ISO 14001

In today’s marketplace, consumers look for clear signs that the environmental processes and impact of a business are effectively managed. Beyond showing these elements are part of your corporate management system, you need to demonstrate that they can be continually improved on. This is why ISO 14001 environmental management standards were established.

ISO 14001 is similar to ISO 9000 quality management. Both apply to the process of how a product is produced, rather than to the product itself. As with ISO 9000, certification is performed by third-party organisations rather than being awarded by ISO directly. The ISO 19011 audit standard applies when auditing for both 9000 and 14000 compliance at once.

TÜV SÜD has the credentials to enable you to gain ISO 14001. Demonstrating your committment to the management of your organisation’s environmental impact.

Our internationally recognised certification enables you to meet all of the ISO 14001 environmental management standards. This includes minimising how your operations affect the environment, such as adverse changes to air, water or land. Plus, complying with and continually improving on applicable laws, regulations, and other environmentally oriented requirements.

Summary of most important changes.

Environmental control can be defined as future-oriented and systematic implementation of environmental aspects in political and undertaking decisions. The purpose and use of environmental control are on one hand ideal, e.g. an increase in motivation from co-workers or a better image. On the other hand, the use is also tangible through cutting down expenses due to a decreased use of resources.

The ISO 14001 standard is a worldwide accepted basis for the composition of environmental control systems. Certification according to this standard by authorized organisations have proven themselves to be an effective measure in the field of publicity.

Since 1996, ISO 14001 standard has been the basis for composition, introduction, inspection and development of environmental control systems. The standard defines the relevant demands applied in any organisation as well as in various geographical, cultural and social circumstances.

In november 2004, a revised version of the ISO 14001 standard was issued. This replaced the prior one and now serves as basis for the procedure of certification of environmental control systems. The revision clarified the demands for environmental control systems and offers an improved compatibility with ISO 14001.

ISO 14001 however is not a stand-alone standard, it is rather the only part of the “standard family” that is certifiable.

Advantages:

• International acknowledgement of the environmental control system
• Identification and elimination of flawed sources
• Competitive advantages through the ISO 14001-certificate / TÜV Management Service-Oktagon
• Continuous improvement of the environmental control system
• Improved legal seurity
• Predictability of liability risks
• Motivation of all employees
• Qualification of all employees

Conditions.

Whether we are talking about craft businesses, big concerns, service companies or social institutions, in every enterprise success is lead by processes. This doesn’t solely apply for quality, but it also applies for relevant domains in environment and safety.

Most important conditions:

• Documented environmental politics in writing which are communicated to all employees by the management
• Execution of a primary environmental inventory/control
• From environmental tests derived environmental goals and the conversion to an environmental program
• A ready-to-use and functional, documented environmental control system
• A documented operation procedure for execution of audits/environmental company controls
• (Solely for EMAS: a concept of the environmental declaration)