ISO 14001
Environmental
Management
Standard
DETAILED GUIDE
ISO 14001 Background
With rising public awareness of the need to protect our environment, governments and businesses are
under increasing pressure to minimize their environmental footprint and promote sustainable development.
The ISO 14001 - Environmental Management Systems (EMS) Standard has been developed to help
organizations identify, manage and control the activities that have an environmental impact.
Industrial companies, service organisations, utility and public bodies worldwide have embraced ISO 14001
as the preferred model for environmental management and improved performance. The standard, which
was published by ISO in 1996 was revised in 2004 and is compatible with other management standards
particularly the widely used ISO 9001 Quality Management Standard.
ISO 14001:2004 Environment management standard
has the following companion standards:
>> • I.S. EN ISO 14005:2011: Environmental
management systems - Guidelines for the phased
implementation of an environmental management
system, including the use of environmental
performance evaluation.
>> • I.S. EN ISO 14004:2004: Environmental
management systems - General guidelines on
principles, systems and support techniques
>> • I.S. EN ISO 14031:2000: Environmental
Management - Environmental performance
evaluation – Guidelines
NSAI will not be offering certification to the phased
implementation standard, ISO 14005:2011, but will offer
gap assessments to ISO 14001:2004 using ISO 14005 as
a grading system of maturity and readiness.
Benefits for your organization include:
>> • Strengthened stakeholder confidence – ISO 14001 reduces risk of liability, keeps ahead of legislation
and regulatory developments and reduces the environmental burden through elimination, reduction and
options
>> • Greater competitive advantage – your organization would achieve improved cost control, improved
organizational...