ISO 14000 describes standards that enable a business to minimize its environmental impact. The International Organization for Standardization publishes the ISO guidelines of which ISO 14000 is a part. ISO 14000 compliance ensures plants operate in an environmentally friendly manner.

The ISO 14001 requirement - the main ISO 14000 standard - establishes an Environmental Management Systems (EMS). An EMS includes an environmental policy, environmental goals and environmental procedures that ensure ISO 14000 compliance when performed as written.

ISO 14000 consultants, training programs, and software help your business meet ISO 14000 standards. Consultants assist industries attain ISO 14001 compliance. ISO 14000 training programs teach ISO 14000 basics through the use of online, onsite, and computer-based training. ISO 14000 software records a company's EMS, environmental impacts of its activities, and environmental performance goals.

To attain ISO 14000 compliance, businesses must complete the following actions:

1. Determine how ISO 14000 compliance benefits your company.

2. Identify changes in operating practices necessary to achieve ISO 14000 compliance.

3. Measure compliance with ISO 14001 on a periodic basis to ensure you achieve compliance over time.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Investigate how your company can benefit from ISO 14000 compliance

ISO 14000 implementation involves compliance and certification. Learn how the two levels of ISO 14001 management can benefit your business. Evaluate how other firms have benefited from ISO 14000 compliance.

I recommend: The International Organization for Standardization describes the elements of ISO 14000 and the results you can expect from implementation. Environment, Health and Safety Online explains ISO 14000 basics and benefits of certification, the ISO 14001 requirement, and information about ISO 14000-certified companies. QMI assists businesses with ISO 14001 certification. The Small Business Environmental Home Page explains how ISO 14000 can be adapted to small businesses.

Determine what your business needs to do to achieve ISO 14000 compliance

Ensure you understand the breadth of achieving ISO 14000 compliance (e.g., training, operational changes, reorganization). Your business must identify what it hopes to achieve, such as natural resource management, pollution prevention and emission control. You must document these goals and how you will achieve them in policies, plans and procedures.

I recommend: The ISO 14001 Toolkit includes an ISO 14001 policy manual, implementation guides, forms and templates, and training materials that can be adapted for any ISO 14000 compliance project. The toolkit contains Microsoft Word and Powerpoint data files. Stat-a-Matrix provides ISO 14000 consulting services to help you adopt an EMS.

Monitor your performance against ISO 14000 requirements

Good business practice demands you measure your success in meeting your goals and make adjustments as necessary. Make comparisons between your written environmental management system documentation and actual practice. Establish new goals for meeting environmental requirements where your business fell short.

I recommend: ISO 14000 software exists for tracking environmental goals and ranking level of compliance. Environmental Software Providers sells opsEnvironmental, a dynamic program for organizing all your data points into one database. MasterControl monitors the success of your EMS and provides tools for establishing and tracking corrective actions.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Application of ISO 14000 can make your business more competitive. Some customers, investors and stockholders favor businesses that comply with environmental standards such as ISO 14000.