Describe ISO 14000 to someone who has not heard of it

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

The overall objective of the ISO 14000 Environmental Management Standard is to encourage environmental protection and the prevention of pollution while taking into account the economic needs of society. The standards can be followed by any organization interested in limiting its negative impact on the environment. A company with an environmental management system like ISO 14000 is less likely to have environmental problems. Often, firms following ISO 14000 incur significant savings through better overall resource management and waste reduction.

ISO 14000 is divided into two main classifications, Organization/Process-Oriented Standards and Product-Oriented Standards. A company complying with these standards is monitoring its processes and products to determine their effect on the environment. Within the two classifications, six topic areas are covered: Environmental Management Systems, Environmental Performance Evaluation, Environmental Auditing, Life-Cycle Assessment, Environmental Labeling, and Environmental Aspects in Product Standards. The ISO 14000 series of standards enables a company to improve environmental management voluntarily. The standards do not establish product or performance standards, establish mandates for emissions or pollutant levels, or specify test methods. The standards do not expand upon existing government regulations. ISO 14000 is a guide for environmentally conscious companies wishing to lessen their impact on the environment.