Environmental management system and ISO 14001

Dec 20, 2023

Discover the relationship between the environmental management system and ISO 14001 in this blog

The term environmental management system plays an important role in the ISO 14001 standard. But what exactly does an environmental management system entail? And what is the relationship between an environmental management system and ISO 14001? In this blog you can not only find answers to these questions but also read all about the environmental management system.

What is an environmental management system?

An environmental management system is a method whereby organizations develop an environmental policy. The environmental management system involves both the development of a policy as well as the monitoring of its implementation. The purpose of an environmental management system is to help the organization meet all the environmental requirements. These include the Activities Decree, the Surface Water Act and the Environmental Management Act. On top of that, organizations can reduce their environmental impact and gain competitive advantage.

What is the relationship between the environmental management system and ISO 14001?

The international standard ISO 14001 describes various requirements that an environmental management system has to meet. The principle of constant improvement through ‘plan, do, check & act’ (PDCA) forms the basis of the environmental management system. In addition to the requirements for the environmental management system, ISO 14001 also describes processes that help to put the environmental management system in place. ISO 14001 takes all the environmental aspects in all phases of the product life cycle as a starting point. In doing so, the standard also identifies an organization’s indirect impact on the environment. For example, choosing a supplier that provides sustainable transport.

How do you request certification for an environmental management system?

Once your organization has an environmental management system in place in accordance with the requirements of ISO 14001, you can have it certified. The ISO 14001 certificate shows your (potential) customers, partners and stakeholders that your organization is serious about the environment. In order to become ISO 14001 certified your organization needs to be audited. The DEKRA specialists will be happy to carry this out for you. They do this according to the People Based Auditing principle, whereby the focus is also on the people who carry out the processes. With their expertise and experience, the DEKRA specialists support you during the entire auditing process. If you would like to know more about the audit for ISO 14001 certification, take a look at our page about the ISO 14001 audit.

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