What is ISO 14001? Environmental management system (EMS)

What is ISO 14001?" – This is a question that those who are interested in understanding and establishing an Environmental Management System (EMS) are currently asking. Let's explore the answers to this question with KNA CERT.

ISO 14001: What is it?

What is an Environmental Management System?

An Environmental Management System (EMS) is a collection of interrelated or interacting elements of an organization designed to establish policies, objectives, and processes to manage the environment.

ISO 14001 is part of the ISO 14000 series, the most widely used standard globally for developing an Environmental Management System (EMS) that meets international standards.

What is ISO 14001?

ISO 14001 is an international standard for Environmental Management Systems (EMS). Developed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), ISO 14001 establishes an advanced Environmental Management System to help organizations improve their environmental performance by using resources more efficiently, reducing waste, gaining a competitive advantage, and earning the trust of stakeholders.

Upon successful assessment and compliance, your organization will receive the ISO 14001:2015 certification.

ISO 14001 Standard Overview

Applicability of ISO 14001

ISO 14001 applies to all types of organizations, ranging from small and medium-sized enterprises to multinational corporations, and from manufacturing industries to service providers.

In particular, there are certain mandatory groups required to establish an ISO 14001 Environmental Management System according to legal regulations. Specifically, according to Decree 40/2019/NĐ-CP providing detailed guidance on the implementation of environmental protection laws, businesses engaged in manufacturing, production, and services falling under industrial production types with environmental pollution risks are obligated to apply the ISO 14001 standard.

These groups include:

STT	STT BUSINESSES REQUIRED TO APPLY ISO 14001
	Group 1
	Exploiting and enriching toxic mineral ores;
	Metallurgy; refining and processing toxic minerals; ship demolition;
	Production of paper, pulp, fiberboard (MDF, HDF);
	Production of chemicals and chemical fertilizers (except mixed types); chemical plant protection drugs;
	Dyeing (fabric, yarn), washing and grinding;
	Tanning;
	Petrochemical refining;
8	Coal thermal power, coke production, coal gasification, nuclear power;
	Group 2
	Waste treatment and recycling; using imported scrap as production materials;
10	There is a process of plating and cleaning the metal surface with chemicals;
11	Production of batteries and accumulators;
12	Clinker production;
	Group 3
13	Processing rubber latex;;
14	Processing cassava starch; MSG; beer, wine, industrial alcohol;
15	Sugarcane processing;
16	Processing seafood, slaughtering livestock and poultry;
17	Production of electrical and electronic components and equipment.

What are the versions of the ISO 14001 series of standards?

Versions of ISO 14001

• ISO 14001:1996 Environmental management system - Specification with instructions for use)
• ISO 14001:2004 standard (Environmental management system - Requirements with instructions for use) → Equivalent Vietnamese standard: TCVN ISO 14001:2010
• ISO 14001:2015 standard (Environmental management system - Requirements with instructions for use) → Equivalent Vietnamese standard: TCVN ISO 14001:2015
• * Note: The following versions supersede the previous versions.

What is the ISO 14001:2015 standard version?

ISO 14001 standard 2015 or ISO 14001:2015 is the latest version of the ISO standard

The latest version of ISO 14001 is ISO 14001:2015.

In this latest version, ISO 14001:2015 has introduced significant updates to align with the challenges and the current environmental context. Besides utilizing the High-Level Structure (HLS) similar to ISO 9001:2015, here are some differences between ISO 14001:2015 and ISO 14001:2004:

a. Organizational context

ISO 14001:2004: Focuses on understanding the environmental aspects and impacts of the organization; Does not explicitly address the organizational context.
ISO 14001:2015: Requires organizations to identify issues inside and outside that affect their Environmental Management; Reviews the organizational context, including its social, cultural, and economic aspects.

b. Needs and expectations of interested parties

ISO 14001:2004: Does not clearly emphasize identifying and addressing the needs and expectations of interested parties.

ISO 14001:2015: Requires organizations to identify and understand the needs and expectations of interested parties; Encourages organizations to engage with stakeholders and address their concerns.

c. Leadership and commitment

ISO 14001:2004: Focuses on establishing an Environmental Management System without emphasizing specific leadership roles and commitments.

ISO 14001:2015: Emphasizes the involvement and commitment of leadership in Environmental Management; Requires top leadership to demonstrate their leadership role in establishing and integrating Environmental Management activities.

d. Life cycle perspective

ISO 14001:2004: Does not explicitly require organizations to consider the entire life cycle of products or services.

ISO 14001:2015: Encourages organizations to apply a life cycle perspective when identifying environmental aspects and impacts; Reviews all stages of a product or service, from raw material acquisition to disposal at the end of its life.

There are many important changes between ISO 14001:2004 and ISO 14001:2015

e. Environmental performance

ISO 14001:2004: Focuses only on monitoring and measuring environmental performance without specific guidance on improvement.

ISO 14001:2015: Requires organizations to establish goals and targets to improve their environmental performance; Emphasize proactive initiatives to enhance environmental performance and achieve sustainable results.

f. Information exchange

ISO 14001:2004: Does not explicitly emphasize communication about environmental performance or engagement with stakeholders.

ISO 14001:2015: Requires organizations to establish a communication process for internal and external stakeholders; Emphasize the importance of transparent and effective communication about environmental management and performance efforts.

Scope of application

Reference documents

Terminology and definitions

Context of the organization

• Understanding the organization and its context
• Understanding the needs and expectations of interested parties
• Determining the scope of the environmental management system
• Environmental management system

Leadership

• Leadership and commitment
• Environmental policy
• Roles, responsibilities, and authorities within the organization

Planning

• Risk and opportunity assessment and action
• Environmental objectives and planning to achieve objectives

Support

• Resources
• Competence
• Awareness
• Internal and external communication
• Establishing and updating, controlling textual information

Implementation

• Planning and control of implementation
• Readiness preparation and response to emergencies
• Evaluation of implementation results
• Monitoring, measurement, analysis, and evaluation of compliance
• Internal assessment
• Leadership review

Improvement

Nonconformity and corrective action

• Continuous improvement
• Benefits of implementing ISO 14001 in business

Compliance with environmental legal requirements

ISO 14001 ensures that organizations comply with current environmental laws and regulations. This helps businesses avoid legal penalties, fees, and environmental-related risks.

Minimization of environmental impact

One of the most significant benefits of ISO 14001 is the ability to minimize negative impacts on the environment. This standard encourages organizations to identify and control factors causing pollution, energy consumption, and resource use. By optimizing production processes and resource utilization, organizations can reduce the amount of waste, emissions, and energy consumption reasonably. This helps protect the environment, enhance sustainability in operations, and minimize the risk of harm to both humans and ecosystems.

 

Ensure Compliance with Processes and Standards

ISO 14001 standard helps organizations implement established environmental processes and standards. This ensures consistency in the organization's activities, from production processes to waste management and disposal. As a result, businesses can minimize risks and build a solid foundation for environmental management.

Improve Performance

ISO 14001 requires organizations to set environmental targets and monitor their environmental performance. By analyzing data and evaluating progress, organizations can measure and improve their performance. This helps enhance management efficiency and the ability to make informed decisions based on data. By improving environmental performance, organizations can reduce operational costs, increase productivity, and enhance operational efficiency.

Build Reputation and Corporate Image

ISO 14001 certification helps build the image and reputation of an organization in environmental management. ISO 14001 certification demonstrates a commitment to environmental protection by the business. This not only creates a competitive advantage but also attracts customers, while strengthening relationships with partners and the local community. The reason is that customers and partners are increasingly concerned about sustainable and environmentally conscious business activities, and achieving ISO 14001 certification helps organizations build a reliable and socially responsible image.

Environmental Protection Contributes Significantly to Building the Company's Reputation and Brand

ISO 14001 encourages innovation and improvement in environmental management. This includes identifying improvement opportunities and implementing energy and resource-saving measures. With active participation from members within the organization, businesses can leverage new opportunities, apply advanced technologies, and create added value by refining and enhancing the ISO 14001 system.

ISO 14001 Certification Services by KNA CERT

As one of the leading and reputable certification organizations in Vietnam, KNA CERT provides ISO 14001 certification services according to the latest version for all organizations and businesses.

KNA CERT has been granted certification for Environmental Management Systems according to the ISO 14001:2015 international standard by the Directorate for Standards, Metrology and Quality under the Ministry of Science and Technology.

KNA was appointed to carry out ISO 14001:2015 certification by the Ministry of Science and Technology

In addition, KNA CERT is recognized by the Office of Accreditation (BOA), a member of the MLA mutual recognition agreement of the IAF International Accreditation Forum, as having the capacity to conduct assessment and certification of Management Systems. Environmental management in accordance with the requirements of ISO/IEC 17021-1:2015 & ISO/IEC 17021-2:2016 standards and was granted the number VICAS 059 – EMS.

KNA has been internationally recognized for its capabilities by the Bureau of Accreditation (BOA).

→ Therefore, the ISO 14001 certification directly issued by KNA CERT holds full legal validity globally.

KNA CERT is committed to service quality:

• Scientific and professional working processes
• Streamlined procedures to ensure progress
• All-inclusive fees from A to Z with no additional costs
• 24/7 dedicated support and responsibility
• Excellent after-sales policy with attractive benefits

We hope this article has helped readers understand what ISO 14001 standard is and provided some information about Environmental Management Systems (EMS). If your business wants more details about the standard's requirements or is interested in ISO 14001 certification services, please contact KNA CERT at the hotline: +84 968 038 122 or Email: salesmanager@knacert.com for the earliest assistance.