The main standards in the ISO 14000 family are:

• ISO 14001:2004 Environmental management systems -- Requirements with guidance for use

  • Specifies the requirements for an environmental management system. It is the standard against which organizations are assessed. Fulfilling these requirements demands objective evidence which can be audited to demonstrate that the environmental management system is operating effectively in conformity to the standard.  It is generic and flexible enough to apply to any organization producing and/or manufacturing any product, or providing a service.

     

• ISO 14004:2004 - Environmental management systems -- General guidelines on principles, systems and support techniques
  • Provides guidelines on the elements of an environmental management system and its implementation, and discusses principal issues involved. 

The following are the key elements of an ISO 14001:2004 EMS:

1. Environmental policy - the organization states its intentions and commitment to environmental performance. 
2. Planning - the organization analyzes the environmental impact of its operations.
3. Implementation and operation - the development and execution of processes to realize environmental goals and objectives.
4. Checking and corrective action - monitoring and measurement of environmental indicators to ensure that goals and objectives are met.
5. Management review - review of the EMS by the organization’s top management to ensure its continuing suitability, adequacy and effectiveness.
6. Continual improvement - An EMS enables an organization to control the environmental impact of its activities, products and services by establishing targets and objectives related to identified environmental management goals.