Environmental management system and ISO 14001

Dec 20, 2023Audit / Environment / Sustainability

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 ISO 14001.

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 ISO 14001 certification 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.

Environmental Management System ISO 14001 advantages

1. Systematic improvement of environmental performance

An environmental management system ISO 14001 helps you structure objectives, KPIs, and improvement actions using the Plan–Do–Check–Act cycle. This makes environmental performance improvement measurable and demonstrable over time.

2. Stronger legal compliance and reduced compliance risk

3. Cost savings through more efficient use of resources

4. Improved market position and greater credibility with customers and supply chains

5. Better risk management and stronger internal engagement

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.

A lightbulb planted in the ground with a little plant inside it

ISO 14001 certification

Interested in the ISO 14001 certification process? Find out how DEKRA can help you in this regard. Our experienced ISO 14001 experts are at your service.

ISO 14001 revision: stay up to date

ISO 14001:2026 is set to be published in March 2026. To keep you informed, we’re sharing updates via email and hosting a free webinar. Want to stay in the loop?

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