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ISO 14000 Family of Standards

ISO 14000 is a series of generic standards that are developed by the worldwide federation known as the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). These standards provide business with a structure for managing environmental impacts. (see What is ISO 14001 for more info)

Predictably, the multitude of standards can be the source of confusion, (some 21 are listed on the attached summary). However, within the ISO 14000 series of standards, there are two types of standards: guidance and requirements.

ISO 14001 is a system requirement standard, and for most organizations the one requirements standard that they need to focus on is:

• ISO 14001:2004 - Environmental management systems – Requirements with guidance for use

• Companies only register to the requirements standard ISO 14001.

Guidance standards are descriptive documents intended to provide guidance only.

• Companies do not register to ISO 14000 as a series.

• All of the ISO 14000 series of generic standards (from ISO 14004 to ISO 14064) are guidance standards.

Organizations should be aware of two other guidance standards:

• ISO 14004:2004 - Environmental management systems – General guidelines on principles, systems and support techniques.

• ISO 19011:2002 - Guidelines for quality and/or environmental management systems auditing.

More information about the three highlighed standards above are in the attached family of ISO 14000 standards table.

The International Organization of Standards also lists a summary of ISO 14000 standards on their site, along with many more details.

Note: depending on the nature of the business that organizations are involved in, some of the other standards listed may apply and serious consideration of them will be necessary.