SME Sustainability & Impact Guide (FINAL Jan 2024)

OVERVIEW OF THE MOST COMMON TOOLS AND FRAMEWORKS
ISO 14001 Environmental Management System
iso.org/iso-14001
Best suited for:
Businesses of any size, society / government
ISO 14001 is an international standard that sets out the criteria for an environmental management system that can be
certified. It maps out a framework that a company or organisation can follow to improve environmental management
systems with the aim of reducing waste and environmental harm. The standard is designed for any type of
organisation, regardless of its activity or sector.
Cost and effort involved
• The ISO 14001 standard itself (PDF/hard copy) costs around $280 and can be found here. Certification cost depends on size and
environmental risk.
• Significant effort is required to set up internal management processes prior to starting the certification process.
Pros
Cons
• Internationally recognised as a credible internal system to manage
environmental performance
• Provides assurance to company management and employees as well as
external stakeholders that environmental impact is being measured and
improved.
• Going through the process often identifies wastage (energy, time, money)
• Ongoing need to keep documents updated for recertification
• Balance of effort vs value to the company
Who else is using it?
Hunter Civil, Kiwi Labels, Heads Up Access, Antarctica NZ, ENGEO, Gelita NZ, Groundline, Christchurch City Council