These standards together help support the three pillars of sustainable development<\/a>. The three pillars of sustainability, as outlined by ISO, are as follows:<\/p>\n A business’s actions impact the planet, from the waste we produce to the damaging resources we use; therefore, asking yourself this question as a business owner is a crucial step to becoming environmentally aware.<\/p>\n So how do you understand your environmental impact? Most companies do a ‘green audit’, which finds and detects issues with the sustainability of the business. Part of this audit is looking over what materials and resources you use and finding alternative ways to use the same resources, but with sustainable materials. For example, here at IMSM, we switched to using recyclable wooden pens instead of plastic pens to cut down on our waste and plastic consumption. Small changes can have a big impact, such as filling your office with plants to add oxygen to our atmosphere. Studies show that adding plants and wildlife to a working environment increases productivity and boosts employee’s overall positivity.<\/p>\n A Green Audit is an assessment of your business and an opportunity to learn what impact you’re having on the environment and ways to offset it. Below are the\u00a0categories<\/a>\u00a0you should evaluate as part of reviewing your sustainability or during a green audit:<\/p>\n After performing your business\u2019s Green Audit, it should be apparent which issues to act upon and resolve. The specifics of the necessary actions depend on your company and the resources you have available. The importance and priority of certain factors depend on your industry and geographical location. Leaning on management systems such as ISO 14001<\/a> can help you prioritise these findings as you review your environmental aspect.<\/p>\n An ‘environmental aspect’ is simply any part of a company’s interaction with the environment. After detecting these aspects, the ISO 14001<\/a> can be used as a framework to resolve the sustainability issues you may have within the company. When determining your environmental aspects, the ISO 14001<\/a> says you can consider:<\/p>\n Before acting, you should understand which issues are influenced by you and which are out of your control, then you can effectively act on these issues.<\/p>\n Brundtland Report<\/a> defines sustainability as “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”<\/p>\n ISO 14001<\/a> certification includes conducting a company audit to see if all the standard requirements are being met. ISO 14001<\/a> looks at your current environmental impact as well as the future, and how your business will affect the environment for the next generation.<\/p>\n ISO 14001<\/a> helps businesses understand and measure the consumption of materials used and the product life cycle requirements, considering how the products affect the environment in the long run.<\/p>\n Are you interested in learning more about ISO 14001<\/a>? Want to become more environmentally aware? Join the ranks of like-minded businesses and make our planet safer. Click below to speak to one of our consultants.<\/p>\n\n
How do I know what the environmental impact of my business is?<\/h2>\n
What areas are reviewed in a Green Audit?<\/h2>\n
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What are the ISO 14001 Requirements for Environmental Aspects?<\/h2>\n
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How can ISO 14001 implementation contribute to sustainability?<\/h2>\n
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