The international standard ISO 14001 sets out the requirements for an environmental management system. This helps you show your commitment to improving your environmental performance by using resources more efficiently and reducing waste.

ISO 14001 focuses on helping you identify, manage, monitor and control your environmental impacts. By improving your performance, your organization can build the trust of your customers and fulfil its environmental responsibilities. This helps you show your commitment to corporate responsibility, strengthening your competitiveness and improving your image.

What you need to know about ISO 14001

Our impact on the planet is an ever-growing concern with more people wanting organisations they associate with to be taking active steps towards minimizing their impact on the environment. This is where ISO 14001 comes in, an effective environmental management system reduces your impact on the environment, assists in meeting legal obligations and licensing conditions, and leads to improved environmental performance.

Why would you choose ISO 14001

Industry-leading companies around the world demonstrate their environmental performance by controlling the impacts of their activities and by their commitment to a certified environmental management system. Additionally, key stakeholders such as customers, regulators, and governments want an external independent assessment that your environmental management system is effective and you are mitigating your environmental impacts.

Additionally, ISO 14001 helps you manage risk and improve your systems. The certification process provides an independent view of your processes and systems. Can’t see the wood for the trees? Can’t find the time to stop and really look at how things are working or not working? The audit process will help you identify if there are gaps, opportunities for improvement, inconsistencies, or issues within your system that need fixing.

Benefits of the ISO 14001 Certification

There is a broad range of benefits your company will experience from achieving ISO 14001 Environmental Certification. The first, and probably most important benefit is that an EMS just might keep you out of trouble. In the event of an unforeseen environmental incident leading to a breach of environmental law, your effective EMS may be a defence of due diligence under most jurisdictions in Australia. Don’t believe us? One company avoided a AU$70,000 fine because it was able to demonstrate to the regulator that its systems and processes ensured they had taken all the necessary precautions.

Additionally, there are more practical benefits to an ISO 14001 such as reducing costs by reducing waste and disposal costs, reducing your energy bills, increasing competitive advantage in your marketplace, improving your corporate image, reducing costs by minimizing incidents and associated costs, and many more.