ISO 14001 (environment)
Commitment to preserving our environment is an imperative, even a pressing requirement. Reducing the impact of human activities on the planet is a growing concern for international bodies. It was with this in mind that ISO 14001 was introduced at the heart of companies and major industries. Here’s an overview of its basic principles.
What does ISO 14001 stand for?
The ISO 14001 standard has gained international recognition for establishing a precise framework for environmental management within organizations. Its implementation requires the rational and efficient use of available resources, the control and reduction of industrial waste, and the development of an environmental conservation strategy (reforestation, cessation of intensive exploitation, etc.).
ISO 14001 certification is designed for all organizations, including large and small companies, non-profit associations and government institutions.
Companies that adhere to this standard are fully aware of the changes that need to be made to their management practices in order to comply with the standard’s criteria.
Each environmental component, whether wastewater management, air emissions of toxic substances or soil deterioration, represents a major challenge to which those in charge must develop pragmatic responses in the short, medium and long term.
Is ISO 14001 certification compulsory?
At present, ISO 14001 certification is not mandatory. As a result, any company is free to initiate actions to protect and manage the environment without being bound by established standards.
Nonetheless, it is still clearly beneficial to embark on the process of acquiring ISO 14001 certification. Companies wishing to do so will have to undergo an ISO 14001 audit, carried out by private certification agencies such as SFH Conseil.
What are the advantages of ISO 14001?
- By adhering to current and future regulations on environmental management and protection, a certified organization demonstrates its integrity. It demonstrates the company's commitment to incorporating strategic initiatives to improve environmental efficiency into its management strategy.
- Implementing this standard ensures a favorable reputation with third-party entities, funders and consumers. This reinforces the credibility, reliability and seriousness associated with the company and its offerings.
- Your organization benefits enormously in economic terms. Recycling waste and wastewater, and making optimum use of the former, helps reduce costs.
- The integration of ISO 14001 will stimulate, directly or indirectly, all the players contributing in one way or another to your company's activities to opt for certification. Whether competitors, suppliers or customers, the impact will be beneficial.
What reforms have been made to ISO 14001?
Like all current standards, ISO 14001 is periodically revised to adapt to current contexts and realities. 2015 saw the most significant change to ISO 14001. The major directives of the revised standard essentially stipulate the following adaptations:
- Firstly, environmental management needs to play a greater role in defining the strategic orientations of companies. As a result, the latter are called upon to make a greater commitment to the application of standards-related prerequisites.
- Next, we suggest that managers take action to actively protect the ecosystem, such as using sustainable resources, reducing fossil fuel consumption and using renewable energies.
- All this is complemented by the establishment of an effective communications strategy to raise awareness among various institutions.
How to adopt ISO 14001?
To achieve ISO 14001 certification, a series of initiatives must be implemented.
The first step is to evaluate your strategic orientations within the various departments of your company (production, logistics, management, etc.) and compare them with the criteria of the standard. This review reveals the extent of the adjustments required and the potential costs associated with this transition.
Dialogue with those responsible for each sector is essential to the success of this initiative. This process also makes them aware of your intention to adopt this standard. Together, you’ll be able to set new short-term and long-term goals.
Once these fundamentals have been established, enrolling in a training program is crucial to assimilating ISO 14001 specifications and optimizing your ecological performance.
In conclusion, an ISO 14001 audit, involving an assessment of conformity, is required to obtain the standard.
Some standards associated with ISO 14001
Here are 3 environmental management standards that go hand in hand with ISO 14001:
- ISO 22000 focuses on the quality of food products and mainly concerns the agri-food sector;
- The ISO 14004 standard covers the procedures for establishing, advancing and implementing a policy for improving environmental results, as a complement to management policies;
- The ISO 14064-1 standard is dedicated to establishing a rigorous guideline for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Conclusion
Preserving the precarious balance of our planet is essential. For this reason, it is vital that the major powers and international organizations focus their efforts on environmental issues such as climate change and intensive deforestation. The application of standards such as ISO 14001 should be made mandatory and subject to rigorous controls within each company.