This article outline the benefits of becoming ISO 14000 certified.
ISO 14000 is an international standard that helps organisations commit to the environment through the use of an environmental management system (EMS).
The ‘plan, do, check, act’ methodology of this system ensures that you are meeting any environmental legislation and regulations as well as constantly developing and improving your initial procedures; constantly building towards becoming more and more environmental. It is designed to fit with practically any organisation; there are no absolute requirements except to making sure you continually improve your environmental procedures. But this also means there is no limit to the number of aspects you can try and make more environmental within your organisation. It also allows you to focus your environmental efforts in a structured way that is internationally recognised.
With this single standard becoming so widely used it means that there should not be any major conflicts between what the best environmental practises are in different parts of your organisation. This certification is almost a necessary asset within business today, in order to compete within a global market. With more and more organisations using ISO 14000 and going beyond just the environmental regulations required by law, it can begin to make a distinctive difference to the planet and helps to encourage, even pressure more organisations to follow suit. It creates more legitimacy for environmental objectives within the business world. It provides evidence to the public and other businesses of your commitment to the environment, your ability to live up to this and how you strive to exceed your minimum responsibility. Another important benefit this system can offer is that it encourages organisations to communicate more with the public regarding businesses’ impact on the environment, more transparency about your organisations environmental efforts can only help to prove your true commitment to the environment.
Furthermore there are many benefits for the business in terms of reducing costs, for example coming up with more innovative and environmental ways to deal with waste and conserve energy will most likely lead to savings. You are less likely to lose money due to liability and it reduces costs for feedbacks. You can even incorporate it with other ISO management systems such as ISO 9001 which it has been designed to do, meaning you can make you whole company more efficient and environmental using harmonious ISOs. Being ISO 14000 certified provides you with a systematic way to make your organisation environmental, whilst saving you money and helping to contribute to a more environmentally minded business culture.
