Ledge can help you implement or improve your EMS to meet the requirements of ISO 14001.
What Is the ISO 14001 Standard?
ISO 14001 is a voluntary standard that establishes requirements for an environmental management system (EMS). The current standard, ISO 14001:2015, features three introductory sections and seven required elements as they relate to an organization’s EMS:
- Organization’s context
- Leadership
- Planning
- Support
- Operation
- Performance evaluation
- Improvement
Environmental Management System Definition
An environmental management system (EMS) is a set of processes and practices that enable an organization to reduce its negative impacts on the environment, comply with applicable laws and regulations, and continually improve its environmental performance.
The ISO 14001:2015 standard provides guidance on how to develop and implement an EMS. It is based on the “Plan-Do-Check-Act” (PDCA) cycle, and can be used by organizations of all sizes and in all sectors.
Your ISO 14001 environmental management system must meet the standard’s regulations and requirements for your organization to be officially certified.
What Is the Main Goal of ISO 14001?
The main goal of ISO 14001 is to help organizations minimize their negative impacts on the environment and continually improve their environmental performance. This is achieved through more efficient use of resources, reduction of waste, and compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
The five core elements of ISO 14001 are typically considered to be:
- Environmental policy
- Planning
- Implementation and operation
- Checking and corrective action
- Management review
Benefits of ISO 14001 Certification
Modern consumers and investors are becoming more vigilant about seeing their values reflected in organizations. While this expectation can be motivation enough to take action, there are many additional, tangible benefits of striving for ISO 14001 compliance, including:
- Reduced waste and more efficient use of resources
- Compliance with applicable laws and regulations
- Better risk management
- Increased competitiveness
- Improved stakeholder relations
- Access to new markets
Enhance Your Environmental Management Efforts
With ISO 14001 compliance, you’ll improve your environmental impact by:
- Reducing excessive use of natural resources
- Increasing your business’ efficiency
- Minimize the impact of your operations
- Achieving consistent, repeatable results
Improve Relationships With Shareholders and Customers
By adhering to the ISO 14001 standard, you will improve your business’ reputation and show shareholders and customers that you are:
- Committed to being eco-friendly
- Focused on reducing your carbon footprint
- Actively working to improve environmental management practices
Prepare for Unexpected Environmental Incidents
Depending on your industry and the nature of your organization, you may be more or less prone to environmental hazards. Either way, being prepared pays off. ISO 14001 can help your business prepare for and respond to environmental incidents, such as:
- Oil spills
- Hazardous waste leaks
- Air pollution accidents
By having an EMS in place, you have a plan to quickly and effectively respond to these types of incidents, minimizing their impact on the environment and your business.
Save Money on Operating Costs
One of the most tangible ISO 14001 benefits relates to cutting operational costs. ISO 14001 can help your business save money by:
- Reducing energy consumption
- Improving resource efficiency
- Minimizing waste
By implementing an EMS, you’ll have a structured approach to identifying and addressing areas where you can reduce costs.
Engage and Retain Employees
Actively upholding environmental and quality standards can improve your relationships with current and potential employees. With an EMS in place, you can engage and retain employees by:
- Improving working conditions
- Reducing environmental impact
- Demonstrating commitment to sustainable development
An EMS can also help you attract new talent, as more and more job seekers are looking for businesses that share their values.
Bolster Your Organization’s Reputation
With a well-managed EMS, you can build trust with shareholders, customers, and the general public. An ISO 14001 EMS can help improve your business’ reputation by:
- Demonstrating your commitment to environmental responsibility
- Promoting transparent communication with stakeholders
- Enhancing relationships with prospective and current customers
When you acquire independent verification against a globally-recognized industry standard like ISO 14001:2015, you demonstrate your commitment to shared environmental and performance values, allowing you to appeal to prospective customers, investors, and partners. Having an ISO 14001 certification can also grant you supply chain opportunities and advantages that would otherwise be unavailable to you, giving you a more optimal position among your competition.
Establish a Culture Driven By Continuous Improvement
An ISO 14001 EMS provides a framework for continual improvement of your environmental management system. By regularly assessing your performance and setting goals for improvement, you can create a culture of environmental stewardship within your organization that will last long into the future.
- Demonstrating your commitment to environmental responsibility
- Promoting transparent communication with stakeholders
- Enhancing relationships with prospective and current customers
When you acquire independent verification against a globally-recognized industry standard like ISO 14001:2015, you demonstrate your commitment to shared environmental and performance values, allowing you to appeal to prospective customers, investors, and partners. Having an ISO 14001 certification can also grant you supply chain opportunities and advantages that would otherwise be unavailable to you, giving you a more optimal position among your competition.
Should You Get ISO 14001 Certified?
The benefits of ISO 14001 certification are clear. If you’re looking for ways to improve your environmental management system, reduce your business’s impact on the environment, and prepare for unexpected incidents, ISO 14001 is the way to go.
Who Is Eligible?
Any organization can get certified. There are no prerequisites for certification, so any business can begin the process regardless of their current environmental management practices.
ISO 14001 Requirements for Certification
To receive ISO 14001 certification, a firm must implement an EMS with the ISO 14001 standard in mind, then hire a recognized certification body to audit your system for compliance. The Ledge Inc. team can help you develop and implement the 14001 program and select a registrar that best fits your organization.
The auditing and certification process can be further divided into the following steps:
Internal Audit
The ISO 14001 internal audit involves a review of your EMS documentation to ensure it meets the requirements of the ISO 14001 standard. The team at Ledge Inc. can provide detailed internal audits to prepare your team for their registration audit. Once your documentation has been reviewed and found to be compliant, you can move on to the next stage.
Formal Management Review
During this step, your senior management team will assess your system to ensure it meets the needs of your organization. This step is important, as it ensures that everyone in your organization is on board with the ISO 14001 certification process.
Corrective Adjustments and Actions
If any non-conformities are found during the internal or formal management audits, corrective actions must be taken to address them. Once the corrective actions have been completed, you can move on to the next stage.
Documentation Review
After you have taken any necessary corrective actions, the next ISO 14001 requirement entails a certification body reviewing the relevant documentation to ensure that everything meets the requirements of the ISO 14001 standard.
Certifying ISO 14001 Audit
The final step in the certification process is the certifying audit, which is conducted by a team of external auditors. This audit will assess your EMS and your organization’s activities to ensure all the requirements of the ISO 14001 standard are met. During this process, your certifying auditors will review your documentation, company practices, records, and any other relevant materials to determine compliance.
How Much Does An ISO 14001 Certification Cost?
The cost of an ISO 14001 certification depends on a number of factors, including the size, risk profile and scope of your organization, the number of employees, and the location of your operations. You may also pay different amounts when it comes to employing support staff, implementing changes, hiring new staff, conducting relevant training, and more.
How ISO 14001 Compliance Can Enhance ISO 9001 Elements
Many of the requirements of the ISO 14001 standard are complementary to the requirements of the ISO 9001 quality management standard. Implementing an EMS can help make your QMS more effective while also promoting a stronger framework for continual improvement.
ISO 9001 vs 14001
While meeting ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 requirements can have a positive impact on the quality of an organization’s operations, the primary goals of each are different. The ISO 9001 standard provides guidelines for improving your quality management system (QMS) for the sake of achieving consistent quality and meeting customer demands.
On the other hand, the ISO 14001 relates exclusively to the implementation or improvement of your environmental management system (EMS), which pertains to the measurement and management of your environmental impact.
In some ways, the ultimate results of certifying to these standards can complement one another, but getting certified in one does not automatically mean you are eligible for certification with the other.
Implementing a New EMS for ISO 14001 Compliance?
Contact Ledge for Expert Implementation, Review, InternalAuditing and 3rd Party Audit Support Services.
If you’re looking to implement a new EMS or improve your existing system to meet the ISO 14001 standard, Ledge can help. We offer expert consulting, implementation, review, internal auditing and 3rd Party audit support services to help you ensure ISO 14001 standard compliance.
