ISO 14000: Environmental Management Systems
Basic information
- Type: Certification scheme
- Year established: 2004
- Status: Active
- Thematic area: Environmental and social impact, Other
- Summary: ISO 14000 is a series of international standards on environmental management. It provides a framework for the development of both the system and the supporting audit program. While ISO 14001:2004 specifies the requirements for such an environmental management system; ISO 14004:2004 provides guidelines on the elements of an environmental management system and its implementation. It enables an organisation to identify and control the environmental impact of its activities, products or services, and to improve its environmental performance continually, to implement a systematic approach to setting environmental objectives and targets, and to achieving these and to demonstrating that they have been achieved. The ISO14000 series does not specify levels of environmental performance.
Contact details
- Host organisation: International Organisation for Standardisation
- Website: www.iso.org
- Phone: +41 22 749 01 11
- Address: 1, ch. de la Voie-Creuse, Case postale 56 CH-1211 Geneva 20, Switzerland
Areas addressed
- Principles or standards: Standards-based
- Cross-cutting thematic areas:
- Environmental impact
Further info: The ISO 14000 family addresses various aspects of environmental management. ISO 14001:2004 and ISO 14004:2004 deal with environmental management systems while ISO 14001:2004 provides the requirements for an EMS and ISO 14004:2004 gives general environmental management systems guidelines. Other standards and guidelines in the family address labeling, performance evaluation, life cycle analysis, communication and auditing in environmental management.
Participation
- Reasons for participation
- Certificate / seal of approval
Compliance
- Evidence base: Desk
- Has sanctioning mechanism: No
Assessment
The ISO 14000 series, though not specifically targeted at CSOs, offers a useful tool for organisations seeking to improve and integrate environmental management systems into their overall work. Unlike most CSO self-regulatory initiatives, the ISO 9000 and 14000 certification schemes offer CSOs the opportunity to demonstrate their compliance with standards used in business and the public sector.
