Sustainability
Communication
The development of a communication strategy with equal emphasis on external and internal communications is required . This includes a requirement to communicate consistent and reliable information , and to establish mechanisms for persons working under the organization ’ s control to make suggestions for improving the environmental management system . The decision to communicate externally is retained by the organization , but the decision needs to consider the information reporting that is required by regulatory agencies , as well as the expectations of other interested parties .
Documentation
Reflecting the evolution of computer and cloud-based systems for running management systems , the standard incorporates the term ‘ documented information ’. To align with ISO 9001 , the organization retains the flexibility to determine when procedures are needed to ensure effective process control .
While accredited certification to ISO 14001 is not a mandatory requirement , manufacturers can reap many benefits by adopting and implementing the system . With organizations under increasing scrutiny from stakeholders to minimize their environmental impact , ISO 14001 certification demonstrates a strategic commitment to continuous improvement .
A focused approach
The standard uses the High Level Structure ( HLS ) for Management System Standards ( MSS ), which is a common framework for ISO management system standards , incorporating identical core text and common terms with core definitions . Examples include ISO 9001 Quality Management , ISO 45001 Occupational Health and Safety Management and ISO 50001 Energy Management .
The framework is designed to benefit users implementing multiple ISO management system standards and is applicable to any management system standard . This allows compatibility across ISO management system standards while offering subject specific flexibility . This means that it is easy to integrate into any existing ISO management system .
By providing a best practice approach , ISO 14001 sets out the requirements for an EMS to help organizations improve their environmental performance , e . g . through more efficient use of resources and the reduction of waste . They can also gain a competitive advantage and the trust of their stakeholders . ■
David Goodfellow www . tuvsud . com / uk
David Goodfellow is UK Business Assurance Manager at TÜV SÜD , one of the world ’ s leading experts in product testing and certification , with 150,000 product certificates in circulation globally . Its Product Service division analyzes over 20,000 products each year in Europe , Asia-Pacific and the Americas , using its technical expertise to help customers optimize market access .
www . tuvsud . com / en-gb / services / auditing-and-system-certification
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