Established in 1996 by the International Organization for Standardization, a part of the ISO 14001 standard family (ISO 14000) is designed to encourage and guide an environmental management approach. It is suitable for any organization like a company, NGO, union, etc. That is thinking of improving its production, management, and activities as a way to better control its environmental impact. The guidelines of this standard which were updated in 2015 can be verified and certified by an approved body, as we will further explain.
What are the simple techniques of ISO 14001?
ISO 14001 has become an international standard for the design and implementation of an environmental management system. Published by Standard ISO International Organization for Standardization, an international organization that creates and distributes standards that are universally accepted. The latest version of the Environmental Management System Requirements was released in 2015 and is known as “ISO 14001: 2015”. Prior to its release and update, the standard was approved by most member states, and it has become an internationally accepted standard by most countries around the world.
What is the ISO 14001 standard?
ISO 140001 has two main purposes:
- To provide a standard and proven framework that can help organizations develop effective environmental management strategies.
- To act as a government recognition and reward for the efforts of organizations to improve their environmental strategy.
More than 362,000 organizations benefited from ISO 14001 certification in 2017. Nowadays, this recognition has become important in terms of image and in response to the needs of many contractors who see this certificate as evidence of environmental concern of a company. Thus, the ISO 14001 standard is now an integral part of the corporate social responsibility ability (CSR) strategy of a large number of companies.
Policies of ISO 14001:
The application of ISO 14001 is not legally binding and, like all ISO-standard standards, is voluntary. However, while not mandatory, it carries a compliance commitment with current environmental regulations and future development for those who follow it. The basic principle of ISO standards is to find continuous improvement in the continuous cycle according to the four-stage process of the dimming (PDCA) cycle:
- Plan
- Tax
- Study / Check
- Act
Implement ISO 14001 standards:
Following the steps of the above cycle PDCA, the implementation of ISO 14001 standards is carried out in three stages:
- First, there is a need to audit current organizational practices related to environmental management and compliance with or compliance with the rules and objectives of ISO 14001 standards. This will allow companies to identify their processes and get a clear picture, making it easier for them to rethink and transform them to achieve the required improvements required by ISO Certification.
- This self-audit can already be done internally, but all information about the organization’s environment and policies must be approved by the certification body and confirmed by its consultant.
- Once the warehouse is complete, a program to be taken and the work to be developed and required for certification need to be established and implemented as per the appropriate schedule. For example, if the audit finds that the organization is not managing its paper resources badly, the program of measures will probably focus on establishing an effective management approach for these resources.
- Finally, rigorous assessments of new practices and their environmental impacts will be made on regular basis annual audits every three years, where organizations may be asked to update or change their environmental management systems.
What is an environmental management system?
An environmental management system, often called an EMS, consists of policies, processes, plans, practices, and records that define how your company works with the environment. This system needs to be compatible with your specific company, as only your company will have the right legal requirements and environmentally friendly interactions that will match your specific business process.
However, the ISO 14001 requirement provides a framework and guidelines for creating your own environmental management system so that you do not miss out on the essential components required for an EMS to be successful.
Getting to the heart of why ISO 14001 is important:
Taking care of our environment, and not causing our companies to have a negative impact on the environment, are two important challenges facing the business. The biggest benefit of implementing an EMS is the recognition that comes with being in a business that cares enough to reduce its environmental footprint. It can bring good relationships with customers, the public, and the community for your company, but it also brings other benefits.
Many companies can save money through the application of an environmental management system with a good public image. Incidents can be achieved by reducing the costs incurred by liability, being able to get insurance at a more reasonable price, and saving input and energy through reduced efforts. This improvement in cost control is a benefit that cannot be ignored when deciding to implement an environmental management system.
Where to get ISO 14001?
The full text of ISO 14001 is available through the ISO Online Counseling Platform after payment. The certificate itself, in a three-year cycle, can be requested from renewable, low-accredited organizations:
- American National Standards Institute (ANSI).
- International Accreditation Forum (IAF).
- BSI Group.
Economical and financial benefits of ISO 14001:
ISO 14001 has many financial and financial benefits for standard business In fact, by improving their compliance with their brand image and international standards, ISO 14001 certification enables companies to become more competitive. The implementation of an efficient resource management system through ISO 14001 certification also enables companies to perform financially better.
What does ISO 14001 really look like?
The ISO 14001 structure is divided into ten parts. The first three are the initial, the last seven contain the needs of the environmental management system Here are seven main sections:
Section 4: Organizational Issues: – This section discusses the need for your organization to understand and implement an EMS. This includes identifying internal and external issues, identifying stakeholders and their expectations, defining the scope of EMS, and identifying the processes required for EMS.
Section 5: Leadership: – Leadership needs include the need for key management in the implementation of EMS. Top management needs to ensure environmental commitment, define and communicate environmental policies and demonstrate commitment to EMS by fulfilling the role and responsibilities of the organization.
Section 6: Planning:-Top management also needs to plan for the ongoing work of the EMS The organization needs to assess the risks and opportunities of EMS, and identify environmental targets for improvement and make plans to meet those goals.
In addition, the organization needs to evaluate all the ways in which the organizational process interacts and affects the environment and also assess the legal and other commitments required for the organization.
Section 7: Support: – The support department works with EMS to manage all resources, and also requires skill, awareness, communication, and control of documented information documents and records required for your process.
Section 8: Operations: – Organizational processes work with all aspects of environmental control, as well as the need to identify and plan for possible emergencies so that you are ready for emergencies.
Section 9: Performance Evaluation: – This section covers the need to make sure your EMS can do a good job. This includes monitoring and measuring your processes, environmental compliance, internal audit, and ongoing management review of EMS.
Section 10: Improvements: – Includes the requirements in this last section to improve your EMS over time .This includes the need to assess process inconsistencies and to take corrective action for the process.
These sections are based on a Plan-Two-Check-Act cycle, which uses these elements to implement change within the organization’s processes and to improve processes.