ISO 14000 is a series of standards describing Environmental
Management Systems’ (EMS) tools and techniques. One of
these standards, ISO 14001, is the internationally accepted
model to follow for implementation of an EMS. It is an auditable
standard similar to ISO 9001, and includes a framework for
continual improvement of environmental performance, control,
and regulatory compliance.
ISO 14001 is not a government standard, nor is it focused primarily on regulatory
compliance. It is a systematic approach to improving all aspects of environmental
management in a company, and is built on a continual cycle of planning, implementing,
reviewing, and improving the actions that a company takes to meet its environmental
obligations. Companies who have implemented an ISO 9001 quality system are committed
to continual improvement, and ISO 14001 is a natural extension of that commitment.
Many of the elements of ISO 14001 have similar requirements as those of ISO 9000,
including the need for a policy statement, document control, management reviews,
internal audits, record keeping, and training. The additional requirements for
ISO 14001 include making commitments to compliance with environmental regulations
and to the prevention of pollution, and a formal process of planning environmental
improvement and control programs.
Why do we need Environmental Audits or ISO 14001?
Some of the motivators for registration include a desire on the part of
organizations to optimize management efficiency, reduce costs, limit liability
exposure, and solve regulatory problems. In addition, improving public image
and doing business in Europe and Asia, where ISO 14001 is often a requirement,
are also important reasons for organizations to register.
Tremendous savings can be realized from cost-saving opportunities associated
with reducing waste, especially the often-overlooked material wastes of an
operation. (In the past, these wastes have often been considered "the
cost of doing business") Improved energy efficiencies, less water use,
scrap reduction, solid and hazardous waste reduction, a streamlined permitting
and reporting process, and even avoidance of compliance fines could easily
add up to significant annual savings.
Relevance to India
There are several steps organizations must take when they
decide to register for ISO 14001. The first and most important is to obtain
top management commitment. Your organization should define the environmental
policy statement, which becomes the basis for developing an EMS. Management
also needs to clearly communicate that policy to everyone in the organization,
letting employees know that environmental issues will be taken seriously
throughout the company.
Design and write the policies and procedures for your EMS based on what
you are already doing to manage your environmental impacts. By doing this,
most organizations avoid reinventing the wheel. They usually find obvious
opportunities to improve operational and documentation efficiencies, simply
by examining their current operations in the new light of the ISO 14001
standard. These early cost-saving successes can fuel and sustain the effort
to complete the ISO 14001 registration process.
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Once the basic EMS is in place, exercise the requirement
for management review and the related commitments stated in the environmental
policy, and continually look for opportunities to improve your system.
India must be particularly alert to the environmental impacts of growing
industrialization. We often import second-hand plants that are not in a
condition to deliver fuel-efficient processes and involve obsolete technologies.
We pay in the long run when these plants are shut down by court rulings. |
Benefits of ISO 14000
Environmental management affects your bottomline by improving your processes
through:
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Cutting costs in terms of energy, waste, and raw materials. |
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Ensuring compliance with regulatory and legal requirements. |
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Building public image towards clients, regulatory bodies, and other stakeholders. |
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Motivating your employees. |
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