ISO 14001 was first released in 1996 and revised in 2004. It is the world’s most recognised and used framework for environmental management systems. It is generic and applicable to any type of organisations, large or small, and within any business sector. ISO 14001 is based on the concepts of continual improvement and regulatory compliance.
Continual improvement with ISO 14001
The standard requires organisations to identify all environmental impacts and associated aspects. You also need to define environmental objectives and implement actions to improve performance and processes. ISO 14001 lays forth a best practice for proactive management of the environmental impact of your organisation. An ISO 14001 certified environmental management system goes beyond compliance. It puts focus on continual improvement.
Elements of the ISO 14001 standard
ISO 14001 contains the core elements for an effective environmental management system. It can be applied to both service and manufacturing sectors. The main elements of the standard are:
- Environmental policy
- Planning
- Implementation and operation
- Checking and corrective action
- Management review
Where do I go from here?For certification, you need to implement an effective environmental management system complying with the requirements of the standard.
DNV Business Assurance is an accredited third party certification body. We provide relevant training and certification for your environmental management system.
See how you can get started on the road to certification.