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ISO 14001:2004
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Organizations of all kinds
are increasingly concerned with achieving and
demonstrating sound environmental performance
by controlling the impacts of their
activities, products and services on
the environment, consistent with their
environmental policy and objectives. They do
so in the context of increasingly stringent
legislation, the development of economic
policies and other measures that foster
environmental protection, and increased
concern expressed by interested parties about
environmental matters and sustainable
development. |
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International Standards
covering environmental management are intended
to provide organizations with the elements of
an effective environmental management system
(EMS) that can be integrated with other
management requirements and help organizations
achieve environmental and economic goals |
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This International
Standard specifies requirements for an
environmental management system to enable an
organization to develop and implement a policy
and objectives which take into account legal
requirements and information about significant
environmental aspects. It is intended to apply
to all types and sizes of organization and to
accommodate diverse geographical, cultural and
social conditions. The overall aim of this
International Standard is to support
environmental protection and prevention of
pollution in balance with socio-economic
needs. |
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This International
Standard is based on the methodology known as
Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA). PDCA can be briefly
described as follows. |
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Plan: establish the
objectives and processes necessary to deliver
results in accordance with the organization's
environmental policy. |
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Do: implement the
processes. |
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Check: monitor and
measure processes against environmental
policy, objectives, targets, legal and other
requirements, and report the results. |
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Act: take actions to
continually improve performance of the
environmental management system. |
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This International Standard requires an
organization to
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a) Establish an appropriate environmental
policy. |
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b) Identify the environmental aspects arising
from the organizations past, existing or
planned activities, products and services, in
order to determine the environmental impacts
of significance. |
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c) Identify applicable legal requirements and
other requirements, to which the organization
subscribes. |
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d) Identify priorities and set appropriate
environmental objectives and targets. |
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e) Establish a structure and a programme(s) to
implement the policy and achieve objectives
and meet targets. |
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f) Facilitate planning, control, monitoring,
preventive and corrective actions, auditing
and review activities to ensure both that the
policy is complied with and that the
environmental management system remains
appropriate |
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g) Be capable of adapting to changing
circumstances. |
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Some of the benefits experienced by
companies implementing ISO 14001 include :
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Process improvement. |
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Environmental cost reduction. |
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Better relationships with regulators |
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Better relationships with insurers, investors,
and financial markets |
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Product improvement |
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Marketing advantages |
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Better control of liabilities |
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Reduced regulatory burden |
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Protection of company image and name |
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Demonstration of responsible management |
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ISO 14001 is a process-oriented standard;
it implies a commitment to continuous
improvement.
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The most important benefit of ISO
14001implementation is the monetary
benefit derived from reduced energy costs as a
result of increased energy efficiency. The
other benefits include improved industrial
relations with the government through
following of governmental regulations. In
addition, greater shareholder and customer
confidence is observed. Also, there is
increase in labour productivity due to
improved work ethics and corporate identity.
Since an EMS according to ISO 14001 is based
on the participation of the entire staff, it
enhances the integration of employees and
motivates them to actively participate in
changes within the organization. |
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The sales are also benefited as a result of
positive marketing effects due to
certification and improved industrial
relations. |