Systematic Improvement of Sustainability Performance with ISO Standards

Recently, sustainability has become not only an environmental imperative but also a strategic priority for companies to ensure their long-term success. Companies must adopt systematic approaches to achieve their sustainability goals and reduce their environmental impacts. At this point, ISO (International Organization for Standardization) standards provide businesses with a structured framework to improve their sustainability performance. This article will discuss in detail the main ISO standards related to sustainability, the benefits these standards provide to businesses, and how they strengthen their sustainability strategies.

What is ISO and Why is it Important?

ISO is an international standards organization founded in 1947. The main purpose of ISO is to help businesses improve their quality, safety, efficiency, and sustainability performance by setting globally valid standards. ISO standards enable businesses to manage their activities according to internationally accepted norms, which makes it easier for them to both gain competitive advantage in the global market and achieve their sustainability goals.

ISO Standards Related to Sustainability
1. ISO 14001 - Environmental Management System
ISO 14001 is an international standard developed for businesses to manage and improve their environmental impacts. This standard covers the creation of environmental policies, determination of environmental risks, definition of environmental targets and implementation of continuous improvement processes. ISO 14001 enables businesses to use natural resources more efficiently and minimize activities that harm the environment.

2. ISO 14064 - Greenhouse Gas Emission Management
ISO 14064 is a standard used for calculating, monitoring, reporting and verifying greenhouse gas emissions. This standard guides businesses in measuring and reducing their carbon footprint. ISO 14064 is an important tool in combating climate change and helps businesses improve their environmental performance.

3. ISO 50001 - Energy Management System
ISO 50001 is a standard for businesses to improve their energy performance. This standard covers the processes of creating energy management policies, monitoring energy consumption, developing energy saving strategies and implementing energy efficiency projects. ISO 50001 helps businesses reduce their energy costs and carbon emissions.

4. ISO 26000 - Social Responsibility Guide
ISO 26000 is a guide that helps businesses fulfill their social responsibilities. This standard addresses issues such as business ethics, human rights, working conditions, environmental sustainability, social development and transparency. ISO 26000 enables businesses to contribute to sustainable development and effectively fulfill their social responsibilities.

5. ISO 20400 - Sustainable Supply Management
ISO 20400 is a standard that provides guidance on how to apply sustainability principles in the supply chain. This standard determines how to manage supply policies and processes to achieve environmental and social sustainability goals. ISO 20400 helps businesses reduce their environmental impact by creating sustainable supply chains.

6. ISO 45001 - Occupational Health and Safety Management System
ISO 45001 is an international standard for occupational health and safety (OHS) management systems. This standard covers the implementation of policies, processes and control measures required to prevent occupational accidents and diseases. ISO 45001 helps businesses create sustainable work environments by protecting the health of their employees.

7. ISO 37001 - Anti-Corruption Management System
ISO 37001 is a management system standard developed to combat corruption. This standard helps businesses identify corruption risks, take preventive measures and establish an effective management system against corruption. ISO 37001 contributes to sustainability by creating a management system in line with the principles of business ethics and integrity.

8. ISO 37301 - Compliance Management System
ISO 37301 is a standard that strengthens an organization's ability to comply with its legal, ethical and social obligations. This standard minimizes legal and ethical risks for businesses by ensuring effective implementation of compliance management processes. ISO 37301 plays a critical role in business continuity and sustainability.

9. ISO 14040 and ISO 14044 - Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)
ISO 14040 and ISO 14044 are standards used to assess the environmental impacts of a product or service throughout its life cycle. These standards provide guidance for identifying and reducing environmental impacts in all processes from extraction of raw materials to disposal of the product. ISO 14040 and ISO 14044 are essential tools for sustainable product development and environmental improvement strategies.

10. ISO 21930 - Sustainable Construction Materials
ISO 21930 is a standard that assesses the environmental performance of construction materials. This standard supports sustainability principles in the construction industry and encourages the use of materials that minimize environmental impacts. ISO 21930 is a critical tool for creating sustainable buildings and infrastructures.

11. ISO 20121 - Sustainable Event Management
ISO 20121 is a standard for planning and managing events in a sustainable way. This standard helps manage environmental, social and economic impacts and ensures that events are carried out in accordance with sustainability principles. ISO 20121 provides an important guide for the sustainable management of large-scale events.

12. ISO 14045 - Eco-efficiency Assessment
ISO 14045 is a standard aimed at increasing the economic performance of products and services by reducing their environmental impacts. This standard helps businesses improve their sustainability performance by systematically addressing the concept of eco-efficiency.

13. ISO 27001 - Information Security Management System
ISO 27001 is an international standard used to ensure information security. This standard enables businesses to protect their information assets and manage information security risks. ISO 27001 contributes to the provision of sustainable business operations as well as information security.

The Importance of ISO Standards in Sustainability
ISO standards provide a systematic and holistic approach for businesses to improve their sustainability performance. These standards make it easier for businesses to achieve their environmental, social and economic sustainability goals. Compliance with ISO standards provides businesses with the following benefits:

• Improving Environmental Performance: Standards such as ISO 14001 and ISO 14064 help businesses manage and reduce their environmental impact. This helps conserve natural resources and minimizes damage to the environment.
• Energy Efficiency and Cost Savings: ISO 50001 allows businesses to optimize energy consumption and reduce energy costs. Energy efficiency contributes to both environmental and economic sustainability.
• Increasing Social Responsibility: Standards such as ISO 26000 and ISO 20400 help businesses fulfill their social responsibilities and create sustainable supply chains. This increases their contribution to society and the environment.
• Occupational Health and Safety: ISO 45001 prevents occupational accidents and occupational diseases by protecting the safety and health of employees. A healthy and safe workplace is the foundation of a sustainable workforce.
• Ethics and Compliance Management: Standards such as ISO 37001 and ISO 37301 help businesses adopt ethical business practices and ensure legal compliance. This supports the long-term sustainability of businesses.
• Environmental Life Cycle Assessment: Standards such as ISO 14040 and ISO 14044 strengthen sustainable product development strategies by enabling the assessment of the environmental impacts of products and services throughout their life cycle.
• Information Security and Sustainability: ISO 27001 supports sustainable business operations and manages information security risks while ensuring information security for businesses.

ISO standards provide a structured and internationally accepted framework for businesses to improve their sustainability performance. These standards provide guidance on a wide range of issues, from managing environmental impacts to increasing energy efficiency, from fulfilling social responsibility to ensuring occupational health and safety. For businesses that want to achieve their sustainability goals, complying with ISO standards offers a strategic advantage and is the key to long-term success. Taking a step towards a sustainable future with ISO standards is a critical requirement for both businesses and society.