What is ISO 14001?

ISO 14001 is an international standard that specifies the requirements for an environmental management system (EMS). An EMS is a framework that helps organisations manage their environmental impact.

The benefits of implementing ISO 14001 include:

• Reduced environmental impact
• Improved compliance with environmental regulations
• Greater efficiency and cost savings
• Enhanced reputation and brand image
• A higher level of customer satisfaction
• Raised employee morale and motivation

ISO 14001 is a voluntary standard, but many organisations choose to be certified to it, as certification demonstrates that the organisation has a commitment to environmental protection.

Key concepts in ISO 14001 include:

• An environmental policy stating the organisation's commitment to environmental protection
• The laws, regulations, and other requirements with which an organisation must comply to protect the environment
• Environmental aspects of activities, products, and services that have an impact on the environment
• Environmental impacts concerning the positive and negative effects of an organisation's environmental aspects on the environment
• Objectives and target goals that an organisation sets for itself to improve its environmental performance
• Planning, whereby environmental risks are identified, assessed and controlled
• Implementation and operation of an effective EMS
• Monitoring and measurement to track and evaluate the performance of the EMS
• Evaluation to review the EMS and make improvements as needed
• Continual improvement of the EMS