Certification Profile
Sustaining the environment and conserving natural resources is one of the declared aims of many organizations throughout the world. Companies make use of environmental management systems in order to better evaluate the environmental impact of their activities and products, to develop measures, and to improve their results.
Responsibility for the environment
Effective environmental management systems allow organizations to continuously improve operational environmental protection on their own. Prevention of risk, adherence to legal and other requirements, as well as improved environmental awareness among employees are additional aspects that offer competitive advantages and help to secure growth and success for the future.
With a certificate to ISO 14001, organizations show their customers, partners, and the interested public that they have accepted responsibility for the environment, avoids environmental impacts, and focuses their activities accordingly.
The central questions are:
- How can environmental risks be recognized as early as possible?
- How do you ensure adherence to legal and regulatory requirements?
- How do you prevent or manage environmental impacts?
- How do you effectively control environmental protection in your organization?
- What do you do to make your products more environmentally friendly?
- How do you encourage your employees to support environmental protection?
- How can you display your environmental activites to customers and other interested parties?
Conformity and value generation
The independent and expert assessment of a management system provides top management with assurance that the system conforms to the requirements of the standard. But what is even more important is the insight gained from an assessment on whether or not the management system is suitable for achieving the desired results. The right certification body will suggest improvements, provide top management with benchmarks, and assist inthe decision-making process.
Since its publication in the year 1996, more than 250,000 organizations all over the world have implemented a management system according to ISO 14001, and had it certified. This increasing popularity demonstrates that any organization or business area can benefit from the positive impulses generated by this standard. Due to their own positive experiences, many ISO 14001 certified companies are asking their suppliers for this kind of certification in turn.
Due to the standard’s easy compatibility with ISO 9001 (Quality Management) and ISO 50001 (Energy Management), an increasing number of organizations choose to implement an integrated management system – especially to take advantage of the synergies. Environmental, energy, and quality management systems are fundamental tools of corporate management; their use demonstrates acceptance of responsibility, and the intention to prevent waste.
Benefits for your organization
- Improved operational environmental protection
- Legal certainty through systematic observation of relevant environmental legislation and regulations
- Reduced environmental risks
- Improved environmental performance, including the environmental quality of products and services
- Cost savings generated by systematic and proactive thought and action
- Improved identification, motivation and commitment
- Increased confidence of the public, customers, agencies, banks, and insurers
- Enhanced image and competitive ability – both nationally and internationally
- Fulfillment of customer requirements
