BSI – BS ISO 14009: 2020

What is ISO 14009 about? 

ISO 14009 discusses environmental management systems. ISO 14009 gives guidelines for assisting organizations in establishing, documenting, implementing, maintaining and continually improving material circulation in their design and development in a systematic manner, using an environmental management system (EMS) framework.

These guidelines are intended to be used by those organizations that implement an EMS in accordance with ISO 14001. The guidelines can also help in integrating material circulation strategies in design and development when using other management systems. The guidelines can be applied to any organization regardless of its size or activity.

ISO 14009 provides guidelines for design strategies on material circulation to achieve the material efficiency objectives of an organization, by focusing on the following aspects:

• Type and quantity of materials in products
• Product lifetime extension
• Recovery of products, parts and materials

Note: In design and development, many aspects are considered, such as safety, energy efficiency, performance and cost. These are not addressed in ISO 14009. 

Who is ISO 14009 for?

ISO 14009 on environmental management systems is useful for any organization regardless of its size or activity. Specific users of ISO 14009 could be:

• Individuals with planning and decision-making authority
• Research and development teams
• Designing departments
• Quality control executives
• Maintenance personnel

Why should you use ISO 14009? 

One of the major challenges that we all face in achieving sustainable development is the efficient use of resources and the reuse of these resources repeatedly without diminishing their value and usability. Material circulation can be understood as an approach integrated within design and development by which products, parts or materials can be continually reprocessed into the same or similar products in order to achieve material efficiency and (ultimately) the environmental objectives of the organization. Considering that products are largely composed of raw materials, the material circulation of products plays an important role in the sustainable use of resources.

ISO 14009 provides guidelines related to ISO 14001, a management system standard (MSS), and uses an identical structure. ISO 14009 places priority on the clauses of ISO 14001 for planning and operation. ISO 14009 specifies the establishment of material circulation strategies for products ISO 14009 provides you with guidelines for strategies on material circulation to achieve material efficiency. This helps you to minimize the use of materials, by maximizing the lifetime of products through improved design.  ISO 14009 also increases opportunities for repair, upgrade, reuse, remanufacturing and recycling of products by you.

ISO 14009 contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goal 9 on industry, innovation and infrastructure, Goal 12 on responsible consumption and production, and Goal 13 on climate action.

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