Getting ISO 14001 certified ensures that the organisation complies with all the legal regulations.
The environmental management system mainly focuses on the resources and meeting the commitments documented in the organisation’s policies. This standard is globally accredited, and its implementation helps organisations to add credibility by demonstrating their commitment to environmental protection. It helps in increasing the trust of the customers and stakeholders and promotes sustainable development. It includes reducing the negative environmental impacts of products, services and activities.
Evolution of ISO 14001 Certification
ISO 14001 was developed by the International Organisation for Standardisation. It was first released in 1996 and then updated in 2004. The latest version of ISO 14001, also known as ISO 14001:2015, was released in September 2015. ISO 14001:2015 has significantly changed the provisions and requirements of ISO 14001. A continual improvement survey is conducted to understand the needs of the current, past and potential users. It focuses more on standards and facilitates integration with other ISO standards and provides a competitive advantage and helps to gain the trust of the entities.
What is the Purpose of ISO 14001
It defines the requirements of the organisation and guides the implementation of an effective environmental management system. This Certification offers to improve the organisation’s environmental performance.
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Risks and Opportunities in ISO 14001 - A Change of Perspective
For a long time, the view of business risk was limited to a financial comparison of results. Today, there is general consensus that companies of different types and sizes are subject to manifold internal and external factors and influences - the standard speaks of "issues". Structural and cyclical changes in the business environment, as well as new market entrants, lead to uncertainty as to whether and when the organization will achieve its goals.
The effect of this uncertainty on corporate goals, monetary or otherwise, can be described as "risk." This way of looking at things also made its way into environmental management with the revision of the standard in 2015 (Chapter 6 "Planning").
ISO 14001:2015 - Environmental management systems -
Requirements with guidance for use. The standard is available from the ISO website.
The terms "risks and opportunities" are defined in chapter 3.2.11:
Risks = potentially unfavorable impacts (threats)
Opportunities = potentially favorable impacts (opportunities).
The risk-based approach in ISO 14001 concretizes the earlier requirements on preventive measures. However, the core, prevention and avoidance, remains the same. Management can effectively manage risks and opportunities by integrating environmental management into business processes and their strategic direction and decision making.
Determine risks and opportunities
The risk-based approach, analogous to ISO 9001, is one of the main components of the planning phase (PDCA cycle) and thus a key approach in environmental management. It is a systematic extension of thinking in terms of corrective and preventive actions and provides companies with new ways of looking at the future: What if?
The overarching purpose of the processes required by ISO 14001, Chapter 6.1.1 is to ensure that the company is able to:
Risk assessment using a risk matrix - an example
A logistics company answers the question about potentially leaking fuel or engine oil by saying that all drivers have absorbents in their vehicles and are trained accordingly. But how should the situation be assessed on weekends? The truck fleet is parked on normal interlocking pavement, which is crisscrossed by rain gutters including collection manholes. The main collector empties into the local sewer system at the property line. However, there are no gate valves or oil separators. In this respect, a foreseeable emergency situation would be a fuel or engine oil spill over the weekend. A sample risk assessment using a risk matrix may look like the following:
Risk identification The unimpeded discharge of fuel or engine oil into the combined sewer system.
Risk analysis The probability of occurrence is low due to regular maintenance intervals of the trucks. The extent of damage to the environment is high. Especially because the municipal sewage treatment plant is quite close (short flow paths) and no buffering can be done there.
Risk assessment The risk lies in the yellow, medium limit range and is thus not tolerable.
Risk management Reduction of the extent of damage through a combination of organizational measures (plant security checks for leaks under the vehicles) and technical measures (installation of a liquid separator or box in the parking lot with collection equipment and cover mats).
Monitoring and review Training/sensitization of logistics staff and security guards incl. inclusion in the next emergency drill, recurring inspections of the separator.
The example shows how environmental aspects can be evaluated for emergency response. A positive side effect in this company is that the parking lot was cleaned of old contamination for better leak detection. From now on, all employees meticulously ensure that this remains the case. In this respect, this procedure is in line with the requirements for planning measures. Accordingly, measures must be planned for dealing with significant environmental aspects, binding commitments, and risks and opportunities as identified in ISO 14001 Chapter 6.1.1.
For each identified risk, an adequate opportunity?
As described, opportunities and risks must be identified for binding commitments. Binding commitments extend not only to applicable laws and regulations, but also to voluntary commitments such as organizational and industry standards, contractual relationships, or agreements with environmental organizations. The risk of non-compliance with unknown requirements due to an inappropriate system is quickly identified. But what is the opportunity? Comprehensive screening, like a 360-degree radar, could identify changes as early as the draft stage and identify potential impacts on the company at an early stage.
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Expected loss reduction
We assisted a leading merchant acquirer in the travel and airline industries with risk management and compliance, resulting in reduced exposure, lower expected losses, and increased profitability in high-risk sectors during a crisis. We successfully reduced the client’s exposure by over one-third and mitigated expected losses by approximately 85% during this turbulent period.
Uplift
A global USA bank partnered with us to enhance their treasury, asset and liability management operating models, as well as their liquidity and interest rate risk management process. Through this transformational engagement, we made revisions to the client’s behavioral models and hedging strategy
Automotive industry
We designed and implemented a global integrity and compliance program for a world-leading automobile manufacturer. The program focused on implementing processes and inspiring people, strengthening governance and processes across more than 500 legal entities worldwide. Through diverse communication, training, and enablement initiatives, we engaged all employees on the path to achieving sustainable culture change.
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