Why Small Businesses Must Achieve the ISO 14001 Certification

This article helps you understand the different types of benefits which small businesses can gain by achieving the ISO 14001 certification.

 

Every business has a certain responsibility of ensuring environmental sustainability. Though we have a common perception that the operations of only large corporations affect the environment, in reality it isn’t. Even the SMEs can play a contributing role in adversely influencing the environment. Hence, achieving the ISO 14001 certification can be a key objective for businesses across varied industries and at all levels. 

The ISO 14001 standard is typically introduced to help organisations in developing an operational structure that is sustainable and environment friendly. With the increasing rate of carbon emissions and pollution, it has become more important than ever to adhere to the eligibility requirements of this ISO standard and implement an effective Environment Management System (EMS). 

As an individual or company owner, it is always ideal to make judicious use of Mother Earth’s resources to preserve it as much as we can and ensure that our future generations can enjoy it too. One of the most efficient ways of doing so is to identify all the environmental aspects of your organisation and set the environmental targets. Though by following the ‘Plan-Do-Check-Act’ cycle, you can make a lot of process improvements, it will also help you to enhance the way your customers and suppliers will perceive you as well. And as a small business owner, implementing an ISO 14001 compliant EMS will enable you to increase cost-efficiency as well as upgrade your brand image in the industry. 

For small businesses, it often becomes difficult to be well informed of all sorts of relevant environmental laws and fulfil all such obligations on their own. This will lead you to face serious consequences such as fines and penalties for non-compliance or allegations raised by local authorities and environmental agencies, thereby harming the brand reputation as well. However, while going through the necessary process changes while getting the business ISO 14001 certified, you will be able to make your entire business infrastructure environmentally responsible, thereby making it more legally compliant as well. 

This ISO standard allows you to identify all sorts of adverse environmental impacts of your business and thus, it becomes easier for you to minimise or mitigate them by taking necessary initiatives and measures. For office-based small businesses, they can opt for some effective measures such as cutting down use of paperwork, installing energy-efficient lighting systems, waste recycling, and more. 

Increasing environmental awareness  

Seek for active participation of employees at all levels of the organisation for developing an environmental policy and implementing the same will result in increased environmental awareness. By conducting necessary training sessions and two-way communication, it will be able helpful for you to have all your employees understand the importance of protecting your environment as well as improvising your business processes to achieve the same purpose.

 

In the pursuit of getting your business ISO 14001 certified, you look for innovative practices or technologies which will help you to make your processes more efficient and reduce their environmental impacts. By focusing on the environmental risks, you will be able to bring something to a constantly evolving market where the customers have become much more well-read, rational, and demanding. In this way, you will be able to make your way in the list of forward-thinking organisations, thereby creating a benchmark in the industry as well. 

Attaining this ISO certification will help you boost your corporate image as an environment-friendly organisation that has a strong set of CSR practices. This will further strengthen the trust and loyalty of your employees on the fact that they are associated with a company that’s not only focused to scale up profits but, also in making a healthier environment in and around the workplace. Hence, it will help you in increasing the level of employee morale and retention. Moreover, it will also help you become a desirable place to work, especially for the younger generation.

 

Though the very thought of achieving the ISO 14001 certification might sound to be a bit expensive and not so important for you as a small business owner, it can help you explore a myriad of benefits and gain a prominent position in the market. And so, you must look for an experienced ISO consultant with in-depth knowledge to guide you through all the guidelines, dos and don’ts, and eligibility requirements for getting your business certified, thereby making it an environmentally responsible one. 

Damon Anderson has acquired years of experience as a highly skilled ISO consultant. He is known for offering holistic support and guidance to businesses on achieving ISO certifications which include, ISO 9001, ISO 13485, ISO 14001 certification, and more. During his leisure time, he also likes to write blogs and articles on several relevant topics as well.  

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