ISO and the environment

The ISO 14000 family is the most visible part of ISO's work for the environment. This section gives the whole picture.

ISO has a multi-faceted approach to meeting the needs of business, industry, governments and consumers in the field of the environment.

Firstly, ISO it offers a wide-ranging portfolio of standardized sampling, testing and analytical methods to deal with specific environmental challenges. It has developed more than 350 International Standards for the monitoring of such aspects as the quality of air, water and soil. These standards are a means of providing business and government with scientifically valid data on the environmental effects of economic activity. They may also be used as the technical basis for environmental regulations.

Secondly, ISO offers a strategic approach through the ISO 14000 family of environmental management standards developed by ISO technical committee ISO/TC 207 that can be implemented in any type of organization in either public or private sector (companies, administrations, public utilities).

Thirdly, ISO/TC TC 207 also works on documents to facilitate the fusion of business and environmental goals by encouraging the inclusion of environmental aspects in product design.

ISO/TR 14062, Environmental management - Integrating environmental aspects into product design and development, enables organizations to identify the likely effects on the environment of their future products and make effective decisions during the design and development stages to improve their environmental performance.

Fourthly, ISO/TC 207 is helping to meet the new challenge of climate change with standards such as ISO 14064:2006 and ISO 14065:2007 standards for greenhouse gas verification and accounting.