Module 14B
ISO 14000
Your text has a good section on ISO 14000 in Chapter 2, Voluntary Standards, which I summarized on some slides. ISO means the International Organization for Standardization. (I assume in French or German the S and O are in different order, but it is universally "ISO.") You should read the chapter. ISO 14000 is about environmental management. It does not give specific concentrations in mg/L or organization charts. Instead it delineates a process, especially a process of continual improvement. It is a sound process, but it is dependent on management commitment and support. And management is dependent on the approbation of the Board of Directors, and the the Board is dependent on the price of stock, which is dependent on the profitability of the company. As a result, it is difficult to obtain support (money) for programs that go beyond the minimum required for compliance with the law and a modicum of public relations. Even within those practical constraints, ISO 14000 provides a plan and direction for improving the company's relation with the regulators and increasing the public's perception of the company as a good corporate citizen.
For implementation of voluntary standards and the business outcomes, we'll
look at Panasonic . This Japanese company, which you are probably familiar, makes
many products and markets worldwide. Look at Panasonic Environment Vision 2050 and then click on See More. Finally from the ribbon above click on envirometanal.From Panasonic and your Woodside book you can get a feeling for the voluntary standards of a major corporation.