Overview of iso 14001

FOR SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS
An Overview
ISO 14001:2015

What is ISO 14001?
ISO 14001 : 2015 An Overview
ISO14001isaninternationally agreed standard that setsout therequirementsfor an
environmental management system.
It helpsorganisationsimprovetheir environmental performancethrough more efficient use
of resourcesand reduction of waste, gainingacompetitive advantage and the trust of
stakeholders.

What is an environmental management system?
An environmental management system helps organisations identify,
manage, monitor and control their environmental issues in a holistic
manner.
Like other ISO management systems, it uses a High-Level Structure.
This means it can be integrated easily into any existing ISO
management system.
It also includes the need for continual improvement of an organisation’s
systems and approach to environmental concerns.

Who is ISO 14001 for?
ISO 14001 is suitable for organisations of all types and sizes, be they private,
not-for-profit or governmental.
It requires that an organisation considers all environmental issues relevant
to its operations, such as air pollution, water and sewage issues, waste
management, soil contamination, climate change mitigation and
adaptation, and resource use and efficiency.

ISO 14001
ISO 14001 has recently been revised, with key improvements such as:
• The increased prominence of environmental management within the
organisation’s strategic planning processes
• Greater input from leadership
• A stronger commitment to proactive initiatives that boost environmental
performance

What benefits will it bring to my business or organisation?
Users of the standard have reported that ISO 14001:2015 helps:
• Demonstrate compliance with current and future statutory and
regulatory requirements
• Increase leadership involvement and engagement of employees
• Improve company reputation and the confidence of stakeholders
through strategic communication

ISO14001:2015Benefits
• Achieve strategic business aims by incorporating environmental issues into
business management
• Provide a competitive and financial advantage through improved efficiencies
and reduced costs
• Encourage better environmental performance of suppliers by integrating
them into the organisation’s business systems

WhywasISO14001Revised?
All ISO standards are reviewed and revised regularly to make sure they remain
relevant to the marketplace.
ISO 14001:2015 will respond to the latest trends, including the increasing
recognition by companies of the need to factor in both external and internal
elements that influence their environmental impact, such as climate volatility and
the competitive context in which they work.
The changes also ensure that the standard is compatible with other management
system standards

What are the key improvements?
ISO 14001:2015 now requires:
• Environmental management to be more prominent within the organisation’s
strategic direction
• A greater commitment from leadership
• The implementation of proactive initiatives to protect the environment from
harm and degradation
• A focus on life-cycle thinking, to consider the environment from development to
end-of-life
• The addition of a stakeholder-focused communication strategy
It also allows for easier integration into other management systems thanks to the
same structure, terms and definitions.

I am certified to ISO 14001:2004. What does this mean
for me?
Organisations are granted a three-year transition period once the revision
has been published to migrate to the new edition of the standard. After this
period, if third-party certification is desired, you will have to seek
certification to the new version.
For further information and guidance, refer to the International Accreditation
Forum’s transition planning guidance document at www.iaf.nu.

Should I be certified to ISO 14001?
Accredited certification to ISO 14001 is not a requirement and there are many
benefits from using the standard without going through the accredited
certification process.
However, third-party certification – where an independent certification body
audits your practices against the requirements of the standard – is a way of
signaling to your stakeholders that you have implemented the standard correctly.
For some organisations, it helps to show how they meet regulatory or contractual
requirements.
ISO does not perform certification. For more information about the certification
process and how to find a certification body, please visit the “certification” section
on the Website (www.iso.org).

Examplesofsuccesswith ISO 14001
Organisations using ISO 14001 have found success across a range of areas,
including reduced energy and water consumption, a more systematic
approach to legal compliance and an improved overall environmental
performance.

PremierFoods
Enhancing relationships with stakeholders and staff
“Since 2001, we have used ISO 14001 to make big improvements such as increasing our
organisation’s recycling rate. We have now been at “zero landfill” since March 2013 and are
recycling and reusing100 %of our site wastes.
“We have continued to improve our relationship with neighbours because we have the
processes in place to respond quickly to any concerns. Among other benefits, our
processes and the appointment of Green Matters Champions ensure that staff are
environmentallyengaged and aware of the site’s potential impact on the environment.”
Richard Giles
Premier Foods, UK

UpconCorporation
Boostingconfidence andcompetivity
“UPCON provides services to lift up sunken concrete floors using its unique
UPCON method. Achieving certification to ISO 14001 in 2008 allowed us to
document effectively the details of our method for all staff to share and
standardisethequalityofworkateverysite.
“In addition to boosting our competitiveness through more accurate quality
control, ISO 14001 also strengthens our confidence in our method by
demonstrating that it produces 90 % less CO2
emissions when compared to
concrete replacement. What’s more, since our certification, staff engagement
and motivation have increased, safe in the knowledge that they are
contributingpositivelytotheenvironmentthroughour productsandservices.”
Nobukazu Matsudo
UPCON,Japan

HowdoIgetstartedwithISO14001:2015?
A number of resources provide detailed guidance on how to use the
standard, but here are a few tips to get you started:
Tip 1 Define your objectives. What do you want to achieve with this
standard?
Tip 2 Get buy-in from senior management. It is essential that the leaders of
your organisation support the objectives of an effective environmental
management system and are committed to the process.
Tip 3 Get a good overview of existing processes and systems relevant to
your environmental impact. This will allow you to more easily identify gaps.

OtherstandardsintheISO14000family
The ISO 14000 family comprises a number of standards that complement ISO 14001, some
of which are listed below. Get more information in the brochure Environmental
management – The ISO 14000 family of International Standards, a basic introduction to
the ISO 14000 series of standards.
ISO 14004 provides guidance on the establishment, implementation, maintenance and
improvement of an environmental management system and its coordination with other
management systems.
ISO 14006 is intended to be used by those organisations that have implemented an
environmental management system in accordance with ISO 14001, but can help
integrate eco-design into other management systems.
ISO 14064-1 specifies principles and requirements at the organisational level for the
quantification and reporting of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and removal.

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Overview of iso 14001

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