ISO 14001 Certification: A step Toward Environmental Improvement

1. ISO 14001 Certification: A step Toward Environmental Improvement In today's age and era, the foremost concern for any Organization, Industry or Business is to reduce the carbon footprint which impacts the environment directly or indirectly. Organization of any size or structure now working for a sustainable approach by taking the right steps in identifying, managing, monitoring and controlling the issues related to the environment more holistically. To gain a competitive advantage and the trust of the stakeholders now it becomes an obligation for the Organization and Business owners to improve the environmental performance by efficient use of resources and waste reduction. This is not a onetime activity rather it's an ongoing process and to follow the same there is an internationally agreed standard well known by ISO 14001 Certification whose main objective is to sets out the requirements for an environmental management system. This standard can be easily integrated into the existing ISO management system. It is suited to all types and sizes of the Organization, profit, non-profit, government, private. ISO 14001 requires that Organization should consider all environmental issues relevant such as issues related to water and sewage, air pollution, soil contamination, water management, adaptation and mitigation of climate change, and use resources more efficiently and effectively. This standard includes that continual improvement is required of an Organization's systems and approach to environmental concerns. The revised standard comes with many improvements in environmental management within the strategic planning processes, a stronger commitment that boost environmental performance and input from leaders of the Organization. The leadership team will ensure that the management will be motivated to achieve the goal and objectives of the Organization. To improve overall performance and take necessary steps to reduce risk and opportunity greater input is required from leadership. How the Organization can get Benefits from ISO 14001:2015 There are several reasons that why the organization should take a strategic approach to improve environmental performance and, how implementing this standard will help the Organization: Current and future compliance demonstrate statutory and regulatory requirements. Leadership involvement and employees engagement has been increased manifold Through strategic communication confidence of stakeholders and company reputation has been improved By incorporating environmental issues into Business management strategic business aims has been achieved Through improved efficiency and cost reduction Organization can gain competitive and financial advantage Environmental performance of suppliers has been encouraged by integrating that into business systems of the Organization Some of the key improvements in the standard: Within the Organization's strategic direction standards become more prominent. Commitment from leadership is required in greater extent To protect the environment from degradation and harm proactive initiatives has been implemented such as adaptation and mitigation of climate change and sustainable resource. Considering environmental aspects from focus on life-cycle to end-to life It has additional communication strategy stakeholder focused

2. This standard maps the framework that an organization or company can follow to set up an effective and efficient environmental management system.