What is ISO 14031 about?
As an organization, you need to keep track of your environmental impact. ISO 14031 gives you guidelines for the design and use of environmental performance evaluation (EPE) within your organization. ISO 14031 is applicable to all organizations, regardless of type, size, location, and complexity.
Note 1: ISO 14031 does not establish environmental performance levels. It is not intended for use for the establishment of any other environmental management system (EMS) conformity requirements.
Note 2: ISO 14031 is a generic standard and does not include guidance on specific methods for valuing or weighting different kinds of impacts in different kinds of sectors, disciplines, etc. Depending on the nature of the organization’s activities; there is often a need to also go to other sources for additional information and guidance on sector-specific topics, different subject matters, or different scientific disciplines.
Who is ISO 14031 for?
ISO 14031 on environmental performance evaluation is useful for:
- All organizations, regardless of type, size, location, and complexity
- Environmental consultants and specialists
- Environmental Management Systems managers
- Data/information management/systems support managers
Why should you use ISO 14031?
Many organizations are seeking ways to understand, demonstrate and improve their environmental performance. This can be achieved by effectively managing those elements of their activities, products and services that can significantly impact the environment.
The guidance in ISO 14031 is used to support your own approach to EPE including your commitments to compliance with legal and other requirements, the prevention of pollution and continual improvement, among others.
ISO 14031 sets out the EPE process which enables organizations to measure, evaluate and communicate their environmental performance using key performance indicators (KPIs), based on reliable and verifiable information.
What’s changed since the last update?
BS EN ISO 14031:2021 supersedes BS EN ISO 14031:2013 which is withdrawn. BS EN ISO 14031:2021 includes some technical changes with respect to BS EN ISO 14031:2013. These include:
- Terminological entries have been added and updated
- Terms such as “condition of the environment” have been revised
- The references have been updated
