The UN’s 2030 deadline for phase 1 of their Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is right around the corner – and Australia is still lagging behind when it comes to doing our part globally.
This has led to bodies across Australia’s private and public sectors prioritising sustainability initiatives, establishing new benchmarks for carbon emissions and environmental performance monitoring for industries that have been deemed high-risk for pollution, land degradation, and other environmental concerns. But these operational benchmarks for high-risk industries are also being used to keep SMEs in check too, because keeping our national economy climate-conscious takes a collective effort. Enter ISO 14001 Certification.
One of the core ISO standards that our ISO consultants specialise in, the ISO 14001 standard outlines all the requirements for the development and implementation of an Environmental Management System (EMS) for an organisation.
So alongside ensuring your organisation stays ready for Australia’s increasingly climate-conscious future, what are the other advantages of investing in an EMS for your enterprise? Our ISO consultants are here to outline all the major advantages of ISO 14001 Certification and how a tailored EMS can benefit your organisation in more ways than one.
Benefits of ISO 14001 Certification
1. Improved Environmental Performance
An EMS isn’t too dissimilar to a QMS (Quality Management System) which is outlined in the ISO 9001 standard. The main difference is that EMS implementation requires a balanced approach that considers process improvements with environmental performance metrics in context to the organisation. (e.g. carbon emissions and energy usage etc.)
But what you’ll find in engaging with the other benefits of ISO 14001 Certification, is that an effective EMS provides holistic benefits. Optimised resource consumption means reduced operational waste, carbon emissions, and cost expenditures for your enterprise. So, by attaining ISO 14001 Certification, you’re investing in greener practices and performance for your organisation, but greater profit margins too.
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2. Improved Cost-Efficiency
It’s a common misconception that investing in greener practices for your business won’t provide a lucrative return on investment. In reality, there’s plenty of evidence that suggests organisations that operate with greater environmental sustainability also get to enjoy improved financial sustainability as well.
Why? By reducing resource consumption (i.e. water, electricity, raw materials, etc.) and curbing emissions, your operational costs will naturally decrease, boosting your organisation’s overall cost-efficiency. You can cut down on utility bills by investing in renewable energy or even optimising your energy usage. Optimising your manufacturing process to use fewer raw materials can also help cut down on materials costs whilst simultaneously boosting your production outputs, resulting in greater profit margins.
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3. Improved Industry Reputation & Stakeholder Trust
Climate-conscious consumer habits are on the rise both in Australia and globally. Subsequently, more industries are prioritising their own environmental performance monitoring or even seeking new opportunities to reduce their carbon footprint, which means vetting prospective partners to ensure their own environmental impact is minimal. This is essential for globalised enterprises, as the emissions produced by your supplier partners also affect your carbon footprint.
Thankfully, ISO 14001 Certification is a globally recognised green trust signal for your organisation. With ISO 14001 Certification, your organisation can confidently present itself as reputable, value-driven, and forward-thinking, allowing you to foster stakeholder confidence as a sustainable business partner.
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4. Reduced Workplace Hazards
Environmental risks are workplace hazards and must be treated as such. If your workplace boasts poor air quality, contaminated waterlines, or out-of-date electrical systems, failure to address these hazards could result in workplace injuries. Thankfully, the ISO 14000 Family of Standards includes a range of ISO frameworks for addressing all the most common environmental hazards affecting modern workplaces. This includes water assessments, waste management, energy consumption and system design, and more.
In this regard, your EMS is an investment in health and safety in much the same way as ISO 45001 Certification. This is also why so many of our clients presented in our case studies sought multiple certifications – because the benefits of ISO 14001, 9001 and 45001 are all interconnected and make a holistic impact on your organisation.
By maintaining a proactive approach to environmental monitoring and performance, your organisation will be better positioned to identify and mitigate any environmental risks (i.e. hazardous waste, OH&S concerns, etc.) with reduced chances of business interruptions or reputational or financial impact to your enterprise.
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5. Healthier Workplaces & Workplace Culture
If you demonstrate that your organisation values the health and safety of its workers, your staff are more likely to stick around, meaning lower staff turnover rates and improved company performance as a result.
And similarly, as more Aussie consumers vote green with their dollars, more professionals are adding strong business values to their list of must-haves for prospective employers. So ISO 14001 Certification and a strong EMS are investments in your organisation’s employee value proposition as well.
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6. Ensuring Regulatory Compliance
With more global industries introducing environmental regulations, ISO 14001 Certification can aid in ensuring your organisation meets all legal requirements relating to your own environmental corporate responsibilities. In this aspect, your EMS may actually help you avoid fines and litigation by reducing your organisation’s risks of unknowingly breaching environmental regulations established by regulatory bodies in your industry.
Maintaining processes for continual improvements is also a fundamental principle of ISO compliance. So the frameworks outlined in ISO 14001 can actually help ensure your EMS includes the developmental infrastructure it needs to undergo continuous improvements. This means that with environmental performance monitoring, risk assessments, internal audits, and management reviews (all of which are part of an EMS that’s compliant with the ISO 14001 standard), you can use your EMS to anticipate and adapt to future regulatory updates.
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7. Qualifying for more Tender Opportunities
Some organisations (like government bodies) only partner with suppliers who provide specific trust signals (i.e. industry certification, or licenses confirming regulatory compliance). As a globally recognised standard, adhering to the ISO guidelines outlined in ISO 14001 provides a universal trust signal, allowing your organisation to not only qualify for government bid tenders, but for tender contracts with international or multinational corporations as well.
So ISO 14001 Certification also provides the awesome benefit of maintaining a competitive edge in your market or industry. By attaining ISO 14001 Certification, your organisation may be considered over your competitors for new commercial opportunities, like higher paying contracts and projects, helping you maintain your position as a trusted authority in your market.
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Reap all the benefits of ISO 14001 Certification for your Organisation
To recap, some of the benefits you can expect upon the implementation of your EMS are:
- Improved resource management
- Enhanced pollution prevention
- Continuous process improvements
- Competitive market advantage
- Boosting your triple bottom line
The core benefit of ISO 14001 Certification is that it highlights your organisation’s ‘green credentials’, showcasing your commitment to maintaining environmentally sustainable practices and investing in responsible environmental governance.
This emphasis on sustainability and environmentally conscious practices will boost your company image, improve resource usage (and operational costs), and ultimately even reduce accidents or incidents caused by environmental factors. In this regard, the benefits of ISO 14001 Certification are dynamic and holistic, providing a positive ripple effect across your enterprise.
If you’d like to experience all the advantages of ISO 14001 Certification for your organisation and ensure your EMS solutions are implemented for optimum performance, you’ll want to secure the expert assistance of our ISO consultants at S&J Auditing & Consulting.
Using our 10-step process for EMS development and implementation, our ISO consultants can work with you to ensure you’re ready for your ISO certification audit. Our consultants can also support you in establishing an internal audit schedule that and management reviews so you can autonomously improve your EMS even after attaining certification.
Enjoy improved environmental and financial sustainability with ISO 14001 Certification for your business. Contact our consultants today to begin your journey to ISO 14001 compliance.
