How does registering my EMS to the ISO 14001 international EMS standard add value?
A. ISO 14001 is the most widely accepted international standard (over 8,000 U.S. users and over 130,000 worldwide), and has become the framework for industry-specific EMS standards commonly in use in the U.S. (e.g., RC 14001 for chemical manufacturers) and sometimes required of suppliers by original equipment manufacturers such as the auto industry. An EMS following a different international framework, or designed by an internal or industry framework will under the right conditions be useful in improving and formalizing environmental management. It will not, however, offer as much access to markets or customers as does ISO 14001. Using, and at some point, registering to the ISO 14001 standard elevates an internally-oriented EMS to external transparency and accountability. Since its inception in 1996, the ISO 14001 system has developed and improved international, national, company, and auditor accountability and oversight. Because of the predictability of this system, customers, agencie
