ISO 14001 – Environmental Management System
What is an environmental management system?
An environmental management system encompasses an overall control of industry or service sector environmental aspects. It covers the requirements for compliance with legal and other areas, as well as levelling cost, efficient use of resources, prevention of pollution and response to the requirements and expectations of customers, proprietors or founders of an organization and other interested parties. Guidelines for an environmental management system are given in the ISO 14001 standard. With its adoption and application, an organization can fulfill environmental principles of its environmental policy, which makes it easier for it to control environmental hazards, continually improve and adapt to customers, market and regulatory requirements, scientific, and technological progress.
About the Standard
The third edition of ISO 14001 (Environmental Management Systems – Requirements with guidance for use) is already in use. The standard covers requirements related to modern approaches such as zero waste, eco-design, and circular economy through a lifecycle perspective. Since the first edition of the standard in 1996, more than 529,853 organisations in 179 countries around the world have been certified to the requirements of the standard by 31 December 2022 (source ISO Survey 2022). It is the second most frequently certified management system. The standard is suitable for all types of organisations, regardless of sector or size.
Main Activities for the Establishment of an Environmental Management System:
- Management decision
- Initial environmental review
- Study of the requirements of the ISO 14004 and ISO 14001 standards
- System establishment plan
- Identification of relevant environmental aspects and legal requirements
- Definition of environmental policies
- Definition of environmental objectives and targets, and environmental management programmes for achieving the set of objectives and targets
- Identification of interested parties
- Development of communication channels
- Preparation of training programmes
- Measurement, maintenance and checking
- Continual improvement
