International Standard ISO 14001:2015

This standard establishes requirements for an environmental management system that an organization can apply to improve the environmental results of its activities. This standard is intended for use by an organization seeking to manage its responsibility in the field of ecology on a systematic basis, thus contributing to the environmental component of the sustainability of its business.

Environmental policy of the company – this is a kind of declaration that asserts the principles and intentions of the organization's management regarding environmental aspects. It can be said that this policy is the basis of activities to determine environmental tasks and goals.

At every enterprise that cares about the environment and strives to meet the requirements of the international standard, there must be the following environmental policy has been formulated, which would fully correspond to its production activities, services or products. The introduction of an environmental management system at the enterprise will allow all interested parties to make sure that the negative impact on the environment is controlled and reduced. The principle of continuous improvement, which allows the system to continuously develop and improve, is the basis of the environmental management system. It can be used in whole or in part for systematic improvement of environmental management.

The environmental policy of almost any enterprise determines the principles of activity and the general direction, the required level of responsibility of officials for the state of the environmental situation of the environment, and also determines the characteristics on the basis of which an assessment of further actions is carried out. In the concept of "environment", includes everything around, where the company operates – soil, water, air, natural resources, fauna, flora, people and the relationship between them.

The environmental policy of the enterprise is developed only with the knowledge of the top management, it is also responsible for its definition. But, along with this, even ordinary employees of the enterprise should be fully aware of their role, responsibility and responsibilities for the preservation and protection of a favorable environmental situation. The policy must be maintained as documented information and must be accessible to relevant stakeholders. For the development, implementation, modification and formulation of changes managers of all levels and departments are responsible enterprises.

Each employee of the company performs certain duties in terms of continuous improvement of the environmental situation and prevention of environmental pollution. The company's management must strictly comply with all requirements in relation to all environmental aspects. Thus, environmental policy is the basis for defining and analyzing tasks and goals for improving the environment. She mandatory for all employees and, moreover, available to the public.

In the environmental policy of an industrial enterprise , one can distinguish two main directions:

1. definition of the environmental strategy in the industrial, technological and design implementation of projects for the production of products;
2. production of products that have minimal negative impact on the environment, and fully comply with the provisions of international and domestic environmental standards.

The company's environmental policy is based on the following principles:

• Conservation and protection of nature – this is the basis for achieving effective development of the enterprise in the future.
• Ensuring environmental safety of technological processes the output of the product, as well as its own.
• Attitude to environmental protection issues it should become a permanent component of the enterprise's management system.

Careful classification and consideration of the causes of the negative impact on nature, the resources involved, the volume and composition of liquid and solid waste, the development of corrective actions for identified inconsistencies – all this conditions for further improvement environmental protection activities, planning and implementation of measures aimed at improving the environmental situation.

The protection and protection of the environment by all industrial enterprises is the basis for the formation of sustainable development with respect for the interests of both present and future generations. When implementing an environmental management system, an organization should use not only the international standard ISO 14001, but also domestic standards and laws, and other applicable requirements.

Technical information:

The purpose of the ISO 14001 | GOST R ISO 14001 standard

ISO 14001 standard “Environmental management systems. Requirements and application guidelines” establishes requirements for the environmental management system of enterprises.

The purpose of the ISO 14001 standard is to provide enterprises with a regulatory framework for environmental protection.

ISO 14001 regulatory documents

• ISO 14001-2015. Environmental management systems. Requirements and guidelines for use. Environmental management systems — Requirements with guidance for use.
• GOST R ISO 14001-2016. Environmental management systems. Requirements and guidelines for use. Environmental management systems. Requirements with guidance for use.
• ISO 14001:2015. Environmental management systems. A practical guide for small businesses. Environmental management systems. A practical guide for SMEs.

Until September 2015, the international standard ISO 14001-2004 “Environmental management systems. Requirements and application guidelines".

Requirements of the ISO 14001 | GOST R ISO 14001 standard

The ISO 14001 standard imposes the following requirements on enterprises:

• Development, implementation, maintenance and continuous improvement of the environmental management system
• Verification of compliance of the company's activities with its declared environmental policy
• Demonstration of compliance with the standard by self-assessment or certification in external organizations

The ISO 14001 standard is based on the PDCA approach (Plan-Do-Check-Act is a repetitive process used by an enterprise to achieve continuous improvement) and includes:

• Definition of environmental goals and processes necessary for the production of results that correspond to the environmental policy of the enterprise
• Execution of scheduled processes
• Monitoring of compliance of processes with the environmental policy of the enterprise
• Continuous improvement of the effectiveness of the company's environmental management system

Scope of the ISO 14001 | GOST R ISO 14001 standard

The ISO 14001 standard applies to all organizations that seek to systematically manage their environmental obligations.

Which companies implement the ISO 14001 | GOST R ISO 14001 standard:

• Manufacturing and service-providing companies that have a negative impact on the environment
• Companies operating in the international market, at the request of customers
• Manufacturers and suppliers of unique equipment

Internal and external benefits of implementing ISO 14001 | GOST R ISO 14001

Internal benefits of implementing the ISO 14001 standard:

• Constant monitoring of the negative impact on the environment
• Cost reduction, energy and resource consumption savings
• Prevention of incidents, accidents and emergency situations that result in environmental pollution
• Reducing the harmful impact on the environment
• Reducing the consumption of natural resources

External benefits of implementing the ISO 14001 standard:

• Improving the company's image by preventing or reducing the negative impact on the environment
• Increasing customer confidence
• Opportunities to enter new, including international, markets, expansion of existing sales markets
• Additional benefits when participating in important tenders
• Reducing the likelihood of complaints and lawsuits
• The possibility of certification of the environmental management system in external organizations