ISO Standards to Help Build a Sustainable Future

ISO Standards for Sustainability

ISO (International Organisation for Standardization) is an independent, non-governmental organization representing the National Standard Institutes of over 150 countries. They develop and publish international standards in response to the needs of the international market and global expert opinions.

Whether it is calculating carbon footprints, improving impact on the environment, or contributing to the development of new renewable energy technologies, ISO has thousands of standards that can help shape a sustainable future.

Here are a few ones to watch.

ISO 14097 Greenhouse Gas Management & Related Activities

ISO 14097 provides a general framework, including principles, requirements, and guidance for assessing, measuring, monitoring, and reporting on investments and financing activities in relation to climate change and the transition into a low-carbon economy.

ISO 32210 & ISO 32220 for Green Finance

Both these in-progress standards will outline a framework for sustainable finance. ISO 32210 outlining the principles and recommended guidance and ISO 32220 providing the basic concepts for sustainable finance and outlining the key initiatives.

ISO 15118 for Electric Vehicles

The ISO 15118 family of standards simplifies the charging experience of Electric Vehicle (EV) drivers and assists the grid in dealing with the variability of renewable energy sources. EV’s contribute to significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions and can give energy back to the grid, a building, or other devices.

ISO 5157 for Eco-Friendly Textiles

Another in-progress standard, ISO 5157 will help organisations to promote transparency and communicate with clarity in a complex industry. The standard will encourage more eco-friendly practices, and provide trust in the supply chain and for the consumer.

ISO 5149 for Refrigerating Systems and Heat Pumps

The ISO 5149 series of standards outlines in detail the requirements and guidelines for safety and environmental issues related to refrigerating systems and heat pumps. It is currently being reviewed and updated to be more environmentally friendly.

Common ISO Standards

In Australia, there are six standards that are most common for organisations to be certified to. These are:

ISO 9001 – Quality Management Systems;
ISO 22000 – Food Safety Management;
ISO 14001 – Environmental Management Systems;
ISO 45001 – Occupational Health and Safety Management;
ISO 31000 – Risk Management; and,
ISO 27001 – Information Security.

Why be ISO Compliant?

Through quality processes, ISO-certified organizations are able to constantly monitor and improve their well-documented and structured processes. These organizations lead the way in terms of quality, efficiency, and productivity.

Each ISO standard has different specific benefits, and together they work to provide a solid and streamlined foundation for a successful organization. ISO-certified businesses tend to have better customer retention and satisfaction, lower staff turnover, and consistent quality outcomes.

An ISO-certified management system can also help to reduce costs, increase market share and gain access to new markets.

Integrated ISO Management Systems

Get in touch with QSM Group today to discuss your ISO compliance and certification needs.

Our experienced consultants work with you to develop, integrate, implement and monitor your management systems. We can also assist with achieving certification to any desired certifiable ISO standards.