1. What is an ISO 14001:2015: Environmental management system (EMS)
ISO 14001:2015 (herein after ISO 14001) is an ISO standard which specifies the requirements for an Environmental Management System (EMS). ISO 14001 is a widely used international standard for EMS. ISO 14001 helps businesses better control various environmental aspects, ensure legal compliance, and reduce environmental impacts from its activites and supply chain.
ISO 14001 is not limited to a specific industry. Businesses from almost any sector can benefit from ISO 14001 as it provides a specific framework for implementing proper and sustainable practices. Integrating ISO 14001 with other management system standards, such as ISO 9001, can support an organization’s journey towards its goals. Additionally, the ISO 14001 framework can be used as a PDCA approach for continuous improvement.
Basic questions for ISO 14001 EMS are:
- What are the expected outcomes that an organization hopes to achieve with its EMS?
- How can these outcomes be demonstrated through effective implementation of the EMS?
Three minimum expected outcomes that an organization needs to demonstrate for ISO 14001 EMS are:
- Enhanced environmental performance,
- Compliance with obligations, and
- Achievement of environmental objectives.
When setting environmental objectives, it is necessary to consider significant environmental aspects, compliance obligations, risks, and opportunities that need to be addressed. To improve environmental performance, an organization needs to demonstrate how it minimizes its adverse environmental impacts (e.g., reducing resource use, emissions, wastewater, waste, etc.) or enhances its positive environmental impacts (e.g., reusing and recycling by-products, water, energy savings, and other resource efficiencies).
An organization may establish additional expected outcomes for its environmental management system. For example, in line with its commitment to environmental protection, the organization could set an expected outcome aimed at sustainable development.
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2. Benefits of ISO 14001:2015 for Businesses
Complying with the requirements for ISO 14001 certification is an excellent approach to business strategy, even without certification. However, it is clear that a well-defined EMS framework is crucial and offers the following benefits:
- Enhanced resource efficiency and thus ensures optimal resource use.
- Promotes process improvements and minimizes waste.
- Reduces overall operational costs.
- Measures environmental impact.
- Ensures legal compliance and effectively manages environmental obligations.
- Improves overall environmental impact.
- Increases trust among employees, customers, and stakeholders.
3. ISO 14001 certification for environmental management system
Obtaining the certification the EMS from third party ceritification body for is a crucial part of for businesses implementing an EMS in accordance with the requirements of ISO 14001 standards.
CGLOBAL PTE. LTD is an emerging service provider of comprehensive management system certification, including ISO 14001 certification for an EMS
CGLOBAL ensures that all its clients go through an efficient certification process. Achieving ISO 14001 EMS certification with CGLOBAL follows a simple three-step process:
Step 1: Submit an application form by send an email to certify@cglobal-sg.com with your requirements to help CGLOBAL understand your organization and its needs. Based on the information, CGLOBAL will determine the scope of assessment and develop a certification proposal.
Step 2: After the organization agrees to the proposal, CGLOBAL will arrange for an assessor to perform a readiness assessment, followed by an on-site evaluation. The organization must prove that its environmental management system has been fully operational for at least three months and has undergone management review and complete internal audit cycles.
Step 3: CGLOBAL issues a certification decision after successfully evaluating both stages. If the result is successful, CGLOBAL will grant ISO 14001 certification to the organization. The organization will receive both hard and soft copies of the certificate, which are valid for three years and maintained through an annual surveillance review program and a triennial recertification review.