Who: Any company looking to do business in countries that value sustainable practices or looking to drive operational, economic and environmental efficiencies can go down this path.
What: ISO 14001 is an international standard that encourages companies to put an Environmental Management System (EMS) in place.
When: How long it takes to implement an EMS depends on the environmental programs you have in place, resources you can commit and whether you're ISO 9000 registered.
Where: Offices and production plants, not products, become certified.
Why: Implementing an ISO 14001 EMS helps improve environmental performance, conveys corporate social responsibility, demonstrates a commitment to excellence, standardizes work processes and appeals to customers and partners.
How: First, implement an EMS. To get started:
1. Identify environmental goals and objectives
2. Get management buy-in
3. Review existing environmental programs and systems
