Top 5 Environmental Standards to help your business

Reducing plastic, managing water use and reducing energy consumption are just some of the environmental challenges organisations are coming across. Thankfully there are plenty of Standards aimed at creating sustainable practices within your business that can help combat these challenges. Below are our top 5 environmental Standards you should consider: 

1. ISO 14000 Family of Standards

When it comes to creating an effective environmental management system, the ISO 14000 family of Standards are the most widely used. Standards from this group include ISO 14001:2015, ISO 14006:2011, ISO 14005:2019 and ISO 14004:2016. As a whole, these Standards cover ways to enhance a business's environmental performance. 

2. ISO 50001 Energy Management Systems

Used by organisations of all sizes, ISO 50001:2018 provides the framework to help and implement an energy management system (EnMS). According to the U.S. Department of Energy, energy used in commercial buildings costs more than $190 billion dollars per year and on average 30% of that energy is wasted. Through this standard, businesses can reduce energy use and costs, as well as remain compliant with legislation.

3. AS 4708 Sustainable Forest Management

Responsible Wood reports that the total forest area covers 124.7 million hectares, where 36.6 million hectares of that is native forest and suitable for commercial wood production. As consumers become more aware of environmental issues such as Climate Change, it's imperative for businesses to have Sustainable Forest Management in place. AS 4708 is globally recognised and provides forest managers with environmental, economic, social and cultural criteria and requirements that support the sustainable management of forests. 

4. ISO 20121 Sustainable Event Management 

Whether it's a small event, like a community festival or a major event, like the Olympics, having a sustainable events management standard will benefit both the environment and your bottom line. ISO 20121 is the standard that will help you deliver a sustainable event. This standard describes the requirements for an event sustainability management system for any type of event or event-related activity and provides guidance on conforming to those requirements. 

5. ISO 14046:2017 Environmental Management - Water Footprint

A business's 'water footprint' is the measurement of the total water consumed to produce the goods and services it provides. Knowing how to reduce your business's water footprint is critical. ISO 14046 is a standard that provides businesses with a guide to assess impacts related to water use (water footprint).