Environmental Management System (ISO 14001) Certification

ISO 14001 defines requirements for an organisation to systematically manage the environmental impacts arising from its activities. A life-cycle perspective, identifying compliance obligations, and measuring environmental performance are central. The certificate does not show the organisation causes no harm to the environment at all, but that it has identified and brought its impacts under control. The current version is ISO 14001:2015.

• Manufacturing and energy facilities with a high environmental impact
• Organisations whose environmental certificate is requested in public tenders and major buyers' ESG criteria
• Facilities that must regularly track their waste, emission and discharge obligations
• Organisations carrying out corporate sustainability reporting

Not legally mandatory. Complying with environmental legislation is mandatory; ISO 14001 establishes a framework that tracks and evidences this compliance. Public tenders and supply-chain contracts frequently require the certificate.

• Clause 4 — Context of the organisation: environmental conditions, the needs of interested parties, the EMS scope
• Clause 5 — Leadership: the environmental policy, roles and responsibilities
• Clause 6 — Planning: identifying environmental aspects and impacts (with a life-cycle perspective), compliance obligations, risks and opportunities, environmental objectives
• Clause 7 — Support: resources, competence, awareness, internal and external communication, documented information
• Clause 8 — Operation: operational planning and control, outsourced processes, emergency preparedness and response
• Clause 9 — Performance evaluation: monitoring and measurement, compliance evaluation, internal audit, management review
• Clause 10 — Improvement: nonconformity, corrective action, continual improvement

1. 1ApplicationThe organisation's field of activity, headcount, number of sites and scope boundaries are determined. The number of audit days is calculated from this information.
2. 2Document Review (Stage 1)The management system documentation, scope definition, risk assessment and internal-audit/management-review records are examined; readiness for the on-site audit is assessed.
3. 3Certification Audit (Stage 2)It is verified on site that the system is implemented and effective. Findings are classified as major/minor nonconformity or observation.
4. 4Closing NonconformitiesThe organisation submits a root-cause analysis and corrective action plan. The certificate is not issued until major nonconformities are closed.
5. 5Issuing the CertificateThe certificate is issued after review by an independent decision-maker. The audit team cannot make the certification decision.
6. 6Surveillance AuditsA surveillance audit is carried out at least once a year during the certificate's validity. The first surveillance cannot exceed 12 months from the last day of Stage 2.
7. 7RecertificationAt the end of three years, the entire system is re-audited; it must be completed before the certificate expires.

Management system certificates are valid for three years. At least one surveillance audit is carried out per year during this period; the certificate is suspended if surveillance is not carried out. A recertification audit is completed at the end of the third year.

• Trade registry record and operating licence
• The organisation's organisation chart and headcount
• The list of sites/branches within scope
• The management system manual or process documentation
• Internal audit and management review records
• Legal permits, licences and operating documents, if any

There is no fixed list price; the cost is calculated based on the following variables and provided in writing in the quote.

• The headcount within scope (directly determines the number of audit days)
• The number of sites and branches; whether multi-site sampling applies
• The activity's risk level and process complexity
• The number of standards to be certified — an integrated audit reduces the number of days
• The three-year cycle: certification + two surveillance audits

Management system certification is carried out within the scope of ISO/IEC 17021-1. The certification body is accredited by an accreditation body party to the IAF multilateral recognition agreement (IAF MLA); This agreement establishes a chain of international recognition that ensures that a document issued in one country is accepted in other countries. EUROLAB has internationally recognized accreditation from IAF member accreditation bodies within the scope of ISO/IEC 17021-1.

The scope under which this scheme can be offered varies according to your product and activity; it is confirmed in writing at the quote stage.

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