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ISO 14001
ISO 14001 is an international standard that brings a worldwide focus on the environment, encouraging a cleaner, safer,and healthier world for all of us.
Understanding > IntroductionAn Introduction to the ISO 14000 family
Environment is one thing that we all share. It is indeed the very basis for the economy. People should recognise that theenvironment needs immediate attention. Hence, they must protect and sustain it.There are two problems relating to the environment.1. Resource depletion.
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Energy (Renewable and non renewable).
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Mineral Resources (Non renewable).
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Metals (Non renewable).
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Biological resources (Forests).2. Environment impact of pollution.
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Greenhouse Effect (Global Warming).
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Ozone Depletion.
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Nitrification and acidification of waterway and soil.
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Noise Pollution.
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Pesticide Pollution.
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Nuclear Radiation.
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Eco toxicity.Most of these problems have a worldwide impact and have to be addressed globally.A set of international standards brings a worldwide focus on the environment, encouraging a cleaner, safer, and healthierworld for all of us. International standards allow organisations to focus their environmental efforts in line withinternationally accepted criteria.
What is ISO 14000?
ISO 14000 is a series of international, voluntary environmental management guidelines and standards. Developed underISO Technical Committee 207. The 14000 standards deals with:
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Environmental Management Systems (EMS).
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Environmental Auditing & Related Investigations (EA&RI).
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Environmental Labels and Declarations (EL).
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Environmental Performance Evaluation (EPE).
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Life Cycle Assessment (LCA).
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Terms and Definitions (T&D).
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Environmental Communications (EC).
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Climate Change (CC).The ISO 14000 series of guidelines and standards provides a common framework for managing environmental issues. Ithelps an organisation curtail the harmful effects of its activities on the environment and continually improve itsperformance.
Evolution of ISO 14000
After the rapid acceptance of the ISO 9000 standards and the development of environment standards in differentcountries, ISO felt the need to develop an international environmental management standard.ISO formed the Strategic Advisory Group on Environment (SAGE) in 1991 to determine the need for an internationalstandard on environmental management. SAGE consisted of representatives of various countries and internationalorganisations and more than 100 environmental experts. They found the need for an international standard forenvironmental management and identified key requirements for such a system.Based on the conclusions arrived at by SAGE, ISO formed TC-207 (Technical Committee) in 1993 to develop the ISO 14000standards. Today the TC-207 consists of environmental experts from 69 participating countries in addition to the 19observing countries and 46 international and non-government business organisations.
 
Continue the tour :The ISO 14001 FamilyUnderstanding > The ISO 14000 Family
The list of ISO 14000 family of guidelines and standard is given below.
Standard Title / Description
14000 Guide to Environmental Management Principles, Systems and Supporting Techniques.14001 Environmental Management Systems - Specification with Guidance for Use.14004 Environmental Management Systems – Guidelines on Principles, Systems And Supporting Techniques.14010 Guidelines for Environmental Auditing - General Principles of Environmental Auditing.14011 Guidelines for Environmental Auditing - Audit Procedures-Part 1: Auditing of Environmental Management Systems.14012 Guidelines for Environmental Auditing - Qualification Criteria for Environmental Auditors.14013/15 Guidelines for Environmental Auditing - Audit Programmes, Reviews & Assessments.14020 General Principles For Environmental Labels And Declarations. 14021/23 Environmental Labels And Declarations – Self-Declaration Environmental Claims – Terms And Definitions,Symbols, Testing And Verification.14024 Environmental Labels And Declarations-Type 1 Guiding Principles And Procedures.14031/32 Guidelines on Environmental Performance Evaluation.14040/43 Life Cycle Assessment General Principles and Practices.14050 Glossary.14060 Guide for the Inclusion of Environmental Aspects in Product Standards.
The ISO 14000 family comprises many guideline standards. Nevertheless, it has only onecompliance standard -
ISO 14001 Environmental Management Systems.Environmental Management System:
An Environmental Management System (EMS) is a structured framework that defines how anorganisation controls the impact of its operations on the environment. The EMS defines elementssuch as environmental vision, strategies, approaches and structure set up by the organisation for meeting their commitment to the environment.
 Need for an EMS:
An EMS can act as a guide for organisations to improve their environmental performance and tooperate in accordance with environmental laws. Further, an organisation’s EMS can add value toits business by attracting customers who are environmentally conscious. An EMS is expected to:
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Satisfy the regulatory, and legislative requirements.
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Minimise the environmental impact of the organisations activities.
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Assure customers that its products and services do not have a negative impact on the environment.
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Suitably incorporate changing market trends and gain an competitive edge.
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Reduce the costs associated with environmental liabilities and Insurance.
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Gain public and media support.
Scope of EMS:
The scope of the Environmental Management System of an organisation consists of:
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Implementing, Maintaining and improving EMS.
 
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Conforming to the stated policies and objectives.
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Demonstrating conformance to the EMS through certification.Each organisation can design its own unique EMS or follow an internationally accepted system of standards. ISO 14001 isone such international standard.
Continue the tour:ISO 14001 Environmental Management SystemUnderstanding > ISO 14001 EMS standards
Different countries and groups are already setting environmental standards individually. The ISO 14001 makes it possibleto set a common internationally accepted standard.The ISO 14001 is the world’s most accepted EMS. It was adopted in 1996 as an International Standard to guideorganisations worldwide in improving their environmental performance. It is defined as
"That part of the overall management system that includes organisational structure, planning activities, responsibilities, practices, procedures, processes, and resources for developing, implementing, achieving, reviewing and maintaining theenvironmental policy" (ISO 14001: 1996).
The ISO 14001 is meant for application in organisations across the world irrespective of their culture and socialbackground. The implementation of the ISO 14001 standard is voluntary, in that it is left to the organisation to embraceand adhere to the ISO standard of legislations and regulations.However, organisations might be interested in implementing ISO 14001 for different reasons like improving processefficiency, meeting customer requirements, pressure from local environmental groups or concern for the environment.The ISO 14001 can be applied to any area of an organisation like production, services, operations, facilities, andtransportation.It lays down requirements in the following five key areas of an organisation’s environmental management:a) Environmental policy and commitment.b) Environmental planning.c) Implementation and operation.d) Checking and action.e) Management review.The best approach for organisations to begin using ISO 14001 standard is to analyse and improve the existing processes.If the organisation is improving environment out of its own commitment rather than for demonstrating its efforts tocustomers and stakeholders, certification may not be necessary. However, if the organisation wants to demonstrate itscommitment to its external stakeholders then certification can prove useful.
What is certification and how it is obtained?
Certification is a statement from an officially recognised body that an organisation conforms to the universally acceptedstandards in all its operation.An authorised third party auditing agency can recommend the ISO 14001 EMS certification of an organisation. The agencyexamines whether the company’s existing processes satisfy the international standard’s requirements. If they are foundsatisfactory then the auditing agency recommends to the country’s ISO representative for certifying the organisation.
Benefits of EMS:
Implementing the ISO 14001 Environment Management System can lead to:a) Cost savings through:
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Reduction in expenditure on raw material.
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Waste reduction or elimination.
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Decrease in costs of waste disposal.
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Reduction of insurance costs and elimination of penaltiesb) Improved public perception and image.
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By certification, legal compliance of the organisation is better demonstrated.
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Since legal obligations are met, fear of penalties for not meeting standards is reduced.
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This encourages the investment and involvement of shareholders and stakeholders.c) A sense of pride and self esteem in employees and stakeholders leading to greater motivation in workd) Increased business because:
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