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ISO 14001 is an international standard against which your company's environmental management system
can be measured. It can also be used as a guide to enhance your company's existing environmental management system according
to an internationally recognized set of requirements.
The procedures and elements of ISO 14001 certification are based
upon sound environmental management principles. It can be used to integrate your environmental system with your overall management
structure to enhance performance and continual improvement. Even if your organization is not interested in ISO 14001 certification,
implementation of the procedures and philosophy will benefit the environment and your business in terms of reduced risks,
long-term life-cycle cost savings and reduced operating costs.
The ISO 14000 series includes both guidance and certification
documents. Currently, ISO 14001 is the only specification standard that a company may certify to in the series. It contains
only those requirements that can be objectively audited, and it addresses the fundamental elements of a company's operations.
POSSIBLE EMS IMPLEMENTATION BENEFITS
Operational Benefits
* Identify and correct
problems internally before they are discovered externally.
* Will cut down on "bureaucracy" by eliminating conflicting
national standards and replace them with one internationally accepted standard.
* Provide efficiency, discipline and operational
integration with ISO 9000.
* Ensures greater employee involvement in business operations.
* Easier to obtain operational
permits and authorizations.
* Provide evidence of due diligence.
* Aid in developing and transferring technology within
the company.
* Will help to reduce pollution.
* Reduce operating costs.
* Aids in creating a high quality, more
motivated workforce.
* Reduced Injuries. The number of employee injuries, illness and associated costs will be reduced
with reduction of amounts of chemicals and hazardous wastes on site.
Environmental Benefits
*
Hazardous and nonhazardous waste minimization
* Conservation of natural resources--electricity, gas, space and water with
resultant cost savings
* Aid in correction of worldwide environmental problems, such as depletion of ozone layer
Marketing
* Demonstrates to customers that the firm is meeting environmental
expectations.
* Public relations benefit by being able to communicate a commitment to providing a safer, cleaner, healthier
environment for all concerned parties.
* Meets potential national and international government purchasing requirements.
* Gain awareness, recognition and understanding in worldwide markets.
* Profit from marketing "green" products.
*
Provides a competitive marketing tool.
* Improve international competitiveness.
* Enhancing market share.
* Enhancing
image.
Improved Community Relations
* Proactive environmental actions, such as no major spills
and waste minimization, can help improve community relations.
* Improved Customer Trust and Satisfaction. ISO 14001 certification
can help assure customers and the general public that the environment is being protected.
Financial
* Improves relationship with insurance companies resulting in obtaining pollution-incident coverage at best possible
rates.
* Elimination of costs associated with meeting conflicting national standards.
* Process cost savings by reduction
of input materials and energy.
* Satisfying investor / shareholder criteria.
* Help to reduce liability and risk.
* Improved access to capital.
* Long-term cost savings, including the areas of environmental control and cleanup.
It has been estimated that over $100 billion is spent annually in the United States to comply with federal regulations pertaining
to environmental control and pollution cleanup
* Long-term reduction in environmental costs and increase in competitive
edge due to increased customer satisfaction, powerful public image, trust in the organization, higher morale, innovation and
ingenuity of employees. Primary cost savings will result from less chemicals and wastes, fewer chemical spills and cleanups,
less hazardous waste tracking and disposal requirements, and a better overall management of environmental matters due to the
total company being involved in this management arena.
Regulatory
* ISO certification will
enhance the ability to provide the written documentation necessary to demonstrate compliance with regulations.
* It is
probable that regulatory agencies may not investigate ISO certified organizations as aggressively as those companies without
the certification.
* The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) does have representatives on some of the ISO 14000 committees,
such as the ISO 14000 SC1 to the TC207 committee for the United States.
* Overall, agency/industry relations should improve
after ISO 14001 certification. The agency will know the certified organization has systems in place and this should help enhance
a better working relationship.
* Demonstrates a commitment to governmental authorities that the firm is moving beyond
compliance and pursuing continual improvement.
* Have a proactive and improved environmental program.
* Reduction
or elimination of compliance audits.
* Reduction or elimination of costs associated with compliance audits.
* Recognition
of due diligence - reduction or elimination of fines associated withenvironmental violations.
* Preferred government supplier
status.
* Reduced monitoring and reporting requirements.
* Faster track for permits.
POSSIBLE REGISTRATION
BENEFITS
* Communicates evaluation and acceptance by an accredited, third-party professional organization.
* Negates "conflict of interest" claims associated with organizations that "self-declare" the status of their programs.
* Validates the integrity of an organization&'s claims.
* Provides organizations with an un-biased review of their
programs, policies, etc.
* Addresses an anticipated recommendation by the US EPA.
* Addresses an anticipated requirement
between customers and suppliers.
* Addresses an anticipated requirement to compete in international markets.
* Addresses
an anticipated requirement of international and national government purchasing departments.
* Fulfillment of contractual
requirements of customers in the business sector. For example, the U.S. Department of Energy has made it a requirement that
specific contractors be certified to ISO 14001
* Improvement in company's competitive stance relative to overseas trade,
such as the Asian Rim countries.
* Regulatory incentives that reward companies showing environmental leadership through
certified compliance with an environmental management system.
* Pollution prevention and waste reduction with attendant
savings and expense reduction. Demonstration to shareholder groups of environmental responsibility in investments and financial
reports.
* Proof for insurance companies who are reluctant to issue coverage for pollution incidents unless firms have
a proven environmental management system.
* Preference in bank loans--some institutions, such as the World Bank provide
lower interest rates for implementation of environmental protection
* Possible reduction in need for multiple on-site
audits by regulatory agencies.
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