Enviroment & Energy

ISO 14001 is an internationally recognized standard that specifies the requirements for an environmental management system.

In recent years, there has been increased awareness among the public and consumers regarding environmental issues. As a result, businesses that implement a certified environmental management system have a competitive advantage. 

Additionally, the benefits of a certified environmental management system include:

• Reduction in waste management costs,
• Savings in energy consumption,
• Savings in the consumption of raw materials and other resources,
• Continuous improvement of environmental performance,
• Reduction of the risk of severe environmental impact,
• Compliance with environmental legislation and regulations (at national and European levels),
• Continuous improvement: Environmental management systems are designed to be fully integrated into a comprehensive management system that includes both quality and health and safety issues. Certification of integrated systems leads to cost reduction and increased efficiency.

The main requirements of ISO 14001:2015 include the following:

• Establishment of an environmental policy that commits the business to: pollution prevention, compliance with all environmental laws and regulations, and continuous improvement of its environmental performance,
• Identification of all environmental aspects arising from the business's activities,
• Setting environmental objectives linked to the environmental policy and identified environmental aspects.

The Community Eco-Management and Audit Scheme, known as the EMAS Regulation, is a public quality label for voluntary environmental management and communication.

Such a system typically includes the following:

• Design and implementation of an Environmental Management System. The system may comply with the requirements of ISO 14001 (Environmental Management) and/or ISO 50001 (Energy Management) standards,
• Active participation of company personnel in environmental management issues,
• Preparation and publication of an Environmental Statement. The Environmental Statement contains verified information regarding all environmental issues related to corporate operations, as well as the company's performance in managing environmental matters (energy efficiency, efficient use of materials, water, waste, biodiversity, emissions),
• Verification of the Environmental Statement.

EMAS was created by the EU through European Regulation 1836/93, which has since been revised twice. The third version of the regulation, No. 1221/2009, came into effect in January 2010.

EMAS offers the following benefits:

• Efficient use of company resources resulting in reduced operational costs,
• Compliance with environmental legislation,
• Reduced likelihood of fines related to environmental legislation,
• Access to public contracts,
• Use of the EMAS logo as a marketing tool.

The ISO 50001 Energy Management Standard is an important management tool for businesses, and its effective implementation aims to improve their energy performance and reduce energy costs from their activities, product production, and service provision. The standard is applicable to all types and sizes of organizations and businesses, and due to its structural similarity to ISO 9001 and ISO 14001, it facilitates integration into already implemented and certified systems.

The ISO 50001 standard requires:

• Establishment of an appropriate energy policy,
• Identification of energy needs and opportunities for energy improvement,
• Determination of legal and other requirements related to the organization's energy aspects,
• Setting specific objectives regarding efficient energy use.