The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has released a new family of standards, ISO 14000, aimed at helping organizations reduce the negative environmental impact of their products and services.
All products and services impact the environment throughout their entire lifecycle, from resource extraction to final disposal. Eco-design aims to incorporate environmental factors into product development and service processes to reduce environmental harm and continuously improve their lifecycle performance. The ultimate goal is cleaner products and services, and a greener planet.
The newly released ISO 14006:2011, Environmental management systems – Guidelines for incorporating ecodesign, provides guidelines for products and services on how to integrate ecodesign into management systems related to the environment, quality, etc.
This standard will help organizations establish, demonstrate, implement, and continuously improve ecological management within their Environmental Management Systems (EMS). It applies to environmental aspects that an organization can control or that affect its products/services.
Advantages of incorporating environmentally friendly design:
1. Economic benefits, such as increased competitiveness, reduced costs, attraction of financing and investment, and improved efficiency;
2. Promote innovation and creativity, and establish new business models;
3. Reduce environmental impact and improve product knowledge, thereby reducing liability;
4. Improve the organization's image;
5. Increase employee motivation.
Martin Charter, convener of the working group that developed ISO 14006, said: “The new standard is designed to help all organizations implement eco-design in a flexible and feasible way. The aim is for organizations to use these guidelines to design and develop more advanced, beneficial and sustainable products and services.”
ISO 14006:2011 applies to any organization, regardless of size, location, culture, or the complexity of its management systems, and regardless of the simplicity or complexity of the product or service.
The new standard ISO 14006:2011 is primarily intended for organizations that have established and implemented an Environmental Management System (EMS) in accordance with ISO 14001, regardless of whether the organization adheres to the ISO 9001 Quality Management System (QMS). Secondly, it can also be used by organizations that have not yet formally established and are operating an EMS or QMS but are interested in reducing the adverse environmental impact of their products or services.
Sources: ISO (Compiled by PIDC)
