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Understand how ISO 14001:2015 works and how it contributes to your business's overall environmental impact.
Published 1 Sep 2023
ISO 14001:2015 is an environmental management system (EMS) standard developed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) for companies of all sizes and industries. It sets requirements for handling environmental responsibilities systematically and establishing a high-quality EMS. Certification is not required to implement this standard, but having one demonstrates your capability to enforce it correctly and at par with global standards.
ISO 14001 belongs to the ISO 14000 family of EMS standards, with its latest version published in 2015. On the other hand, ISO 14004 complements this standard by laying out guidelines for proper implementation.
While not a requirement, obtaining an ISO 14001 certification offers numerous advantages to your company.
First, the ISO 14001 standard provides a holistic framework for managing and addressing environmental issues. It enables you to enhance your environmental performance through decreased utility consumption and optimal use of resources. And in doing so, it paves the way for more efficient processes across the board, thereby reducing operational costs.
Aside from financial gains, an ISO-certified EMS also gives your organization a competitive edge. Communicating your environmental efforts builds trust and confidence in your brand, especially for environmentally-conscious stakeholders. These consumers would gladly subscribe to your product or service, given the causes you put forward.
Lastly, getting certified for ISO 14001 shows your readiness to comply with environmental and other relevant legislation and demonstrates your commitment to caring for the environment.
The ISO 14001 standard encompasses environmental systems, auditing mechanisms, communication channels, labels, and operational analyses, among other things. Moreover, it tackles an array of environmental issues ranging from the following:
ISO 14001 is composed of the following requirements that organizations must follow to implement a high-standard EMS:
After discussing the scope and requirements, it’s time to learn the process to gain an ISO 14001 certification. This section briefly runs through the certification process to help you get started.
It’s important to note ISO itself doesn’t issue the certificates, so it’s best to look into third-party accreditation bodies for this procedure.
Carrying out ISO’s EMS standards becomes futile without fully understanding what they entail. For this reason, it’s crucial to research and read how ISO 14001 works and how to implement it in your organization effectively. Plenty of online sources and guides are available at your disposal, starting with the ISO website.
The next step is to conduct an internal audit of your EMS operations. This audit imparts valuable insights into your EMS’ strengths and deficiencies compared to the ISO’s standards. The following checklists can help you determine how your current EMS aligns with ISO 14001.
Eliminate manual tasks and streamline your operations.
Findings from your preliminary EMS audit become valuable data for the next step: planning. Integrate these results in your EMS compliance and monitoring plan to ensure your operations align with the ISO 14001 requirements. Preparing a plan beforehand sets the pace and guides you in systematically managing environmental issues stemming from your processes.
Before carrying out the plan, you must first train your staff members about the modifications in your EMS procedures and, if needed, provide learning materials about ISO 14001. This procedure equips them with the necessary skills and knowledge to perform their responsibilities and comply with ISO standards.
After developing a plan and training your employees, you are now ready to carry out the ISO-aligned EMS. This guide presents the Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) way of implementing ISO 14001 standards in your processes.
Be sure to monitor your progress at set intervals (e.g., weekly, monthly, bi-monthly) and observe any recurring patterns that can hinder you from effectively fulfilling the criteria of ISO 14001.
Documentation is an integral part of the ISO 14001 certification process. It’s critical to record the results of implementing the EMS plan, as it proves that your operations comply with ISO’s EMS standards.
Keeping track and updating your records becomes easier with digital tools. Not only is it better for the environment by replacing paper documents with digital forms, but it also stores your data in a secured online space, so you won’t need to worry about losing any documents.
Once you’re confident with your preparations, it’s time to apply for the certification. You can find legitimate certifying bodies in your country using the International Accreditation Forum CertSearch, a portal from ISO.
Your chosen institution will run an audit to verify if your EMS complies with the criteria set in the ISO 14001 standards. Once your organization satisfies the requirements, the accrediting body will grant you the ISO EMS certification.
SafetyCulture is a powerful digital platform for documenting processes and staying compliant with ISO 14001. Transform your paper forms into digital checklists and perform internal audits efficiently on your tablet, laptop, or mobile phone. Then, access completed audit reports in a secure cloud database right in time for the certification application.
Certifying bodies also use SafetyCulture to streamline their processes, so they can deliver accurate and effective EMS audits for ISO certification.
SafetyCulture simplifies the ISO 14001 certification and compliance procedures through the following features:
Leizel Estrellas
Leizel Estrellas is a content writer and researcher for SafetyCulture. Her academic and professional training as a researcher allows her to write meaningful articles that create a lasting impact. As a content specialist, she strives to promote a culture of safety in the workplace through accessible and reader-friendly content. With her high-quality work, she is keen on helping businesses across industries identify issues and opportunities to improve every day.
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