ISO 14001 is a standard for environmental management systems (EMS). The commonality of ISO 14001 certification varies depending on the industry and product segment.
Basic principles
1. Set environmental objectives and commitments
2. Record keeping
3. Internal assessments
4. Monitoring
ISO 14001 certification
Claiming ISO 14001 compliance requires that the supplier can pass an ISO 14001 audit. If the outcome is positive then the supplier can obtain an ISO 14001 certificate which serves as evidence of them meeting the standard.
Suppliers
Some retailers and government procurement bodies can require that the factory meets certain environmental standards. Further, many brands also prefer to buy from suppliers that meet such standards. ISO 14001 is possibly the most common certification standard in this area.