DIN EN ISO 14004:2010-08

Through the use of an environmental management system environmental protection can be organizationally integrated into any organization, regardless of its size. By aiming for a good environmental performance the organization is required to adopt a systematic approach; it is also required to continuously improve its environmental management system. The general purpose of the standard DIN EN ISO 14004 is to provide assistance to organizations that wish to implement or improve an environmental management system (EMS) and thereby improve their environmental performance. The standard describes the elements of an environmental management system and provides general guidance for the establishment and improvement of an environmental management system according to DIN EN ISO 14001 "Environmental management systems - Requirements with guidance for use (ISO 14001:2004); German and English version EN ISO 14001:2004" and its coordination with other management systems. In contrast to DIN EN ISO 14001 no testable requirements are specified but support is given in a non-binding form for the establishment, implementation, maintenance and improvement of an environmental management system. DIN EN ISO 14004 can thus be used independently without establishing a formal environmental management system according to DIN EN ISO 14001. This makes the standard a particularly useful tool for small and medium-sized enterprises. However, only DIN EN ISO 14001 is to be used as a basis for certification of an environmental management system. The first edition of the standard from January 1998 has been revised with the central intent to eliminate obscurities and to correct ambiguous formulations. The revision also aimed at a better compatibility with the quality management standards. Therefore all changes are intended to simplify the applicability of this standard. Representatives from approximately 60 countries took part in the revision of the International Standard ISO 14004 by ISO/TC 207/SC 1 "Environmental management systems". Regarding German collaboration the standard work was actively accompanied by NA 172-00-02 AA "Umweltmanagementsysteme/Umweltaudit" ("Environmental management systems/environmental auditing") of the Environmental Protection Standards Committee (NAGUS). NA 172-00-02 AA regards the combination of DIN EN ISO 14001 and DIN EN ISO 14004 as a basis upon which many enterprises and organizations interested in the establishment of environmental management systems can advance the optimization of their environmental performance in a practice-oriented way.