claims may be reduced, thus reducing the costs of coverage and settlements.
- Ø The EMS standards can define "best practices" and create a foundation for the next level of improvement.
Ø A common terminology for all locations of a multinational organization will increase efficiency of communication and improve results.
Ø An EMS can identify instances of redundancy in day-to-day efforts for regulatory compliance, which can be eliminated, thus making the organization more efficient.
Ø Management awareness of environmental impacts provides the opportunity for planning to reduce negative impacts.
Ø As ISO 14001 is accepted internationally, organizations will need to meet only one standard, thus simplifying environmental management.
- Ø Customers might favor companies with an EMS. These customers could be the ultimate consumer or industrial customers.
Ø Community support for a facility could be increased by demonstrating concern for the local environment through an EMS.
Ø A company's products may appeal to customers seeking green products.
Ø ISO 14001 registration demonstrates that the EMS meets international standards. Since registration requires third party auditing, it validates the EMS and the claims made by the organization.
Ø ISO 14001 helps create a common language and way of thinking about environmental aspects which can help companies, communities, governments, and organizations communicate and work together.
Ø Cleaner air, water, and soil.
Ø Longer resource life through reduced usage.
Ø Progress toward a sustainable culture.
Ø Less waste in land fills.
