This standard sets out the requirements for an environmental management system, by helping organizations identify, manage, monitor and control their environmental issues in a holistic manner. This standard includes the need for organizations to be continually improving their management systems and environmental concerns. Some of the key elements this standard requires are a greater commitment from leadership, implementation of proactive actions, a focus of the entire life cycle, a stakeholder-focused communication strategy and ultimately for environmental management to become a greater priority within the organization. Some of the key intended outcomes of implementing this standard include:
- Enhancement of environmental performance
- Fulfilment of compliance obligations
- Achievement of environmental objectives
This standard can be used by any organization and once adopted, an independent certification body would audit the practices against those of the standard and if cleared they can become ISO 14001 certified. Adopting such a standard and specifically becoming certified has proven to be beneficial for mining organizations given that it reduces environmental risks and liability, improves awareness, creates cost savings and lowers insurance cost.
https://www.iso.org/standard/60857.html