ISO 14001

وبلاگ و اخبار

ISO 14001

Introduction

Benefits of ISO 14001 Implementation

When to Apply for Certification

An Overview of ISO 14001 Requirements

 

Introduction

ISO 14001 is an international standard that specifies the requirements for implementation of an Environmental Management System (EMS). This standard helps organizations improve their environmental performance through effective use of resources, waste reduction and as a whole reduction of the environmental footprints which leads to competitive advantages and trust of the interested parties.

Benefits of ISO 14001 Implementation

By implementing ISO 14001 standard, organizations can identify, manage, monitor and control their environmental issues in a “holistic” way.

Regardless of the size and type of organization, whether public or private, this standard requires the organization to consider all of its environmental issues, including air, water and soil pollution, water consumption and wastewater production, waste management, climate pollution reduction, adaptation to climate change, resource consumption and increased efficiency. In this standard, the following issues are taken into consideration:

  • Inclusion of environmental management in strategic planning processes
  • Considering environmental issues in the leadership of the organization
  • More commitment to taking proactive measures to improve environmental performance

The organization achieves the following benefits by taking a strategic approach and certification of the Environmental Management System (ISO 14001):

  • Demonstration of compliance with the current and future legal and regulatory requirements
  • Encouraging the leadership and employees engagement
  • Improving the organization’s reputation and stakeholders’ trust level through strategic communication
  • Achieving strategic business objectives by considering environmental issues in business management
  • Creating competitive and financial advantages by increasing efficiency and reducing costs
  • Encouraging suppliers to improve their environmental performance by integrating them into the organization’s business systems

When to Apply for Certification

Organizations interested in ISO 14001 standard certification should prepare the documentation structure in accordance with the requirements of the standard and provide adequate and appropriate evidence of the implementation of these requirements.

Since in certification contract, a specific period of time is defined for conducting the third party audit at the organization’s site, the organization has to ensure the availability of the followings as a minimum:

  • Scope of environmental management system and related operational sites
  • Internal and external issues affecting the environmental management system
  • Identification of the environmental aspects and evaluation of the environmental impacts of product/service, activities and processes of the organization throughout their life cycle, as far as possible
  • Required procedures and documentation as mentioned in ISO 14001
  • Legal and regulatory requirements related to the product/service or processes and activities of the organization
  • Measurement of environmental pollutants based on legal/ regulatory/ local requirements
  • Records of environmental maneuvers
  • Internal audit and management review records

An Overview of ISO 14001 Requirements

ISO 14001 is based on the implementation of the PDCA methodology (Plan-Do-Check-Act). In addition, process approach is used to document and revise organizational structure, responsibilities and procedures required to achieve an efficient environmental management system. Certain sections of the standard contain information on many titles, including:

  • Identification of risks and opportunities related to environmental aspects, compliance requirements, other stakeholders’ needs and expectations, as well as other environmental issues, including global funding for reducing carbon footprint, acting against global warming, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, etc.
  • Comprehensive evaluation of environmental impacts by taking into account the life cycle perspective from the supply or extraction of raw materials to the product delivery and end-of-life disposal.
  • Determination of the environmental objectives and plans to reduce environmental risks and improve the environmental performance of the organization
  • Management responsibilities and leadership role in commitment to the sustainability
  • Determination of environmental roles and responsibilities in the organization
  • Implementation of the environmental instructions and regulations at the level of organizational operations and processes
  • Measurement, analysis and improvement of the EMS through activities such as environmental pollution measurements, internal audits and corrective and preventive actions

Life Cycle Perspective: One of the concepts that is considered in ISO 14001 is the life cycle perspective in identification of the environmental aspects of the product/service that includes all the related steps in the product/service system from the acquisition of raw materials or production from natural resources to the final disposal. In other words, the stages of the life cycle include the acquisition of raw materials, design, production, transportation/delivery, consumption, measures at the end of the consumption period (recycling, reuse, regeneration, reclamation), and final dissolution. For a clearer understanding of this topic, evaluation of environmental impacts from Cradle-to-Grave has entered the environmental terminology and is widely used. It should be noted that the organization only needs to consider the environmental aspects of the life cycle stages that are either directly under its control or influence.

The standard does not expect organizations to perform the life cycle assessment (LCA). But it is not uncommon to expect this assessment to be considered in next versions of the standards.

“Perspective” means to look at something from a certain point. Therefore, life cycle perspective means looking at the entire life cycle from the point of the life cycle stages where the organization is located and captures the relevant features.

To further explain the control and influence area of the organization, the following schematic can be useful in the life cycle perspective:

For more information about the process of management systems certification, please click here.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *