There is increasing evidence that companies who focus on the "triple bottom line" of sound management of economic, social and environmental issues show superior financial performance.
Environmental management is increasingly important in satisfying your customers, suppliers, employees, industry partners and alliances. It also reduces your risk and liability.
If your operations have an impact on the environment, you may benefit from an ISO 14000 solution, especially if you export or are planning to export your products.
ISO 14000 "Environmental management systems" (EMS) specifies the international standards for environmental management, measurement, evaluation and auditing. It is a flexible tool that is as applicable to small business as it is to multi-national organizations, providing greater access to a global marketplace where business and environmental performance work hand in hand.
Key principles behind the ISO 14000 standards
- Improve environmental management
- Be applicable to all nations
- Address the interests of the standards' users
- Cost effective, non-prescriptive, and adaptable to the needs of any organization
- Flexible enough for internal or external verification
- Scientifically based
- Practical, useful and easy to implement
Organization and product standards
ISO 14000 is divided into two major areas: organization-oriented standards, and product-oriented standards.
Organization-oriented standards are concerned with organization-wide environmental systems and functions. They provide guidelines for establishing, maintaining and evaluating an environmental management system (EMS).
Product-oriented standards are concerned with determining the environmental impacts of products and services over their life cycles. These standards help organizations gather the information needed to support their planning and decisions, and to communicate specific environmental information to consumers and trade partners.
Benefits of ISO 14000
- Greater demand for your products and services, both locally and globally, based on your demonstration of sound business management and environmental concern
- Increase potential for new business because you meet vendor certification criteria
- Economic benefits: costs are lowered because of reduced raw materials and resource use, diminished energy consumption, improved process efficiency, and decreased waste generation and disposal costs
- Decreased pollution leading to less environmental liability
- Reduced insurance costs because of fewer errors, penalties and accidents resulting in liability
- Increased investment potential and improved access to capital
- Enhanced image with the public, the government, employees and investors
- Improved productivity, leading to increased competitiveness and profitavility
- Safer, cleaner environment; greater access to the growing "green" market
- Increased employee satisfaction and efficiency due to stable working conditions that conform to environmental standards
ISO 14000 certification
ISO 14000 certification is proven to reduce risk and liability for companies while increasing efficiency, customer and stakeholder confidence and respect.
The ISO 14000 certification involves developing an environmental policy and defining the objectives, targets, and environmental programs required to put the policy into action. The steps in implementing this program are based on a cyclical process of: planning, implementing, checking, reviewing and continually improving.
Planning: Diagnosing and analyzing the environmental aspects of the organization, (including the processes, products and services produced, and goods and services used by the organization) and establishing an environmental policy with measurable goals and objectives.
Implementing: Implementing, operating and controlling the activities that make up the environmental policy.
Checking: Monitoring, correcting and maintaining the activities that comprise the ongoing programs.
Reviewing: Auditing and reviewing by top management to ensure that the policy is adhered to, and is effective.
Continually improving: Continual improvement is a key component of the environmental management system.
Specialists to support you
BDC Consulting has a national network of management consultants that can help you implement an ISO 14000-based Environmental Management System (EMS) by guiding your business through each stage in the certification process.
