ISO 14001 in Canada

About ISO 14001

The leading standard for environmental management systems (EMS) is ISO 14001:2015. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) sets out a framework that organizations can use to achieve their environmental objectives. It applies to all the environmental aspects of an organization’s activities, products, and services, and helps businesses organize and manage their environmental responsibilities in line with their environmental policy.

ISO 14001 certification

ISO 14001 certification is an assessment by a third-party certification body to evaluate whether a company’s environmental management system meets the requirements of the standard. The organization becomes certified after completing this process. Companies seeking certification follow the standard’s guidance on environmental aspects and how they affect the business and the environment; certification indicates the organization conforms with ISO 14001. 

Requirements for ISO 14001 certification

A certified company must have an environmental management system with documented environmental policies, processes, and clearly assigned roles and responsibilities. Certification bodies conduct audits to confirm the organization meets the requirements. The certification process involves designing and implementing an EMS that follows ISO’s best practices, running the system, and having a third-party auditor conduct a full audit to confirm compliance with the standard. The audit requires extensive documentation, and the auditor may make recommendations you must address to achieve certification.

How to prepare for ISO 14001 certification?

Before achieving certification, identify and document your environmental aspects and processes, and put procedures in place to confirm your environmental objectives are being met.  

Create an Environmental Management System:

• Determine your core business processes and their environmental aspects
• Review, approve, and share the documents with those who need access
• Provide training so all employees understand the EMS procedures and requirements

Put your plan into action:

• Confirm procedures are carried out exactly as documented, and that staff are properly trained
• Create reporting systems covering inspections, testing, corrective and preventive actions, management reviews, and objective monitoring
• Use quantitative data to track the effectiveness of your operations wherever possible
• Review performance and take steps to improve where needed

Check the EMS is implemented properly:

• Conduct an internal audit to check compliance and effectiveness of the EMS
• Review the situation, conduct interviews, and review sample records
• Identify and report the system’s strengths and weaknesses
• Take corrective or preventive action as needed

Select a certification body:

• Submit your EMS documentation to the certification body for evaluation
• Prepare for an external auditor’s assessment to confirm the requirements are met and the EMS is properly applied

Which industries implement ISO 14001?

ISO 14001 can be implemented in almost any industry. Any organization – from a single office to a global corporation – that wants to ensure a safe, healthy environment and comply with local and international laws can adopt it. It is especially helpful for organizations that want to reduce their environmental impact and meet the requirements of regulators such as Environment and Climate Change Canada and provincial environmental authorities, and it encourages continual improvement of environmental performance. 

Advantages of ISO 14001

• Prevent or reduce negative environmental impacts
• Reduce the harmful effects of environmental conditions on the organization
• Meet regulatory, statutory, and compliance requirements
• Improve environmental performance
• Apply a life-cycle approach to products and services to avoid shifting impacts elsewhere
• Gain financial and operational benefits from better environmental performance
• Communicate environmental information clearly to stakeholders

ISO 14001 training programs

• Lead Auditor Training: ISO 14001 Lead Auditor Training gives you the skills to lead audits of environmental management systems – covering the requirements, how to manage an audit team, and how to identify non-conformities. On completion, you are equipped to conduct external third-party audits.  
• Internal Auditor Training: ISO 14001 Internal Auditor Training prepares you to develop, implement, and maintain an EMS and to conduct internal audits. Internal audits are needed to achieve certification, so training in-house auditors is valuable.
• Awareness Training: gives employees the knowledge to support implementation – covering ISO 14001 concepts, terminology, and why the standard matters to the organization.

Contact IAS today to learn more about ISO 14001, or visit our frequently asked questions page.

Explore more

• ISO 14001 Certification in Canada – environmental management certification
• ISO 14001 Training in Canada – lead auditor, internal auditor, and awareness courses
• ISO 50001 in Canada – energy management, often paired with environmental management.