ISO 14001
certification

No, an ISO 14001 certification is not a legal requirement. But it is a powerful tool for ensuring compliance with environmental legislation and for documenting to clients, partners and authorities that you take your environmental responsibility seriously.

You can easily work with environmental improvements without being certified. However, many find that their efforts are scattered, unsystematic and difficult to document if there is no common framework and a clear goal.

ISO 14001 gives you:

• A proven structure that connects your environmental efforts across your organisation
• A clear documentation to protect you from accusations of greenwashing
• An internationally recognised certificate that is in demand for tenders and by clients and partners, in cases where environmental management is a requirement.

No, there is no need to wait. The upcoming update of ISO 14001 will not change the standard fundamentally, and it will not require you to start over with your environmental management system.

ISO 14001 is based on the common High-Level Structure (HLS), which is retained in the new version. This means that the structure of the standard remains the same, and that your system, if built correctly, can easily be updated when the new version comes into force.

Expected changes are primarily about:

• Adjustments in terminology and concepts
• A sharper focus on individual areas (e.g. biodiversity or climate-related risks)
• Increased clarification and elucidation – not a total revision.

When the new version is published, there will be a transition period of three years during which you can update your certificate to the new version. If you have just obtained certification according to ISO 14001:2015, you can complete your normal three-year certification cycle before any changes are made.

The update in 2015 was a major revision, as for instance the following was introduced:

• High Level Structure (HSL) for all ISO standards, making it easier to integrate with other management system standards. Now, HLS is better known as Harmonised Standards.
• Increased focus on risk thinking, where organisations must identify, assess and manage risks and opportunities in their quality management system.
• Greater anchoring of the management system with the top management.

All companies should take a stand on their use of the world's resources and their impact on the world's environment. Because it belongs to all of us, including future generations.

Examples of industries which might benefit from an ISO 14001 certification:

• Manufacturing companies
  They typically have a large resource consumption and generate waste which requires management. ISO 14001 helps to reduce waste, optimise resources, and document responsible operations to authorities and clients.
• Building and construction companies
  They can use a certification to meet environmental requirements in tenders and ensure systematics in their management of materials, waste and energy consumption at construction sites.
• Transport and logistics companies
  They can work purposefully with fuel consumption and their CO₂ footprint and use the certification to gain access to new clients and partners.
• Trading companies and wholesalers
  They can strengthen their green profile in relation to retail chains, distributors and environmentally conscious clients – especially in industries with a focus on responsible sourcing.
• Public and semi-public actors
  They can use ISO 14001 to document sustainable operations and compliance with environmental requirements – e.g. municipalities, universities and utility companies.
• Consulting and service companies
  They can strengthen their credibility, especially if they advise on ESG, the environment or provide services to large, certified clients.
• Growing SMEs 
  They can use the certification as a proof of green responsibility – and gain access to new markets. Here you can also apply for grants via e.g. Virksomhedsprogrammet.

Bureau Veritas offers an ISO 14001 Inspiration Seminar for anyone who needs a basic understanding of the ISO 14001 standard, before they get started.

When you are about to begin the actual certification, we recommend that you start with a gap analysis. In short, it provides an insight into possible 'gaps' in meeting the requirements of the ISO 14001 standard and makes your work more focused.

See what the certification process looks like

Yes, many companies achieve great value by combining ISO 14001 and ISO 50001. ISO 14001 focuses on environmental management in general, and ISO 50001 scrutinises systematic energy management. The connection between environmental and energy issues is becoming increasingly important in line with stricter requirements for climate and sustainability reporting.

Therefore, it makes sense to combine these:

• Energy consumption is one of the largest environmental impacts – in terms of CO₂ emissions as well as resource consumption. By integrating ISO 50001 into your environmental management, you work more efficiently and holistically.
• Some companies are required to document environmental and energy management. For example, ISO 50001 meets requirements under ESOS (UK), EED Directive (EU) and Denmark's upcoming climate reporting requirements. With this standard you systematise energy data, goals and improvement plans and get a more accurate picture of your environmental impact  and thus better documentation for clients, partners and authorities.
• Both standards follow the same High-Level Structure - it is therefore easy to add an ISO 50001 certification to your 14001 certification in an integrated management system.