ABSTRACT
As the author has investigated implementation stories across the country since 1996, she has discovered many fascinating dimensions of ISO 14001. But a predominant one is that ISO 14001 standard writers accomplished most of what they set out to do. They wanted a standard that would provide all companies — despite their size or industry sector — with the specifications for implementing an effective environmental management system (EMS). They wanted a flexible framework that would allow corporations to adapt the standard to their needs. Whether the company is a three-person, family-owned dairy business or a multinational corporation that manufactures spy planes, ISO 14001 was designed to suit the company’s needs. To foster that flexibility, the standard does not require certification but allows for a company to self-declare conformance to the standard — an option not available under the ISO 9000 quality management system.
