ISO 14000 Fact Sheet

Like the recently much-publicized World Trade Organization (WTO), the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) is an international body that makes important decisions affecting trade and the environment. As we become more aware of how decisions at the international level impact domestic laws and policies, NGOs are increasingly interested in participating in organizations like WTO and ISO.
     This fact sheet provides information on the ISO 14000 environmental management standards and related issues for NGOs. The sheet was prepared by ECOLOGIA, an NGO that has been involved with international environmental standards since 1997.

What is ISO?
The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) is a private organization whose members represent national standardization bodies from 143 countries around the world. ISO has been creating international technical standards for industry since 1947. These standards establish globally recognized criteria for everything from nuts and bolts to the barcodes on product labels.

What is ISO 14000?
ISO 14000 is a series of environmental management standards developed in 1996 by ISO. Environmental management systems (EMS) are a tool used by enterprises for analyzing production processes and designing ways to reduce waste, energy consumption and other environmental impacts of operation. Establishing an EMS may help an enterprise to save resources, reduce waste and pollute less.
     The ISO 14000 series of standards is designed to incorporate EMS concepts in all aspects of a given enterprise's operations, including product development, process design, production and packaging. The standards are intended to be applicable in any country and for any enterprise - from a large, multinational automobile producer to a small hotel. This flexibility is achieved because the ISO 14000 standards are not prescriptive and do not provide pollutant targets or limits; rather, they are tools that may help an enterprise achieve better environmental performance. However, because of this flexibility, use of the ISO 14000 standards does not guarantee that an enterprise will pollute less or meet national environmental requirements.

What is ISO 14001?
Currently, there are 18 standards and technical documents in the ISO 14000. ISO 14001 is the only standard in the series to which an enterprise can formally certify. This standard is the "core" of the 14000 series, as it outlines the criteria for implementing an environmental management system.
     US companies have been slower to certify to ISO 14001 than enterprises in other countries. At the end of 1999 there were approximately 500 certified enterprises in the US, compared with 2400 certified enterprises in Japan, 1500 in Germany, and 1010 in the United Kingdom. But interest in ISO 14001 is growing both internationally and in the United States. Increasing numbers of multinational corporations are requiring that their suppliers and subsidiaries certify to ISO 14001. In November 1999, Ford Motor Company announced that it would require all of its suppliers to acquire ISO 14001 certification by 2002. This decision alone will result in over 5000 facilities seeking certification.

Why should NGOs be concerned about ISO 14000?
Because of the ISO 14000 series' international applicability, the standards are seen as key to overcoming trade barriers. Many companies hope that by obtaining an ISO 14001 certificate, their products will be more competitive in the international market. At the same time, many environmental and consumer advocacy groups are concerned with the extreme flexibility of the ISO 14000 standards, as well as their lack of transparency.
     As the standards are currently written, companies set their own goals for pollution prevention and are not required to publicly disclose any information about these goals or how they are achieved. Certification to ISO 14001 can be achieved without improvement in environmental performance or investment in pollution abatement technologies. ISO 14001 asks only that an enterprise develop an environmental management system and strive to make "continual improvement." However, many enterprises can and do advertise their ISO 14001 certification as an indication of a commitment to better environmental performance. This may lead to corporate "greenwashing," which benefits companies that don't reduce pollution and fails to highlight the achievements of those enterprises that truly are improving their performance through EMS.
     As the popularity of the ISO 14000 standards grows and more companies around the world develop environmental management systems, it is crucial that the public be guaranteed an increased level of access to information at facilities with an ISO 14001 certificate. Current ISO reporting requirements are so undemanding that they could undermine years of progress in mandated public reporting by industry - both in the US and internationally. It is therefore imperative that the flexible "tool" of EMS is used in conjunction with - not in place of - strong environmental regulations and laws.
     Of additional concern to NGOs is the lack of representation for the public in the ISO standard development process. Very few non-commercial, non-governmental groups were involved in the drafting of the ISO 14000 standards. Today, the ISO committees responsible for developing and revising the 14000 standards remain industry-dominated.

What can NGOs do?
NGOs concerned with environmental, human health and consumer advocacy issues should learn more about the ISO 14000 standards - how they were created, how they are being used and by whom. ECOLOGIA's Environmental Technical Information Project (E-TIP) website provides a basic guide to ISO 14000 information available on the Internet and can help you learn more about the ISO standards.
     Find out if there are ISO 14001 certified companies in your area. Urge these enterprises to publicly disclose information about their environmental management system. Contact your state Environmental Protection Agency to learn more about the use of ISO 14001 locally. Voice your concerns to EPA about the lack of transparency in the ISO 14001 standard.
     Get involved with the development process of the ISO 14000 standards. Traditionally, ISO created standards with very narrow technical applications; as a result, mainly industry and government representatives were concerned with the standards' development. But the ISO 14000 standards have a very broad based use and impact - therefore, the public interest must be represented in the development and implementation of these standards. However, only a handful of NGOs participate in the development of the standards.
     ECOLOGIA joined the ISO committee responsible for the 14001 standard in 1999 with the goals of encouraging greater NGO participation in the standards development process and voicing NGO concerns regarding the standards - such as public reporting of EMS information at ISO 14001 certified facilities. We encourage other groups to participate in this process and help bring greater NGO perspective and influence to bear on ISO work.
     To learn more about ISO 14000 issues and how NGOs can get involved in the ISO standards development process, contact Heather McGray, project manager of ECOLOGIA's ISO 14000/EMS program.

This information has been prepared by ECOLOGIA, an international non-profit organization that promotes public participation in environmental decisions. Autumn 2000.

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