ISO 14000 and environmental management systems for busy managers

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The ISO 14000 family addresses various aspects of environmental management. The very first two standards, ISO 14004 and ISO 14001 - published respectively in September and October 1996 - deal with environmental management systems (EMS).

What is an ISO 14000 EMS?

An environmental management system based on the ISO 14000 standards is a management tool enabling an organization of any size or type to control the impact of its activities, products or services on the environment. An environmental management system makes possible a structured approach to setting environmental objectives and targets, to achieving these and to demonstrating that they have been achieved.

How does it work?

The standards do not specify levels of environmental performance - so how, you ask yourself, can they improve things? Well, if they specified levels of environmental performance they would obviously have to be specific to your business activity - and that's not the intention. In addition to ISO 14000, ISO also has a wide portfolio of standards that is specific to, for example, air, water, or soil pollution.

ISO 14000 was developed with another aim: that of providing a framework for an overall, strategic approach to your organization's environmental policy, plans and actions. The underlying philosophy is that the requirements of an effective EMS are the same, whatever your business.

Another point is that because ISO 14000 does not lay down levels of environmental performance, the standards can to be implemented by a wide variety of organizations, whatever their current level of environmental maturity. However, a commitment to compliance with applicable environmental legislation and regulations is required, along with a commitment to continuous improvement - for which the environmental management system provides the framework.

What's in the EMS standards?

ISO 14004 provides guidelines on the elements of an environmental management system and its implementation, and discusses principal issues involved.

ISO 14001 specifies the requirements for such an environmental management system. Fulfilling these requirements demands objective evidence which can be audited to demonstrate that the environmental management system is operating effectively in conformance with the standard.

What if my business implemented an ISO 14000 EMS?

ISO 14001 is a tool that can be used for internal purposes: to provide assurance to management that you are in control of your processes and activities having an impact on the environment. Employees, in turn, may be happier if assured that they are working for an environmentally responsible organization.

ISO 14001 can also be used for external purposes: to provide assurance to interested parties - stakeholders - such as customers, the community and regulatory agencies.

In other words, conformance to ISO 14001 can be used to support what your organization claims about its own environmental policies, plans and actions. It is suitable for both suppliers' declarations of conformity, assessment of conformity by an external stakeholder - such as a business client - and for certification of conformity by an independent certification body.