ISO 14063:2006 help organizations communicate their environmental performance

A new standard in the ISO 14000 series of standards is expected to help users increase business support and shareholder confidence and, at the same time, promote their environmental credentials, achievements and performance.

Environmental communication is becoming an increasingly important activity for organizations, large and small, due to increased public awareness, interest and concern, and environmental regulatory agencies? expectations.

The new ISO 14063:2006, Environmental management ? Environmental communication ? Guidelines and examples, will assist organizations to communicate their views and present and explain the environmental implications of their activities, products and services. It advises them to listen to interested parties and incorporate their views and requests

"The huge and ever-growing global interest in the environment means that communicating environmental performance is both relevant and important, requiring particularly clear and transparent communication," said W. Gary Wilson, Chair of the working group that developed the new standard. "The new standard has been designed to assist any organization in the development of an environmental communication ? no matter how simple or complex."
 
ISO 14063:2006 gives guidance to an organization on general principles, policy, strategy and activities relating to both internal and external environmental communication. It provides examples and suggestions for effective environmental communication. This includes references to existing voluntary guidelines and approaches that are available to help improve the quality of environmental reports and communications.
 
A major benefit of the standard is its applicability by a number of users. "In the development of ISO 14063:2006, a key consideration for the experts was the conviction that environmental communication is well within the reach of any organization and any organization can reap the benefits," noted W. Gary Wilson. "The new standard will be a valuable tool for organizations, especially small and medium enterprises, who wish to make a statement concerning their environmental performance."
 
ISO 14063:2006 is applicable to all organizations regardless of their size, type, location, structure, activities, products and services, and whether or not they have an environmental management system in place.
 
It is intended for use by both organizations with or without an ISO 14001 environmental management system ( EMS), and it is not intended for certification purposes.