ISO 14001 Environmental Management Systems
Expert ISO 14001 Environmental Management System Consultancy in the UK
At Changing Footprint, we provide trusted, hands-on support to help organisations design, implement and certify their ISO 14001 Environmental Management System (EMS).
ISO 14001 is the world’s leading standard for environmental management — offering a proven framework to help businesses reduce environmental impact, ensure compliance, and drive sustainable performance.
Understanding the ISO 14001 Framework
ISO 14001:2015 follows a 10-Clause structure, designed to integrate seamlessly with other ISO standards and ensure consistent environmental performance management. The first 3 Clauses are more for scene setting and cover the managment system boundaries, supporting documents and terminology, so we have ignored them for the purpose of this brief explainer.
ISO 14001 Important Clauses that align with the ISO Management Systems Approach
These 7 Clauses ensure your Environmental Management System is comprehensive, systematic, and adaptable — forming the foundation for ongoing sustainability success.
Clause 4. Context of the Organisation
Examines internal and external factors influencing your environmental management approach.
Clause 5. Leadership
Details leadership responsibilities for environmental policy, communication and accountability.
Clause 6. Planning
Focuses on environmental aspects, legal requirements, and planning for risk and opportunity management.
Clause 7. Support
Covers resources, competence, awareness, communication, and documentation management.
Clause 8. Operation
Addresses operational controls, emergency preparedness, and process management.
Clause 9. Performance Evaluation
Outlines monitoring, measurement, analysis, and internal auditing processes.
Clause 10. Improvement
Emphasises corrective actions and continuous improvement to enhance environmental outcomes.
Our Step-by-Step Approach
Our ISO 14001 environmental management system service makes certification straightforward, practical and aligned with your commercial goals. Whether you’re starting fresh or refining existing processes, we’ll help reduce your environmental risks.
1. Discovery & Gap Analysis
We start by understanding your organisation — your operations, current practices, and sustainability goals. Through a structured gap analysis, we identify where your current systems align with ISO 14001 and where improvements are needed.
2. Planning & Framework Design
We design a tailored Environmental Management System (EMS) around your organisation’s structure and objectives. This includes setting your environmental policy, identifying key risks and opportunities and defining measurable targets for performance.
3. Implementation & Training
Our consultants guide your teams in embedding environmental management into everyday operations — creating practical procedures, documentation and performance tracking tools. Training builds understanding and ownership across all levels.
4. Monitoring & Continuous Improvement
We help you implement monitoring systems to measure and improve environmental performance. Regular reviews ensure compliance, track results and drive ongoing progress.
5. Internal Audit & Certification Support
Before external certification, we conduct internal audits to assess readiness. We then support you through the certification process with your chosen accredited body — simplifying every step.
6. Ongoing Support
After certification, we continue to support you with system updates, compliance checks, and continual improvement — keeping your ISO 14001 EMS effective and future-ready.
Why Choose Changing Footprint?
- Practical expertise – We blend deep ISO knowledge with business-focused environmental insight.
- Tailored approach – Every EMS we design is built around your operations, culture, and sector.
- Sustainability-driven – We go beyond compliance to create systems that deliver measurable environmental impact.
- End-to-end guidance – From initial analysis to certification and ongoing improvement, we’re your trusted partner for ISO 14001 in the UK.
Start Your ISO 14001 Journey
Ready to take the next step towards a more sustainable, resilient business?
Let’s make ISO 14001 work for you.
ISO 14001 is the international standard for Environmental Management Systems (EMS), providing a structured framework for reducing environmental impact, improving resource efficiency, and ensuring compliance.
Any organisation — large or small, in any sector — can benefit. ISO 14001 strengthens your sustainability credentials, enhances reputation, and supports tendering and supply chain requirements.
Typically, ISO 14001 implementation and certification take between 6–12 months, depending on your organisation’s size and complexity.
No. We’ll help you establish baseline data and identify environmental aspects as part of your ISO 14001 journey.
We offer full lifecycle consultancy — from gap analysis and EMS design to audits, certification, and ongoing system maintenance.
Absolutely. Many clients achieve measurable savings through improved resource use, energy efficiency, and waste reduction — alongside regulatory and reputational benefits.