As a business owner, you may be wondering if ISO 14001 certification is a legal requirement. Whilst you’re not legally obliged to achieve ISO 40001, it’s a very good idea to do so. One of the main reasons why it can be so helpful to achieve this certification is that it can help your business to gain more control over its environmental impact and therefore enable you to become more compliant.
Today’s customers are incredibly eager to choose companies that are compliant with environmental expectations and go further to enhance their green credentials. This means that many customers are more likely to choose a company that has ISO 14001 certification over one that doesn’t.
What exactly is ISO 14001?
ISO 14001 is a standard that’s used as an internationally recognised hallmark of quality. If a business has this accreditation, this shows that it meets high environmental standards. ISO 14001 is designed to help businesses make their operations more sustainable and can also help them to save money. It can make it easier for companies to adapt to change quickly whilst enhancing their reputations. The standard can help businesses to identify environmental issues before they become substantial problems instead of simply reacting to challenges once they have arisen.
ISO 14001 is an Environment Management System (EMS). The system gives businesses the structure and framework that they need and can be applied to goods, products, processes and services.
During the first phase of ISO 14001, environmental policies and the EMS are developed and planned. In the second phase, the EMS is implemented. In the third phase, everything that has been implemented is checked and reviewed. In the fourth and final phase, the EMS is continually improved.
Are there any special requirements around the implementation of ISO 14001?
There are no specific requirements on how ISO 14001 is implemented, but you need to show that your EMS meets the standard in order to achieve certification. The documentation must show that you have strong environmental processes in place and that you are dedicated to meeting your environmental targets.
The key benefits of ISO 14001 certification
Once ISO 14001 is in place, your business will have the framework it needs to cut waste and minimise its impact on the environment and reduce expense. Though the vast majority of businesses already have some sort of EMS in place, ISO 14001 enables you to make the most of what already exists and upgrade it to a global standard. ISO 14001 certification can help you show your customers that you have met a global standard of eco-friendliness. Once you have achieved this certification, you may be able to work with other companies that will only do business with ISO 14001-certified brands.
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To find out more about how we can help you achieve ISO 14001 certification, contact us today. Reach us by calling 01268 758000 or by completing the form on our website. We’ll get back to you as quickly as we possibly can.
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