Empowered was recently awarded ISO 14001 certification, the international standard for designing and implementing an environmental management system. We spoke to David about what it is, why it matters and how achieving this standard will benefit us in the future. 

It’s great to hear that we have been granted ISO 14001 status! Can you tell me what ISO 14001 is? 

ISO 14001 is an important addition to our existing collection of accreditations and policies. ISO 14001 provides a framework and guidelines for us to be able to create our Environmental Management System so that we don’t miss important elements needed for an EMS to be successful. 

For our business, I’ve written our initial objectives for the ISO 14001 standard as follows: 

• Minimise and reduce the environmental impact of travel to site by our field-based suppliers.  First step is to monitor and record what we have today, then we can work to lower that impact.   

• Ensure compliance with current legislation by obtaining all relevant information on existing legislation.  Obviously, it is important we stay within the ever-changing legislation in this area, and we need to more closely monitor it.   

• Highlight high environmentally impacting products in delivery, use and minimise their impact or reduce their use.  Again, this is an approach of monitor and record first, review what we find, then work to reduce the environmental impact. 

There are several different ISO certifications, each with its own set of systems and requirements. For example, our ISO 9001 is in place to ensure quality management, and ISO 27001 tackles our information and data security.  

In our management framework and tracking for these ISO ‘families’ everything works together, with several overlapping considerations.  This meaning ISO 14001 can be easily and effectively implemented into our existing management systems, including, workorders, supplier management and Power BI reporting. 

What exactly is an EMS? 

An environmental management system, often called an EMS, is comprised of the policies, processes, plans, practices and records that define the rules governing how we interact with the environment. This system is tailored to us, our legal requirements and environmental interactions that match our specific business needs. We write the rules that work for us and that support our environmental impacting activities.   

Why is ISO 14001 important to have? 

Taking care of our environment and tackling how we and our partners can reduce any negative impacts on the environment are two of the most important challenges facing businesses today. One of the biggest benefits of implementing an EMS is the recognition that comes with being among those businesses that care enough to understand and then reduce their environmental footprint. This can bring better relationships with our customers, partners, the public, and the community at large. 

Along with the good public image it can bring, many companies can save money through the implementation of an environmental management system. This can be achieved through reducing incidents that cost more than they need too and conserving materials and energy through reduction efforts. This improvement in cost control is a benefit that cannot be overlooked when making the decision to implement this environmental system.  

Only a few years ago it was often only large and multinational companies who had an environmental policy; the time has certainly come where all businesses should have one and play their part in achieving environmental goals.  We see our clients pushing environmental requirements and goals down to us, and we in turn need to push several of these goals to our suppliers.   

What are the benefits of ISO 14001? 

All organisations should improve their strategies and focus when it comes to their environmental performance.  

Aside from demonstrating their compliance with existing and future regulatory requirements, those that have implemented ISO standards into their everyday business practices have also found: 

• The success of business goals by implementing environmental concerns into their general management strategy. 

• A greater influence over the spread of awareness among suppliers, by incorporating them into an improved environmental management system. 

• Better partner and customer engagement. 

• An improvement in the company’s brand image, on a consumer level, and better relationships with stakeholders.  
• A spike in their finances due to improved resource efficiency and a subsequent reduction in annual costs. 

Is Empowered compliant with ISO standards? 

I’m happy to say that we are accredited for multiple standards and management systems. In recent years we have been working to improve and expand our range of compliances. 

When it comes to ISO standards, we have been: 

• ISO 14001 Certified – which rates the environmental impact of our company and services we deliver.  

• ISO 27001 Certified – which specifies the requirements for establishing, implementing, maintaining and continually improving our own information security management system. 
• ISO 9001 Certified – which sets the standards of our quality management systems, proving our dedication to providing only the highest quality of products and services.