AS/NZS ISO 14001:2016 Environmental management systems

New Zealand has adopted the new edition of ISO 14001:2015 and is available as AS/NZS ISO 14001:2016 Environmental management systems. The standard sets out the criteria for an environmental management system and it can be certified to. It maps out a framework that a company or organisation can follow to set up an effective environmental management system. It can be used by any organisation regardless of its activity or sector.

Using AS/NZS ISO 14001:2016 can provide assurance to company management and employees as well as external stakeholders that environmental impact is being measured and improved.

Certification

There are more than 300,000 certifications to ISO 14001 in 171 countries around the world. Learn more in the ISO Survey of Certifications(external link).

To find an accredited certification body, contact the national accreditation body JAS-ANZ(external link).

What's new?

AS/NZS ISO 14001:2016 responds to the latest trends, such as an increasing recognition by companies of the need to factor in both external and internal elements that influence their impact, including climate volatility. Key improvements in the new version include:

a greater commitment from leadership
an increased alignment with strategic direction
greater protection for the environment, with a focus on proactive initiatives
more effective communication, driven through a communications strategy
life-cycle thinking, considering each stage of a product or service, from development to end-of-life

Benefits of using ISO 14001

There are many reasons why an organisation should take a strategic approach to improving its environmental performance. Users of the standard have reported that ISO 14001 helps:

demonstrate compliance with current and future statutory and regulatory requirements
increase leadership involvement and engagement of employees
improve company reputation and the confidence of stakeholders through strategic communication
achieve strategic business aims by incorporating environmental issues into business management
provide a competitive and financial advantage through improved efficiencies and reduced costs
encourage better environmental performance of suppliers by integrating them into the organisation’s business systems