Everything you need to know about ISO 14001:2015, Environmental Management
Environmental awareness is growing significantly across most countries, and the ISO 14001 standard is becoming a key reference point for organizations looking to improve their environmental performance. More and more governments are adopting strict environmental regulations, and customers are demanding that suppliers implement best practices and demonstrate compliance through recognized certifications.
Cuprins
Environmental Protection in Romania
In Romania, environmental protection is governed by a set of laws and regulations that define responsibilities for authorities, companies, and individuals. Some of the most important legislative acts include:
- Emergency Ordinance no. 195/2005 on environmental protection – establishes the core legal framework for environmental protection, with the main objective of ensuring a high level of environmental preservation.
- Law no. 278/2013 on industrial emissions – primarily applies to large industries and imposes strict rules for pollution reduction, requiring companies to use the best available technologies.
- Emergency Ordinance no. 152/2005 on pollution prevention and control – outlines the steps economic operators must take to obtain environmental permits and monitor activities within legal pollution limits.
- Emergency Ordinance no. 92/2021 on waste management – sets out the necessary measures to protect the environment and public health by preventing or reducing the adverse effects of waste generation and management. Approved and amended by Law no. 17/2023.
- Law no. 249/2015 on packaging and packaging waste management – promotes the reuse and recycling of packaging to minimize environmental impact. Amended by Emergency Ordinance no. 74/2018.
What Is ISO 14001:2015 – Environmental Management?
At Systema, we believe ISO 14001:2015 is the cornerstone of environmental responsibility.
It’s an internationally recognized standard that sets out the requirements for an environmental management system (EMS). It enables an organization to improve its environmental performance through systematic processes and integration into its overall management structure.
ISO 14001:2015 is designed for any organization that wishes to manage its environmental aspects in a sustainable way and lay the foundation for long-term environmental responsibility.
What Criteria Must Your Organization Meet for ISO 14001:2015 Certification?
ISO 14001:2015 is applicable to any organization, regardless of size, type, or nature, and covers the environmental aspects of its activities, products, and services that it can control or influence, considering the life cycle perspective.
The standard does not prescribe specific environmental performance criteria. It can be applied fully or partially to improve environmental management, but full compliance is only demonstrable when all requirements are implemented and fulfilled without exception.
Examples of Environmental Objectives and Targets:
Energy consumption reduction
Waste management
CO₂ emissions reduction
Water consumption reduction
What Benefits Will ISO 14001:2015 Bring to Your Organization?
Organizations have many reasons to adopt a strategic approach to improving their environmental performance:
- Reduced waste management costs
- Savings on energy and materials, lower raw material costs
- Compliance with current and future legal and regulatory requirements
- Greater engagement from leadership and employees
- Enhanced company reputation and stakeholder trust through strategic communication
- Achievement of strategic business goals by integrating environmental considerations into business management
- Competitive and financial advantages through improved efficiency and reduced costs
- Encouragement of supplier environmental performance through business system integration
Implementing the ISO 14001 Standard
If you want to implement ISO 14001, you’ll need to demonstrate that your organization has a well-structured environmental protection system.
Steps include:
- Define an environmental policy – Clear principles on how you intend to protect the environment and ensure that everyone in the company follows them
- Identify environmental impacts – Analyze how your activities affect the environment (energy use, pollution, waste, emissions, etc.)
- Comply with legislation – Make sure you’re aligned with all relevant environmental laws and regulations
- Set eco-friendly objectives – Whether it’s reducing energy consumption, recycling more, or limiting emissions, set concrete, realistic goals
- Plan and implement – Once goals are set, ensure you have the resources and processes to meet them
- Continuous improvement – Certification is not the end goal, but the start of an ongoing optimization process
To become certified, you must prove that all these elements are properly managed. An external audit conducted by a certification body like Systema Certificări will confirm whether your organization meets ISO 14001 requirements.
Step-by-Step ISO 14001:2015 Certification Process
- Assess your organization’s environmental impact
- Set objectives and targets, and develop procedures and plans to meet them
- Conduct internal audits to verify implementation
- Choose an accredited certification body to perform the external audit
- If the audit is successful, receive your ISO 14001 certificate
- Undergo annual audits to maintain compliance and continuous improvement
What You Need to Know After Certification
According to the organization’s environmental policy, the expected outcomes of the EMS include: improved environmental performance, fulfillment of compliance obligations and achievement of environmental objectives.
Certification Costs
The cost of ISO 14001 certification can vary depending on several factors. Generally, it includes both direct and indirect expenses related to implementing and maintaining the environmental management system.
Request more details
Do you need a price quote or more details about ISO 14001 certification?
Training and Education – Environmental Management
If you want to implement or improve an environmental management system in line with ISO 14001, there are various training options available — online, in-person, or customized in-house sessions. These include:
- Introductory courses – to understand the standard
- Implementation programs – to apply the requirements
- Internal auditor training – to verify compliance
These help you better manage environmental impact, streamline processes, and prepare for audits and certification.
Compatibility with Other Standards
One of the major advantages of ISO 14001 is that it can be integrated with other management systems, creating a more efficient and organized approach.
If your company already uses ISO 9001 (quality management) or ISO 45001 (occupational health and safety), adding ISO 14001 enhances operations and reduces administrative effort, since many requirements overlap.
ISO 14001 certification is a step-by-step process that helps organizations become more environmentally responsible and improve ecological performance. After certification, organizations must stay committed to maintaining and continuously improving their system to meet legal requirements and contribute to environmental protection.
