Some may think ISO 14001 Certification in Dubai, Abu Dhabi is only for large corporations. However, a small business can also benefit from this accreditation. When searching for ISO14001 certification, businesses may be thinking of their image, ROI and the power of social responsibility. In this blog I'll look into some of the reasons for businesses to pursue an ISO14001 certification. I've already touched on this topic before, but in this post, I'll try and focus more on the practical aspects of the standard and why certification is beneficial.
Understanding ISO 14001 Certificate
It is an internationally recognized standard for business environmental management that sets controls for a company's activities that have an effect on the environment. These include the use of natural resources, handling and treatment of waste and emissions to air, land and water. The standard is designed to help businesses remain commercially successful without overlooking environmental responsibilities. For a business, ISO 14001 certification increases credibility and demonstrates a proactive stance on environmental protection.
Better Environmental Performance
The ISO 14001 standard is based on best practice, not on specific environmental legislation. This means that it offers a flexible framework to help companies of any size or sector to identify, prioritize and control their environmental obligations, as well as improving their environmental performance.
Better environmental performance is the key to maintaining a license to operate. It can lead to cost savings through the reduction of waste, improved productivity and enhanced reputation. This has led many companies in all sectors to seek ISO14001 certification.
Saves Money
How will your business save money? Well, there are several ways that ISO 14001 can help save money. First, the organization is learning to be more efficient with their energy consumption. This means that the organization is making efforts to use less energy, which means a lower electric bill.
Second,
the organization is eliminating waste, which means that the company isn't
wasting as many resources and this helps save money on the raw materials needed
for production.
Additionally, ISO 14001 certification can help businesses lower their insurance premiums while also avoiding fines associated with environmental accidents by developing an effective EMS.
Gain a Competitive Advantage
When customers are deciding between two similar products or services, they often use factors beyond price to make their decisions. More and more consumers are looking at a company's environmental performance when making purchasing decisions - and they're willing to pay more for environmentally responsible products. By allowing your customers to see that you have gained ISO 14001certification, you can demonstrate not just your concern for the environment but also your commitment to quality.
Reduce Waste and Minimize Costs
The biggest reason companies implement environmental management systems is to reduce waste and minimize costs. By identifying and monitoring areas where your company uses energy or materials, you can develop ways to reduce unnecessary use.
Improve Your Company’s Image
ObtainingISO14001 certification from a certification body known for the best ISO certification in UAE certification body for your business can improve your company’s image. It demonstrates to your customers, partners, and employees that you are committed to reducing waste and pollution and improving the environment.
Companies who are certified are more likely to attract new customers and foster a positive work environment with employees who are proud of their employer and enjoy working for a company that cares.
Meet Customer Demands
It's no secret that customer demands are changing. Consumers want to support brands who care about the environment, and as a result, ISO 14001 certification has become something that businesses can't afford to ignore. If a company wants to remain competitive in today's market, it must be able to meet this growing demand for sustainability. Otherwise, it will quickly be left behind by its green-minded competitors.
Improve Employee Morale
Employees are spending increasing amounts of time at work and are looking for more from their employer than just a paycheck. They want to work for an organization that shares their values, which is why so many workers are choosing environmentally-conscious companies over others. The ISO 14001 standard gives employees the assurance that they work for an organization that cares about the earth and allows them to feel good about being part of a company that is taking steps to create a better world.
Gain Access to New Markets and
Tenders
Achieving ISO 14001 certification demonstrates to customers and other stakeholders that your organization is committed to meeting the needs of its customers and complying with all relevant environmental laws. This can help you gain access to new markets and tender opportunities, as well as boost your brand image.
It also allows organizations to make cost savings by reducing their use of energy and materials, as well as improving the efficiency with which they use these resources.
This is a great benefit, particularly in the current climate. The threat of climate change has meant that action needs to be taken now to ensure a sustainable future for the planet.
Benchmark performance
Environmental management is a key element of corporate social responsibility (CSR), and meeting ISO 14001 standards demonstrates that an organization is environmentally conscious.
Businesses can use ISO 14001 to benchmark their environmental performance, in addition to complying with regulations, reducing costs and improving their public image.
CSR is increasingly important for the reputation of a business. Companies are expected to be environmentally conscious and sustainable, especially by millennials. In fact, 95% of millennials want businesses to address social and environmental issues. However, for many organizations CSR has been seen as a cost rather than an opportunity.
ISO 14001 can help businesses see environmental management as an opportunity. The standard can be used to benchmark a company’s environmental performance and demonstrate commitment to sustainability. By implementing ISO 14001, an organization will be better positioned to meet future regulations and legislation on sustainable development, while also enhancing its corporate reputation among employees and customers by showing that it cares about the environment.
Compliance
As an independent quality standard, ISO 14001 could help your business demonstrate compliance with the legal requirements, and the demands of regulators.
The standard is based on a set of environmental management principles, including a strong customer focus, the motivation and implication of top management, the process approach and continual improvement. These principles are integrated into ISO 14001:2015 through the plan-do-check-act cycle at the core of the standard. They provide guidance on how to use the standard to enhance environmental performance.
CONCLUSION
Although the standard is voluntary, it is not just adopted by those organizations who want to be seen as 'green'. Many companies choose ISO 14001 as a sensible way to manage their impact on the environment. This helps them gain new customers, retain existing clients and differentiate themselves from competitors. Even if you do not yet have clients asking for it, they may well do in the future.
FAQs
- How
does ISO 14001 Certification work in practice?
TheISO 14001 standard is not about setting absolute limits on what your organization can and cannot do. It does not, for example, set how many trees you can fell or how much water you can use in production. What it does is require your organization to show that it has considered and acted upon the environmental impact of its operations, and that is the key difference between ISO14001 and other environmental standards.
For example, reducing waste by recycling or reusing materials can decrease operational costs and increase revenue. Reusing rather than buying new materials can save money and reduce environmental impact. So can using less energy or water, which in turn can save money on utility bills.
- How
crucial is it to train staff in EMS procedures?
EMS
is a business-as-usual activity and therefore the training of personnel is
crucial to the success of any EMS.
Note
that:
● Training should be proportional to
the size and complexity of an organization.
● Staff should be trained in the
context and significance of their role.
● Awareness training should be provided to all staff, which introduces them to the EMS and its objectives, as well as their responsibilities for implementing the EMS.
More detailed training should be provided to those who have specific roles and responsibilities within the EMS such as senior management, whose commitment can form one of the foundations for successful implementation, and to those involved in the day-to-day operation of activities that affect the environment and staff working with hazardous materials or processes. For example, employees responsible for waste management need to understand how waste materials are handled and treated, so that they can operate in compliance with local regulations.
- What
Does It Take to Become Certified?
To get certified, your company must go through an evaluation process. An independent third party reviews your company's environmental policy and objectives, procedures, controls, and other aspects of the business. If the evaluator finds that your company meets the requirements, you will receive a certificate of registration. This certificate is valid for three years; after that time, you must undergo a surveillance audit every year to maintain your certification.
If
you are interested in becoming ISO 14001 certified, it can be helpful to
contact the URS Certification Body, Dubai accredited certification and testing
company,
on the best approaches for meeting ISO standards and optimizing your business
model based on these standards.
