Table of Contents
What is ISO 14001? A Step-by-Step Guide to Environmental Management
ISO 14001 is an international standard for designing and implementing an Environmental Management System (EMS). It provides a framework and guidelines to ensure your EMS includes all the essential elements to be successful.
The Basics of ISO 14001
ISO 14001 has become the global standard for environmental management systems. Published by ISO (International Organization for Standardization), it is accepted worldwide. The most recent version, ISO 14001:2015, was agreed upon by a majority of member countries before release. This makes it a recognized standard in many countries.
A survey at the end of 2017 showed the number of companies implementing ISO 14001 is stable globally.
What is an Environmental Management System?
An EMS comprises policies, processes, plans, practices, and records. These elements define how your company interacts with the environment. The system must be tailored to your specific company. Only your company will have the exact legal requirements and environmental interactions. ISO 14001 provides a framework to ensure you do not miss any crucial elements.
Why is ISO 14001 Important?
Taking care of the environment and preventing negative impacts are vital challenges for businesses today. Implementing an EMS shows that your business cares about reducing its environmental footprint. This brings better relationships with customers, the public, and the community. It also brings other benefits.
Companies can save money through an EMS by reducing incidents that could result in liability costs. They can obtain insurance at a more reasonable cost. Conservation of materials and energy through reduction efforts also helps. This improvement in cost control is a significant benefit when deciding to implement an EMS.
What Does ISO 14001 Look Like?
The ISO 14001 structure has ten sections. The first three are introductory. The last seven contain the requirements for the EMS:
Section 4: Context of the Organization Understand your organization to implement an EMS. Identify internal and external issues, interested parties and their expectations, the scope of the EMS, and the processes required.
Section 5: Leadership Top management must be instrumental in implementing the EMS. Demonstrate commitment by ensuring environmental commitment, defining and communicating the environmental policy, and assigning roles and responsibilities.
Section 6: Planning Plan for the ongoing function of the EMS. Assess risks and opportunities. Identify environmental objectives and plans to achieve them. Assess how processes interact with the environment and legal commitments.
Section 7: Support Manage all resources for the EMS. Ensure competence, awareness, communication, and control of documented information.
Section 8: Operation Handle all aspects of environmental controls needed by processes. Identify potential emergency situations and plan responses.
Section 9: Performance Evaluation Monitor if your EMS is functioning well. Includes monitoring processes, assessing environmental compliance, internal audits, and ongoing management review.
Section 10: Improvement Make your EMS better over time. Assess process nonconformity and take corrective actions.
These sections follow a Plan-Do-Check-Act cycle. This cycle drives and maintains improvements within the processes of the organization.
Why Implement ISO 14001 in Your Organization?
The benefits of ISO 14001 are significant. Companies of all sizes have used this standard to great effect. Here are just a few benefits:
Improve Image and Credibility: Demonstrating a commitment to environmental management can enhance your company’s image and market share. It builds better relationships with customers and the community.
Improve Cost Control: An EMS can help reduce costs. By conserving energy and materials, and reducing incidents that could lead to liabilities, companies can save money. Better environmental controls can also lead to reduced insurance costs.
Use Evidence-Based Decision Making: Using accurate data to make decisions can increase the success rate of improvements. Tracking progress allows for correction before initiatives go off track, saving costs and time.
Create a Culture of Continual Improvement: Systematic improvement leads to better processes and reduced environmental impacts. This not only improves your public image but can also reduce costs. When improvement becomes a part of the culture, maintaining the EMS becomes easier.
Engage Your People: Employees prefer to work for companies that care about the environment. Engaging your employees in efforts to reduce environmental footprints can increase focus and retention.
Practical Steps to Becoming ISO 14001 Certified
There are two types of certification: certification of a company’s EMS against ISO 14001, and certification of individuals to audit against ISO 14001. Here are the steps for a company to implement an EMS and get certified:
Management Support and Legal Requirements:
Start by defining your environmental policy, aspects, objectives, and targets. These define the EMS’s scope and implementation.Create Mandatory and Additional Processes:
Develop the necessary processes and procedures for your operations. There are mandatory processes to include, and others as needed. You can create documents internally, hire a consultant, or purchase standard documentation.Operate the EMS:
Operate the EMS for a period to collect records for the next steps: auditing and review.
Mandatory Steps for Certification
Internal Audit: Check your EMS processes. Ensure records confirm compliance and identify hidden problems and weaknesses.
Management Review: A formal review by management to evaluate the EMS processes and make decisions.
Corrective Actions: Correct the root causes of identified problems and document resolutions.
Certification Process
The certification process has two stages:
Stage One (Documentation Review):
Certification body auditors check if your documentation meets ISO 14001 requirements.Stage Two (Main Audit):
Auditors check if your activities comply with ISO 14001 and your documentation.
ISO 14001 Training and Certification for Individuals
Training in ISO 14001 concepts is available, with various course options:
ISO 14001 Lead Auditor Course:
A four- to five-day course on understanding ISO 14001 and auditing management systems. Includes an exam to verify competence.ISO 14001 Internal Auditor Course:
A two- or three-day course based on the lead auditor course but without a competence test. Useful for internal auditors.ISO 14001 Awareness and Implementation Course:
Courses ranging from one to five days, including online options. These provide an overview of ISO 14001 and implementation guidance.
Many accredited training organizations worldwide offer ISO 14001 qualifications.
By following these steps, your organization can achieve ISO 14001 certification and improve its environmental management practices.
