ISO 14001: Sustainability as Strategy | Turning Compliance into Competitive Advantage

What is ISO 14001? 

ISO 14001 is the leading environmental management standard. It helps organisations reduce their environmental footprint and improve sustainability practices. 

Why is ISO 14001 Important? 

Achieving ISO 14001 certification not only ensures legal compliance but also enhances your corporate image. It demonstrates a commitment to environmental responsibility, which can be a decisive factor for clients and partners. 

Benefits of ISO 14001

  • Improved environmental performance 
  • Enhanced compliance with legal requirements 
  • Increased stakeholder trust 
  • Access to new markets 

How to Implement ISO 14001

Begin with a Gap Analysis to evaluate your current environmental practices. Develop and implement an Environmental Management System (EMS) to monitor objectives, manage non-conformances, and drive continual improvement.
 

How APLISO-Plus Can Help you with Turning Compliance into Competitive Advantage

APLISO-Plus simplifies documentation, assigns responsibilities, and tracks objectives such as waste reduction and energy efficiency. Our consultant-led support ensures you turn compliance into a competitive edge.

Who needs it ISO 14001

The need for effective environment management is not only big smoke spewing manufacturing plants, but any business.  We all have an impact on waste, and consumption.  It is therefore a need in all businesses, from paper usage, transport, electricity, water, waste disposal, etc.  More and more clients are starting to decide on who to do business with based on their conscious management of environmental impact. 

Common Challenges ISO 14001

The biggest challenge is identifying the goals and measurable values that can be improved upon.  ISO 14001 provides a framework around which to build your Environment Management System. 

Frequently Asked Questions: ISO 14001

1. Is ISO 14001 difficult to implement for companies without prior environmental programs?

Not necessarily. While it does require effort and planning, ISO 14001 is designed to be flexible and scalable. Medium-sized companies can start by conducting a gap analysis to understand what’s needed and then develop a phased approach to build the system over time.

2. Do we need to hire an environmental expert or consultant?

Hiring an external consultant can speed up the process, especially if your internal team lacks experience with environmental regulations or system design. However, it’s not mandatory. Many companies succeed by training existing staff and leveraging available guidance documents and tools.

3. How do we ensure our employees are engaged in the EMS process?

Start with clear communication on why ISO 14001 matters — not just for compliance, but for cost savings, risk reduction, and company reputation. Involving employees in goal-setting, audits, and improvement projects fosters ownership and makes the system more effective in the long run.

Featured Articles

Stay informed with insights and updates on ISO compliance, industry trends, and best practices. Our featured articles provide valuable knowledge to help your business navigate the complexities of governance, risk, and compliance with confidence.

Liezl Keartland

ISO Consultant at Apliso

Specialist Skills & Responsibilities:

ISO 9001 Quality Management, ISO 13486 Medical Quality Management, Freight and Logistics Management skills, assist clients in implementing their chosen ISO standard and conducting internal audits 

Myles Badenhorst

ISO Consultant at Apliso

Specialist Skills & Responsibilities:

ISO 9001 Quality Management, ISO 13485 Medical Quality Management, ISO 22000 Food Safety, assist clients in implementing their chosen ISO standard and conducting internal audits 

Mia Goles

Operation Director at Apliso

Specialist Skills & Responsibilities:

ISO 9001 Quality Management, responsible for post implementation management, internal audit and customer support, assist clients in implementing their chosen ISO standard and conducting internal audits 

Matthew Corder

Managing Director at Apliso

Specialist Skills & Responsibilities:

ISO 9001 Quality Management, ISO 45001 Health and Safety Management, ISO 14001 Environmental Management, ISO 27001 Information Security Management, overall responsibility for Implementation projects up to client certification, assist clients in implementing their chosen ISO standard and conducting internal audits 

Saphokazi Silara

Customer Service Consultant at Apliso-Plus Africa

Specialist Skills & Responsibilities:

Customer Support on the ISO Management System, document management 

Pinky Pitolo

Customer Service Consultant at Apliso-Plus Africa

Specialist Skills & Responsibilities:

Customer Support on the ISO Management System, document management 

Amanda Groenewald

Product Management Controller at Apliso-Plus Africa

Specialist Skills & Responsibilities:

Client Onboarding, system support, customer user support, system training and webinars.

Maulik Patel

Head of Software Development at Palladium (Contracted to APLISO-Plus Africa)

Specialist Skills & Responsibilities:

Software engineer and head of development team.

Lorna Corder

Financial Director at Apliso, Apliso-Plus Africa

Specialist Skills & Responsibilities:

Manage all aspect of the Financial processes, Debtors, Bank, Budgeting, Credtors. 

Alistair Corder

CEO at Apliso, Apliso-Plus Africa

Specialist Skills & Responsibilities:

ISO 9001 Quality Management, ISO 45001 Health and Safety Management, ISO 14001 Environmental Management, ISO 27001 Information Security Management, overall responsibility for Implementation projects up to client certification, assist clients in implementing their chosen ISO standard and conducting internal audits