ISO 14001:2015
ISO 14001 certification online: Environmental Management by self-assessment
With the ISO 14001 certificate from Zertify, you demonstrate your management system online. ISO 14001 certification works by self-assessment: you receive the certificate within 4 hours and pay once, CHF 699. It is not an accredited certificate and does not replace an audit.
- Questions
- 30
- Validity
- 3 years
- One-time price
- CHF 699
01: Overview
What is ISO 14001?
ISO 14001:2015 is the internationally recognized standard for environmental management systems (EMS). It helps organizations meet their environmental responsibilities systematically, reduce environmental impacts and achieve economic benefits at the same time. The standard follows the Plan-Do-Check-Act cycle and integrates environmental aspects into strategic business management.
02: Benefits
Your benefits
- Lower environmental impact and resource consumption
- Cost savings through more efficient use of energy and materials
- Stronger corporate image and stakeholder trust
- Assured compliance with environmental legislation
- Competitive advantages with environmentally conscious customers
- Reduced risk of environmental incidents
03: Who it is for
Who is ISO 14001 for?
- Manufacturing industry
- Logistics and transport companies
- Construction companies
- Energy utilities
- Waste management and recycling
- Companies with high resource consumption
04: Requirements
Key requirements
Identify environmental aspects and impacts
Identify compliance obligations (laws, permits)
Establish an environmental policy with a commitment to improvement
Define environmental objectives and plan actions
Set up emergency preparedness for environmental incidents
Monitor and report environmental performance
05: Demand
Who asks for ISO 14001?
ISO 14001 is mostly asked for where environmental impact is visible: on the building site, in the plant and on the road.
- Developers and general contractors
- On large construction projects, clients ask contractors about environmental management, for example for waste, dust, noise and water protection.
- Industry and logistics
- Corporations assess suppliers on environmental performance and need evidence from the supply chain for their sustainability reports.
- Public procurement
- Buyers give environmental criteria more weight when evaluating bids, and ISO 14001 often serves as the proof.
06: Cost
What does ISO 14001 cost? Audit, consulting or self-assessment
With ISO 14001 the cost depends heavily on sites and environmental aspects. For a company with 10 to 50 employees, these orders of magnitude apply.
| Route | Indicative range | What is behind it |
|---|---|---|
| Accredited audit | CHF 5,000 to 10,000 initial audit, then 2,500 to 4,500 per year | A plant with wastewater and hazardous substances needs more audit days than an office. Site walk-throughs are part of the audit. |
| Consulting and implementation | CHF 10,000 to 30,000 one-off | External help with aspect evaluation, legal register and emergency planning. Worth it for plants that need permits. |
| Zertify self-assessment | CHF 699 once, valid 3 years | You check whether environmental aspects, legal requirements, objectives and emergency preparedness are demonstrably in place. It replaces neither official permits nor an environmental audit. |
All amounts are non-binding indicative ranges for Swiss SMEs, not quotes. The offers of the individual providers are what counts.
07: Duration
How long does ISO 14001 take?
Up to an accredited certificate, ISO 14001 usually takes six to twelve months, because aspects, legal register and consumption data have to be collected first.
| Phase | Accredited | Zertify |
|---|---|---|
| Stocktake | 2 to 4 months for environmental aspects, legal register and consumption data | None. You answer the questions with the records you have today |
| Implementation and assessment | Several months of operation with evidence, then stage 1 and 2 with site visit | About 20 to 30 minutes online, scored immediately |
| Certificate | Release after 2 to 6 weeks, then annual surveillance audits | PDF with QR verification within 4 hours |
08: Sample questions
Sample questions from the ISO 14001 assessment
Four of 30 questions from the catalog, with the reason each one counts.
Are environmental aspects and their impacts identified systematically?
Evaluating environmental aspects is the heart of the standard. It decides which objectives, controls and training are needed at all.
Are compliance obligations (laws, permits) identified?
Permits, limit values and laws are binding. Auditors first ask for a current overview and then who maintains it.
Are life cycle aspects considered for products and services?
The standard looks beyond the company fence: transport, packaging, use and disposal of a product are part of the picture.
Is there an emergency plan for environmental incidents?
An oil spill or a fire rarely happens but costs a lot. What is asked for is a plan, material in the right place and a drill.
09: Assessment
How the assessment works
The assessment consists of 30 yes/no questions. You answer them online, at your own pace. With 20 or more yes answers you pass.
| The questions are grouped by these topics: | Questions |
|---|---|
| Context of the organization | 4 questions |
| Leadership | 5 questions |
| Planning | 4 questions |
| Support | 6 questions |
| Operation | 5 questions |
| Performance evaluation | 3 questions |
| Improvement | 3 questions |
10: Price
Price and validity
What is included
- Online assessment with 30 questions
- Certificate as PDF, issued by SICE
- QR code for public verification
- 3 years of validity
- Support by email
The certificate is based on a self-assessment. It is not an accredited certification. Read more in the FAQ
11: More standards
More standards
Many companies combine several standards. From two standards you get a discount.
- ISO 50001:2018: View standard
Energy Management
For most companies energy is a significant environmental aspect. ISO 50001 goes deeper with indicators and savings targets.
from CHF 749
- ISO 45001:2018: View standard
Occupational Health and Safety Management
Hazardous substances, emergency planning and supplier requirements affect environment and safety alike and can be handled in one system.
from CHF 699
- ISO 9001:2015: View standard
Quality Management
Processes, internal audits and management review are built identically, which makes ISO 9001 the obvious base.
from CHF 599
12: Questions
Frequently asked questions about ISO 14001
ISO 14001 certificate within 4 hours.
Start the assessment for free. You only pay after you pass.
The certificate is based on a self-assessment. It is not an accredited certification.