ISO 14000

PDCA Cycle

ISO 14000 is a family of standards related to environmental management that exists to help organizations (a) minimize how their operations (processes, etc.) negatively affect the environment (i.e., cause adverse changes to air, water, or land); (b) comply with applicable laws, regulations, and other environmentally oriented requirements; and (c) continually improve in the above.

ISO 14000 is similar to ISO 9000 quality management in that both pertain to the process of how a product is produced, rather than to the product itself. As with ISO 9000, certification is performed by third-party organizations rather than being awarded by ISO directly. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) does not certify organizations itself.

History

The ISO 14000 series were developed by the Technical Committee ISO/TC 207 and its various subcommittees. The standards were inspired by the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, which highlighted the need for sustainable development. Consequently, the ISO 14000 standards aim to provide a framework for organizations to manage their environmental responsibilities in a systematic manner that contributes to the environmental pillar of sustainability.

ISO 14001

ISO 14001 is the cornerstone standard of the ISO 14000 series. It specifies requirements for an environmental management system (EMS) that an organization can use to enhance its environmental performance. ISO 14001 is intended for use by an organization seeking to manage its environmental responsibilities in a systematic manner that contributes to the environmental pillar of sustainability.

Key Components

The ISO 14001 standard is based on the Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) cycle. The PDCA cycle enables an organization to ensure that its processes are adequately resourced and managed, and that opportunities for improvement are identified and acted upon. The main sections of the standard are:

• Context of the organization
• Leadership
• Planning
• Support
• Operation
• Performance evaluation
• Improvement

Benefits

Organizations that implement an EMS based on ISO 14001 can realize numerous benefits, including:

• Reduced environmental impact
• Increased compliance with legal and other requirements
• Enhanced stakeholder and customer trust
• Improved risk management
• Opportunities for continual improvement and innovation

Other Standards in the Series

Besides ISO 14001, the ISO 14000 family includes several other standards that support environmental management, including:

• ISO 14004: Provides guidance on the establishment, implementation, maintenance, and improvement of an EMS.
• ISO 14006: Focuses on eco-design as a means to reduce environmental impacts throughout a product's lifecycle.
• ISO 14031: Offers guidance on environmental performance evaluation.
• ISO 14064: Specifies principles and requirements at the organization level for quantification and reporting of greenhouse gas emissions and removals.

Certification

While certification to ISO 14001 is not mandatory, many organizations choose to certify their EMS to demonstrate to stakeholders that they have implemented an effective environmental management system. Certification is conducted by external certification bodies, and an organization must undergo a rigorous audit process to be certified.

Conclusion

The ISO 14000 family of standards provides practical tools for companies and organizations of all kinds looking to manage their environmental responsibilities. While the most well-known standard in the series is ISO 14001, the entire ISO 14000 family works together to help organizations minimize their environmental footprint, comply with regulations, and improve their overall environmental management.

ISO 14000 Resources
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