The many benefits of ISO 14001 are hard to ignore. Companies large and small have used the standard to great success, as we’ve already mentioned.
Increase your credibility and image – Customers will be more satisfied if you show that you have demonstrated a commitment to managing your environmental impact. This will help you increase your market share and your public image.
Cost control – Companies are always looking to reduce costs. The EMS can assist with this by conserving energy, input materials, and reducing liability costs. Furthermore, better environmental controls can lead to lower insurance costs.
Use evidence-based decision making– By using precise data to make decisions about what to improve, your chances of success are much greater than if you use a lot of unsuccessful attempts. You can track your progress to identify and correct any problems early on, which can help save time and money.
Establish a culture for continuous improvement– You can improve your processes and reduce environmental impacts by working systematically. This will allow you to improve your public image as well as potentially lower your costs. A culture of improvement encourages people to continuously improve their processes. This makes it easier for the EMS to be maintained.
Get involved – Most people prefer to work for a company that shows concern and care for the environment. You can increase employee focus by engaging your employees in a team effort to reduce the environmental footprint.
What are the steps to becoming ISO 14001 Certified?
What is ISO 14001 Certification? There are two types. One is certification of an environmental management system of a company against the ISO 14001 requirements. The other is the certification of individuals that they can audit against the ISO 14001 guidelines. This section describes the steps required for a company to have an ISO 14001-certified environmental management system implemented.
ISO 14001 certification of your company is achieved by implementing an EMS based on the ISO 14001 requirements. Then, you hire a recognized certification agency to audit your EMS and approve it as meeting the ISO 14001 environmental management system standards.
Begin with legal requirements and management support, then you need to create your environmental policy and environmental aspects. Then, define your environmental objectives and targets. Together, these will establish the overall scope of the environmental management system and its implementation. You will also need to establish the necessary processes and procedures for your company’s operation. Many mandatory processes must be included. Others can be added as needed by the company. This whitepaper on Lists of mandatory documents is a great explanation.
Document and record creation can be done by your company internally, or you can hire a consultant to assist you with purchasing standard documentation.
Once you have all the necessary processes in place, it is time to start operating the EMS. You will then be able to collect the records required to move on to the next steps, which include auditing your system and reviewing it.
Required steps to finish the implementation and get your company certified
Once you have completed all the documentation and implemented it, your company will need to follow these steps to obtain a successful certificate:
Internal Audit – This audit will help you check the EMS processes. It is important to have records to verify compliance with the processes and to identify weaknesses or problems that could otherwise be hidden.
Management Review – This is a formal review done by your management to assess the relevant facts and determine the processes of the management system to make informed decisions and allocate resources.
Corrective Actions – After conducting an internal audit and reviewing the management, you must correct any problems identified and document their resolution.
