Most customers nowadays expect more from companies than just developing a product and making a profit. Sustainability has become a major focus of most businesses today as they are looking for ways to redesign their operations so that they can achieve and enhance their green credentials.
But, making your organisation more sustainable is often easier said than done, especially without a framework that can help guide your steps.
That’s where the ISO 14001 standard can come in handy.
ISO 14001: 2015 (the latest version) is an international standard developed to help companies manage environmental aspects and improve their system in accordance with the regulations and their own environmental objectives.
Let’s learn more about the benefits of ISO 14001 certification for both the environment and the organisation.
About ISO 14001
ISO 14001: 2015 is an international standard that provides the criteria for developing an environmental management system (EMS.) It’s part of the ISO 14000 family of standards which have been designed to help companies minimise their environmental impact, comply with the newest regulations, and ensure the continual improvement of their operations.
ISO 14001 doesn’t offer specific instructions that companies should follow to improve their organisation’s environmental impact, but rather a framework that businesses can follow to set up an effective EMS.
Similar to the ISO 19001 standard, ISO 14001 focuses on how the product is produced and what the company can do to improve its environmental performance. It’s not unusual for companies to integrate different management system standards to ensure that they will reach their goals.
The ISO 14001 standard is optional and each company can set its own target and work towards improved environmental management and planning with the standard assisting them in meeting their objectives and providing the proper monitoring and measuring tools for assessing their success.
The Environmental and Business Benefits of ISO 14001
One of the major objectives of the ISO 14001:2015 standard is to ensure that the EMS is in line with the strategies and operations of the business. That means taking a closer look at a company’s operations and product life cycle and prevent or mitigate certain aspects that could damage the environment.
And, although this standard is meant to make companies more aware of their environmental responsibilities and encourage them to reduce their impact, ISO 14001 does provide some uncontested business benefits too.
Here are some of the benefits of ISO 14001:
- Reduce carbon emissions in the production process
- Waste reduction in the production process;
- Reduced energy consumption, which in turn can help reduce costs;
- Improve your reputation among customers, stakeholders, and other interested parties;
- Cost savings by streamlining processes and utilising better, greener practices;
- Improve employee morale and retention by making them feel like they are part of a company with a greater mission;
- Gain a competitive advantage;
Who Should Get ISO 14001 Certified
If your system impacts the environment in any way, then you should consider getting your ISO 14001:2015 certification. The standard can be implemented by any organisation regardless of its size, the industry it’s operating in, or its location. That’s because ISO 14001 is broad enough to help companies in different industries but the framework is still specific enough to provide relevant guidance based on the particularities of your business.
Can We Help?
Almost any business can benefit from getting its ISO 14001 certification. Not to mention the enormous changes implementing this standard would bring to the environment.
If you want to demonstrate your commitment to reducing your environmental impact and are ready to get your ISO 14001 certification, the professionals at Best Practice are here to help.
We see international standard ISO certifications as an opportunity to grow your business and are passionate about helping our clients improve their operations and achieve customer satisfaction.
If you want to learn more about our services or request a free quote, contact us now at 1300 402 602.
