Environment

Environmental Management System

WHAT IS ISO 14001

The ISO 14001 Standard specifies the requirements that an organisation wishing to establish, implement, maintain and improve an environmental management system must possess. It replaces the previous 2008 edition by introducing the need to understand the internal and external context in which the organisation operates, examine the needs and expectations of interested parties, consider the life cycle perspective in the environmental management of products and services offered, and identify and evaluate the risks associated with its environmental management system.

 RECIPIENTS

ISO 14001 is a generic standard designed to be applicable to organisations of all sectors and sizes.

CERTIFICATION

Parallel Discover certification attests to all interested parties (customers, institutions, citizens, consumers, etc.) that the organisation operates in compliance with the requirements set out in the reference standard. It therefore represents an element of guarantee that can be used against third parties.

THE BENEFITS OF CERTIFICATION

Certification provides the following benefits:

• demonstrate to all stakeholders (customers, citizens, institutions, etc.) its sensitivity and attention to environmental issues;
• acquiring an increasingly popular requirement in public auctions and by major international companies to qualify their suppliers;
• obtain a reduction of the deposits for participation in public auctions;
  for some sectors, reduction of insurance costs and administrative requirements.

THE CERTIFICATION PROCEDURE

The certification process includes the following steps:

• preliminary audit (optional): assessment of the organisation's level of compliance with the requirements, concluding with any observations for achieving compliance;
• certification audit: verification of the conformity of the management system with the requirements, concluding with the possible issue of the certificate;
• surveillance audit: an audit planned, at least annually, to monitor the maintenance of the management system and continuous improvement;
• renewal audit: an audit carried out upon expiry of the certificate, to confirm the certificate for a further three years.