What is ISO 14001?
An ISO 14001 (Environmental Management System), often called an EMS, is a set of internal environmental rules & regulations which are defined by a collection of policies, processes, procedures and records. This system defines how a company will identify, assess, monitor and maintain the interactions with the environment in order to prevent negative environmental impacts. It is a set of processes and practices that enable an organization to reduce its environmental impacts and increase its operating efficiency. EMS is a framework that helps an organization achieve its environmental goals through consistent review, evaluation, and improvement of its environmental performance. The assumption is that this consistent review and evaluation will identify opportunities for improving and implementing the environmental performance of the organization. The EMS itself does not dictate a level of environmental performance that must be achieved; each organization’s EMS is tailored to its own individual objectives and targets.
Basic EMS
An EMS helps an organization address its regulatory requirements in a systematic and cost-effective manner. This proactive approach can help reduce the risk of non-compliance and improve health and safety practices for employees and the public. An EMS can also help address non-regulated issues, such as energy conservation, and can promote stronger operational control and employee stewardship. Basic Elements of an EMS include the following:
- Reviewing the organization’s environmental goals;
- Analysing its environmental impacts and compliance obligations (or legal and other requirements);
- Setting environmental objectives and targets to reduce environmental impacts and conform with compliance obligations;
- Establishing programs to meet these objectives and targets;
- Monitoring and measuring progress in achieving the objectives;
- Ensuring employees’ environmental awareness and competence; and,
- Reviewing progress of the EMS and achieving improvements.
WHY CHOOSE ISO 14001?
Gaining an ISO 14001 certification can be a useful tool to add credibility by demonstrating that your product or service meets the environmental protection expectations of your customers. And for some industries, certification may be a legal or contractual requirement as well.
HOW MUCH DOES ISO 14001 COST?
The cost of certification depends on several factors. These include your business sector, type of organization, your scope of work, environmental aspects & impacts and your number of employees. Moreover, costs vary as per industry specific accreditation as well (such as from EGAC, EIAC, IAS, DAKKS, UKAS, JAS-ANZ or NABCB).
However, QA INTERNATIONAL SERVICES is committed to provide a cost-effective route to ISO 14001 certification. That’s why we focus on making ISO certification simple and straightforward. We save you money because we spend less time creating complex document trails and more time building a system that works for your business.
IMPLEMENTATION OF ISO 14001
An ISO 14001 environmental management system (or commonly referred to as an EMS) is a structured system designed to help organisations manage their environmental impacts and improve environmental performance caused by their products, services and activities. An environmental management system provides structure to environmental management and covers areas such as training, record management, inspections, objectives and policies.
Implementation of an environmental management system requires the following steps to be completed by an organisation:
- Development of an environmental policy that reflects its commitments;
- Appointment of a person(s) responsible for its coordination;
- Identification of how the organisation interacts with the environment;
- Identification of actual and potential environmental impacts;
- Identification of relevant legal and other requirements;
- Establishment of environmental objectives, targets and programs;
- Monitoring and measurement of the progress to achieve its objectives;
- Reviewing the system and environmental performance; and
- Continuous improvement of the organisation’s environmental performance.
BENEFITS OF ISO 14001
It is becoming more important to demonstrate that organisations are thinking about their environmental impact and putting systems in place that will not only benefit the environment but will also reduce costs and improve efficiency within the organisation.
- Improved environmental performance
- Enhanced compliance with environmental regulations
- Management of environmental risks
- Cost saving in waste, recycling and consumption
- Pollution prevention
- Resource conservation
- New customers/markets
- Increased efficiency/reduced costs
- Enhanced employee morale
- Enhanced sector specific reputation & image with public, regulators, lenders, investors.
- Employee awareness of environmental issues and responsibilities.
- Advantage over competitors when tendering for business
- Demonstrates your commitment to improving the environment
- Shows you are a responsible future focused organisation
- Can reduce insurance cover costs
- Increase in employee engagement in organization dedicatedly that they are working in an environment friendly organisation.
