Environmental Management System ISO14000

What is ISO14000?

ISO14000 environmental management system standard is an international environmental management system standard formulated by ISO/TC207 (International Environmental Management Technical Committee).

It includes many problems in the field of international environmental management, such as environmental management system, environmental audit, environmental labeling and life cycle analysis.

Its purpose is to guide all kinds of organizations (enterprises and companies) to obtain correct environmental behavior.

However, it does not include the establishment of standards for pollutant test methods, pollutants and sewage limit values and product standards.

The standard applies not only to manufacturing and processing industries, but also to services such as construction, pportation, waste management, maintenance and consultation.

The standard set aside 100 standard numbers, which are divided into 7 series, numbering ISO14000-14100.

ISO9000 and ISO14000

ISO9000 quality system certification standards and ISO14000 environmental management system standards for organizations (companies, enterprises) many requirements are universal, the two sets of standards can be used together.

Many enterprises or companies in the world have passed the certification of ISO9000 series standards. These enterprises or companies can apply the experience gained through the ISO9000 system certification to environmental management certification.

The new version of the ISO9000 family standard embodies the principle of the combination of the two sets of standards, making the ISO9000 family standard more closely linked to the ISO14000 series standard.

Characteristics of ISO14000

The ISO14000 standard is formulated to improve global environmental quality.

It is through a set of environmental management framework documents to strengthen the organization (companies, enterprises) environmental awareness, management capabilities and safeguard measures, so as to achieve the purpose of improving environmental quality.

At present, it is a voluntary standard adopted by organizations (companies and enterprises), and it is the conscious behavior of organizations (companies and enterprises).

In China, third party independent certification is adopted to verify whether the products produced by the organization (company or enterprise) meet the requirements.

Target of ISO14000

The goal of ISO14000 is to promote ISO14000 series standards worldwide by establishing international standards that meet the requirements of environmental protection laws and regulations of various countries, so as to achieve the ultimate goal of improving global environmental quality, promoting world trade and eliminating trade barriers.

What is life cycle thinking?

Life cycle theory runs through the theme of ISO14000 series standards.

It requires organizations (companies and enterprises) to control the factors that affect the environment in the whole process of product design, production, use, scrap and recycling.

ISO14000 based on the "environmental policy" should reflect the idea of life cycle thinking.

TC207 has established a life cycle assessment technical committee to evaluate the environmental impact of products at each production stage, so that organizations (companies and enterprises) can be analyzed and improved.

Background of ISO14000 generation

Since 80s, some enterprises in the United States and Europe have taken the lead in establishing their own environmental management mode to improve public image and reduce pollution. This is the embryonic form of environmental management system.

183 countries and more than 70 international organizations attended the conference on "environment and development" held in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil in 1992.

The conference adopted the "agenda for twenty-first Century" and other documents, marking the beginning of the establishment of an environmental management system for cleaner production, pollution reduction and sustainable development in the world. It is also the basis for the widespread promotion of ISO14000 environmental management standards.

The relationship between ISO14000 and EMAS

In April 1995, the European community began to implement the EMAS (European environmental management and auditing system), which is earlier than the ISO14000 series standard.

After the introduction of the ISO14000 series standards, the European Standardization Committee tried to keep consistent with ISO14000 in the process of revising standards, and finally realized the goal of adopting the ISO standard as the European standard.

In September 1996, the European Standardization Committee adopted the resolution to convert 14001 into European standard, and at the same time pformed several environmental auditing standards of ISO14010, ISO14011 and ISO14012.

Although there are differences between ISO standards and EMAS, they will eventually be mutually recognized.