ISO 14001 is one of the most up and coming international standards in the world which was developed mainly as a result of the Rio Summit on the Environment held in 1992. It is an Environment Management System (EMS), providing a framework for managing the impacts of an organisation's activities on the environment along with a supporting audit programme. It is a pro-active approach, and allows business to consider environmental issues before they become a problem.

ISO 14001 exists to allow businesses to establish those operations that have a negative impact on the environment and to minimise these as determined necessary. As such, it is viewed as a powerful tool for businesses to both improve their environmental performance and enhance their business efficiency.

What can ISO 14001 bring to you and your clients?

• It is cost effective, reducing utility bills and waste streams
• Higher control of risk and better planning
• Ensures compliance with environmental legislation
• Builds awareness of environmental concern amongst employees
• Improves corporate image with customers and the public
• Reduces environmental liability

Plus, not having ISO 14001 may be a barrier to working with certain businesses e.g. Government bodies, local authorities and some commercial businesses who will prefer their suppliers to be ISO 14001 registered.

But who is it relevant to?

Environmental impact is becoming an increasingly important issue across the globe, with pressure to minimize that impact coming from a number of sources: local and national governments, regulators, trade associations, customers, employees and shareholders. Social pressures are also building up from a growing array of interested parties, such as consumer, environmental and minority non-governmental organizations (NGOs), academia and neighbours. Accordingly, ISO 14001 is relevant to every organization, from single site to large multi-national companies, high risk companies and low risk service organizations, manufacturing, process and service industries (including local government), all public and private industry sectors and manufacturers and their suppliers.

If you would like to find out more on ISO 14001 or discuss how it could benefit your business, please give us a call on 0844 822 1770 or email enquiries@ceada.co.uk.

Sources and further information at: www.iso.org/iso/iso_14000_essentials and www.bsigroup.com/en/Assessment-and-certification-services/management-systems/Standards-and-Schemes/ISO-14001/