ISO 14001 ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY

The Environmental Policy statement required under ISO 14001 is the keystone upon which the entire environmental management system is constructed. It is not a public relations document that is posted on the conference room wall or handed out to potentially impacted stakeholder groups. The Environmental Policy is the central focus of the environmental management system. It must contain and clearly communicate the following for the organization:
· Mission and core values with respect to the environment, and· Commitments to control and improve environmental performance withrespect to significant environmental aspects of the organization’s products,services and/or activities.
The commitment to control and improve environmental performance with respect to the environment leads to the development of Environmental Objectives and Targets (4.3.3).Once those items have been delineated the rest of the environmental management system is devoted to accomplishing the objectives and targets which fulfil the EnvironmentalPolicy. ISO 14001 requires that a coherent and cogent Environmental Policy be developed and implemented.