What is the ISO 14000 series of standards?

The ISO 14000 series addresses environmental management systems, environmental auditing, environmental labeling, environmental performance evaluation, and life cycle assessment. These International standards are voluntary standards for the establishment of a common worldwide approach to management systems that will lead to the protection of the earth's environment while spurring international trade and commerce. They will serve as tools to manage corporate environmental programs and provide an internationally recognized framework to measure, evaluate, and audit these programs. When implemented, these standards will ensure consistency in environmental management practice, harmonize national environmental standards within an international framework, simplify registrations, labeling and conflicting requirements, provide a single system for all transnational subsidiaries, and offer guidelines for environmental management excellence. Even though the standards do not prescribe performance ...  more