ISO 14001
Environmental Management

The 2004 version of ISO 14001 came with a focus on proactive initiatives for environmental protection, and life-cycle thinking which would consider environmental implications at each stage of a service or product.

ISO 14001:2004 has since been revised and replaced by ISO 14001:2015.

ISO 14001:2015 is the most recent revision of the ISO 14001 Environmental Management Standard, replacing ISO 14001:2004 as of September 2018.

The 2015 version of the ISO 14001 standard aims to bring a number of benefits that the 2004 version of the standard either briefly touched on or did not previously offer:

• It has more focus on risk-based thinking
• It follows the same structure as other ISO management system standards, making system integration much easier
• It addresses supply chain management more effectively
• It now puts more emphasis on leadership engagement
• It helps address risks/opportunities in a more structured manner within Organisations
• It now uses a simpler language, with common structure and terms
• It’s been adapted to be more user-friendly for service and knowledge-based organisations

In accordance with ISO 17021, accredited certification bodies are required to issue certified organisations with certificates that are reflective of a 3-year certification cycle.

Certifications can be issued for longer than this period providing the requisite external audits are performed and the certification cycle followed. QMS typically issues certificates over the period of a ten year contract.

From your first consultation with our ISO specialists through to certification, can take as little as 45 days. However, this depends on the size and complexity of your business.

We can normally save you time and effort by drafting your environmental management system manual for you. We have also found that this helps our clients achieve certification faster.

The ISO 14001 standard will show your organisation how to minimise its environmental impact. In doing so, ISO 14001 can improve your efficiency, reduce operational costs and help you win new business. Implementing the ISO 14001 guidance in full, can also ensure your business complies with environmental laws and regulations in the UK and EU.

Any business of any size and in any sector (whether offering products or services), can apply for ISO 14001 certification. This makes it one of the most popular ISO standards in the world, after ISO 9001. As such, businesses and governments see it as a credible way for organisations to demonstrate their commitment to improving environmental performance.

An environmental management system (EMS) helps you manage your resources more efficiently. The ISO 14001 standard is a generic EMS, which means any organisation, of any size and in any sector can use it. This includes manufacturing and services firms, whether operating in the public or private sectors.

The standard gives you the tools to reduce the environmental impact of your processes, both internal and across your supply chain. It will help you cut the costs of resource, energy and waste management. It will also ensure you comply with environmental legislation while publicly demonstrating your commitment to protecting the environment.

The ISO 14001 environmental management system has two primary goals:

1. Compliance with laws and regulations: by reaching and maintaining basic legal standards, companies can avoid fines, government intervention and sanctions against their business.
2. Reduce environmental impact: the ISO 14001 EMS can help you develop, implement, and manage your environmental policies. For instance, it can help you plan for all phases of waste reduction from product design to end-of-life recycling.