What is ISO 14001?

Dec 20, 2023Audit / Sustainability

Discover how ISO 14001 works

Increasingly more organizations are realising the importance of taking the environment into account in their business operations. To help them optimise their processes and reduce their ecological footprint they can make use of ISO 14001. But what is ISO 14001 exactly? Why implement ISO 14001? And what are the benefits of ISO 14001? Find out in this blog.

ISO 14001 meaning

What is ISO 14001? It is an international norm that describes the requirements for setting up an environmental management system. Organizations can use the requirements described as a guide when developing their environmental policy. ISO 14001 also helps in assuring the correct implementation of the environmental measures. Organizations are not obliged to meet these requirements. They can however set themselves goals and have these tested by an external party through an ISO 14001 audit.

What is an ISO 14001 audit?

An ISO 14001 audit is the process through which you obtain certification. It provides formal, independent assurance that your environmental management system meets the requirements of the ISO 14001 standard. During the audit, an accredited certification body assesses whether your organization has effectively embedded environmental objectives, legal and regulatory compliance, and continual improvement. With an ISO 14001 certificate, you demonstrate externally that environmental management is integrated into both policy and day-to-day operations. In practice, the certificate is typically valid for three years, with periodic (usually annual) surveillance audits to verify that the system remains effective.

Why use ISO 14001?

Many organisations ask why ISO 14001 is relevant to their operations. By implementing an environmental management system, organisations gain greater control over their environmental performance and are able to achieve continuous improvement. ISO 14001 provides an internationally recognised framework that makes environmental management measurable and manageable. Certification to ISO 14001 also strengthens an organisation’s position in the market and in tender processes. In addition, working in accordance with the standard reduces the risk of reputational or financial damage. Other benefits of ISO 14001 include improved relationships with the surrounding community and more engaged and satisfied employees as a result of a more sustainable policy.

Benefits ISO 14001

ISO 14001 clearly identifies the opportunities and risks of the organization in the area of the environment.
The described requirements help organizations to gradually improve their environmental performance.
ISO 14001 is aligned with other ISO standards using the High Level Structure. An example of this is the integration of ISO 9001.
ISO 14001 is internationally accepted and therefore forms a suitable basis for international certification.

Requesting ISO 14001 certification

Certification in accordance with ISO 14001 therefore has many advantages. In order to obtain the ISO 14001 certificate, your organization first needs to have an audit carried out. The auditor checks whether the organization meets all the ISO 14001 requirements. The DEKRA auditors will be happy to help you through the entire auditing process. They do this for all ISO standards in accordance with the People Based Auditing principle, whereby the focus is on the people involved in the relevant operational processes. If you would like more information about the process involved in the ISO 14001 certification after reading about what is ISO 14001, you can visit our page via the teaser below.

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?

Do you have any further questions?