New survey from environment experts reveals ISO 14001 uncertainty

Overwhelming uncertainty about the impact revisions to ISO 14001 will have is revealed in a new survey from specialists Cedrec.

 ISO 14001, a global standard for environmental management, is currently under review, with an update version due to be available in early 2015. 

 The changes are in line with a new high-level structure for all management system standards adopted by ISO, and a series of wide-ranging recommendations from ISO`s EMS Future Challenges report.

 Cedrec, which specialises in providing advice in understanding, interpreting and complying with environmental and safety legislation, completed the survey to gauge perceptions among UK environmental professionals about the standard.

 It revealed that among the 213 who replied, nearly two-thirds (62%) were unsure as to how the changes, designed to make organisations focus on building environment into their core business, will impact on their organisations.

 More than a quarter (88%) of respondents knew about the changes, while 42% were unclear about what they should be worrying about when it came to their businesses and a third (32%) were not sure of where the biggest effects would be felt.

 However, strategic management involvement, and leadership and lifecycle thinking were revealed as the two biggest areas of concern by UK environment professionals.

 Less than 5% felt that the revisions didn’t go far enough while 38% believed it was about right when it came to how they saw the progression of environmental management in the UK.

 Consultant at Cedrec Richard believes the revisions will be an important step in the maturity of the standard in terms of how it helps address the risks and opportunities presented by environmental management.

 “The future focus for businesses will be to prepare better for the environmental impact caused by climate change, resource scarcity and flood incidence,” he says, adding:

“The survey confirms that the most important element is, and will be going forward, the greater significance of environmental management in strategic planning.

"This revision gives environmental management the power to break out of its current silo and enter the mainstream of strategic business management; raising its importance, and increasing the amount to which the environment is seen as central to business improvement. This has to be welcomed.”

Cedrec specialises in providing public and private sector organisations with help and advice in understanding, interpreting and complying with environmental and safety legislation. The company offers a range of specialist consultancy and subscriptions services. More at www.cedrec.com