Emphasize your company’s commitment to environmental protection.

What is ISO 14001?

ISO 14001 is an internationally recognized standard for environmental management systems. It provides organizations with a framework to manage all activities regarding environmental protection, minimize the negative impacts of their activities, products, and services on the environment (emissions, waste, etc.), identify opportunities for savings, and efficient use of energy and resources.

Implementation of an Environmental Management System

The implementation of an Environmental Management System (EMS) represents a systematic approach to environmental protection in all areas of business. Through this approach, companies integrate environmental care into their business strategies and daily operations.

This approach involves creating, implementing, and maintaining a structured EMS that is part of overall management and encompasses all elements of the company’s environmental behavior.

Although the implementation of an EMS is not mandatory for companies and is voluntary, business management realizes that to remain competitive, environmental protection issues must be included in their strategies and planning. Implementing an EMS results in sustainable economic growth and prosperity for the company while gradually reducing the negative impacts of its activities, products, or services on the environment. This strategy, also known as corporate social responsibility and based on the principle of sustainable development, aims to meet the needs of the current generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs, often referred to as the double bottom line strategy.

By reducing environmental burdens, the competitiveness of the business entity increases.

The objectives of implementing ISO 14001 in a company include:

  • Establishing order,
  • Achieving full compliance with legal regulations,
  • Improving relations with the public and public administration,
  • Obtaining a commercially viable certificate (ISO 14001 certificate).

Today’s businesses evaluate not only the financial benefits of environmental management, such as savings, increased production efficiency, and expanded market potential, but also assess the risks associated with inadequate consideration of organizational and technical elements of environmental protection, such as accidents, difficulties in obtaining bank loans or other financial investments, and loss of markets and customers.

The main benefits of a functioning EMS include:

  • Reduction of operating costs and energy savings, raw materials, and other resources,
  • Reduction of the risk of environmental accidents for which the company is responsible,
  • Enhancing the credibility of the company with investors, financial institutions, insurers, and public administration,
  • Expanding export opportunities and opportunities for state procurement,
  • Strengthening relations with the public.

The main steps for a business are:

  • Identify and monitor environmental aspects, impacts, and risks,
  • Formulate and implement its environmental policy, objectives, and programs in accordance with environmental legislation requirements.
  • Allocate necessary resources through programs to achieve these goals and determine responsibilities,
  • Define and document environmental management approaches.
  • Document specific procedures so that each employee behaves to minimize or eliminate negative environmental impacts in their work,
    Communicate responsibilities and instructions throughout the company and train employees to fulfill their duties efficiently
  • Regularly review and measure behavior against predetermined standards and target values and take corrective action in case of discrepancies
  • Present achieved results to the public.