ISO STANDARD TO HELP FIRMS TAP INTO ‘GREEN’ MARKET

IMPLEMENTING THE NEW ISO 14000 ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARD COULD ALLOW ATLANTA COMPANIES TO TAP INTO THE “GREEN” MARKET AND IMPROVE THEIR PUBLIC IMAGES, AND MIGHT HELP WITH ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATORS IF VIOLATIONS OCCUR, SAID HOLLY GRELL-LAWE, MANAGER OF THE GEORGIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY’S CENTER FOR INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS  & QUALITY (CISQ).

MS. GRELL-LAWE SPOKE AT A SEMINAR CO-SPONSORED BY CISQ AND GEORGIA POWER’S TECHNOLOGY APPLICATIONS CENTER  ON NOV. 6 ABOUT IMPLEMENTING THE STANDARD. ISO 14000 REQUIRES A COMPANY TO HAVE A MANAGEMENT SYSTEM IN PLACE TO CHECK THAT IT IS FOLLOWING ITS OWN ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY.

THERE IS A GROWING MARKET AROUND THE WORLD FOR “GREEN,” OR ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY PRODUCTS, SHE TOLD THE 50 ATTENDEES AT THE SEMINAR, AND CONSUMERS ARE INCREASINGLY ASKING FOR PROOF OF ENVIRONMENTAL CLAIMS BY MANUFACTURERS.

ISO 14000, WHICH WAS PUBLISHED EARLIER THIS YEAR, CAN PROVIDE EVIDENCE OF ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND PRACTICES, AND CAN ALSO SMOOTH RELATIONS WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO ARE CONCERNED ABOUT A MANUFACTURER’S IMPACT ON THE LOCAL ENVIRONMENT, SHE ADDED.

HOWEVER, THE STANDARD ITSELF DOES NOT GUARANTEE COMPLIANCE WITH ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS, SAID MS. GRELL-LAWE.  ISO 14000 ONLY ENSURES THAT A COMPANY HAS A WORKING ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, SHE SAID.

IN CASES WHERE VIOLATIONS DO OCCUR, SHE SAID, THE COMPANY MAY BE ABLE TO USE THE FACT THAT IT IS ISO 14000 CERTIFIED TO NEGOTIATE A SETTLEMENT WITH STATE AND FEDERAL REGULATORS.  A POSITIVE ISO AUDIT MAY INDICATE THAT THE VIOLATION WAS NOT A NORMAL OCCURRENCE, ADDED MS. GRELL-LAWE.

COMPANIES INTERESTED IN FINDING OUT MORE ABOUT ISO 14000 CAN CONTACT CISQ AT (800) 859-0968 FOR INFORMATION ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION’S SERVICES AND FEES.

BY  BRIANA  PEHLMAN