Implementing the ISO 14001 Environmental Management System and Avoid These 4 Mistakes

Summary

The present article will focus on the major mistakes companies make while implementing the ISO 14001 environmental management system.

Implementing the ISO 14001 environmental management system is now a mandatory requirement for all major industries. This system provides a robust framework that generates awareness and increases the initiative-taking ability of the companies in reducing resource wastage. For community welfare and maintaining environmental sustainability, every business organization is expected to reduce their carbon footprint. Getting the ISO 14001 certification enables an organization to enforce all the required measures to control energy usage and waste management.

The procedure for implementation is not difficult. It requires meticulous leadership and an initiative-taking stakeholder team. The standard has requirements for compliance, which must be met to optimize the maximum effectiveness of the program. Companies often come across problems that are caused by ignorance and mistakes.

Prolonged escalations and the occurrence of common mistakes will hinder the certification process. To complete this process on time and augment the journey, the following mistakes cannot be ignored.

4 Mistakes to Avoid

Mistake #1 — Employee Ignorance

Operations cannot be successful if their strategies are not inclusive in nature. If a manager decides to ignore the perspectives of subordinates and discourages them from sharing their opinions, the overall system can never grow. To reduce its carbon footprint, the management team needs full cooperation from its staff and other in-house stakeholders. Unfortunately, companies often make the mistake of not involving employees in the decision-making process.

These mistakes must be avoided to get better opportunities to make decisions that will be effective and impactful on the operations.

Mistake #2 — No gap detection before implementation

One of the most common mistakes while modifying your environmental management system is not conducting a gap analysis. This analysis is crucial before improving or implementing a new management system. The authority must determine the current difference between the existing system’s performance and the objectives. Without gap detection, proper strategies cannot be determined. The management group then compares the system’s energy usage and its waste production before modifying and meeting the benchmark.

Mistake #3 — Following online templates

Online templates might seem easy to use but they hardly produce any satisfactory results. To get the ISO 14001 certification, a company must take professional help or have appropriate knowledge and experience in the standard. Online templates are general and mostly do not match company-specific programs and therefore taking expert advice is necessary.

Mistake #4 — Hiring uncertified advisors

Hiring professional ISO advisors is necessary to meet compliance while implementing the system. It is more important to find certified executives with expert knowledge and experience in performing audits, gap analyses, and readiness reviews. Companies often invest no time while searching for service providers online. Calling uncertified advisors hinders the process and makes the process lengthy. It is necessary to invest time in background checks and thoroughly go through customer testimonials including interviews as well.

To know more about executing the perfect implementation journey for the ISO 14001 environmental management system, rely on certified and experienced ISO consultants. Their relevant expertise helps companies achieve compliance in less than 90 days. As a small company, it is better to avoid these major mistakes as they often end with steep penalty charges.

Author Bio

Damon Anderson is an ISO consultant specializing in information security management systems. He uses his knowledge and industry experience to help companies protect their information from threats and errors.