Ana Vazquez, autor en Eurofins Environment Testing Spain

What is the ISO 14001 standard and what is it for?

Ana Vazquez — Mon, 06 Jul 2026 12:07:25 +0000

ISO (International Organisation for Standardisation) standards recognise the need for standardisation of management tools in the environmental field. Among these, ISO 14001 is the benchmark standard for the implementation of an Environmental Management System. This standard sets out the auditable requirements for certification purposes.

What is the ISO 14001 standard?

ISO 14001 certification – Environmental Management Systems (EMS) – is an international standard that enables organisations to demonstrate their commitment to protecting the environment. This commitment is demonstrated through the management of the environmental risks associated with their operations. By assuming this environmental responsibility, organisations not only reduce the environmental impact of their activities but also project and reinforce their image as a sustainable organisation.

ISO 14001 assists in identifying and managing the environmental risks associated with the internal processes of the organisation’s operations. This standard sets out requirements for effective risk management, taking into account prevention and environmental protection, legal compliance and socio-economic needs.

EMS certification to the ISO 14001 standard is an essential tool for companies and organisations seeking to gain greater trust from customers, employees, the local community and society as a whole. This vote of confidence stems from the voluntary demonstration of a commitment to the continuous improvement of environmental performance.

What is it for?

ISO 14001 certification is based on the PDCA (Plan-Do-Check-Act) cycle methodology. It uses familiar management terminology and language, offering a number of benefits to the organisation, in particular:

Commitment to the environment

Companies and organisations that seek ISO 14001 certification thereby demonstrate their commitment to sustainable management, ensuring that their performance improves. Incorporating environmental considerations into the organisation’s management and increasing the involvement of senior management and staff in environmental management enables the successful implementation of strategic objectives.

Performance improvement

Compliance with ISO 14001:2026 enables the improvement and optimisation of resource management through the rational use of resources. This reduces the likelihood of environmental risks occurring, such as emissions or spills.

By improving process efficiency, costs associated with poor management – such as fines or insurance premiums – are reduced, whilst also benefiting from lower consumption levels.

Managing your company’s reputation

By demonstrating high levels of compliance and reducing the risks of non-compliance and the resulting penalties, organisations demonstrate their values and their commitment to the environment. The competitive advantages of an improved image are reflected not only in the external market, but also internally, raising awareness and motivating their staff.

New ISO 14001:2026

The forthcoming ISO 14001:2026, published on 15 April, does not represent a break with established principles, but rather a technical evolution aimed at clarifying and improving understanding of the current requirements. This update seeks to strengthen the effectiveness of environmental management systems and align them with today’s challenges.

The key focus areas of this revision include:

Integration of Climate Change — Greater emphasis on identifying climate impacts and risks.
Life Cycle Perspective — Strengthening the consideration of environmental impacts from design through to end of life.
Change Management — Ensuring that organisational, technological or operational changes are assessed from an environmental perspective.
Opportunities and Risks — Clarification of how these should be identified, assessed and managed.
Control of External Supply — Greater precision in the requirements for suppliers and outsourced processes.

This new approach aims to facilitate the practical application of the standard and improve organisations’ ability to anticipate environmental risks and capitalise on opportunities for improvement.

Applicable legislation under ISO 14001

Eurofins EcoGestor is committed to supporting the implementation and maintenance of ISO 14001 certification, assisting with the identification and management of environmental risks associated with your business, as well as subsequent monitoring. The EcoGestor software enables you to access all the documentation and processes associated with the ISO 14001 EMS, ensuring an efficient and beneficial certification process for your company.

La entrada What is the ISO 14001 standard and what is it for? se publicó primero en Eurofins Environment Testing Spain.

Eurofins Iproma begins the construction works of its central laboratory

Ana Vazquez — Wed, 10 Mar 2021 08:26:54 +0000

The new laboratory, which has a surface area of 3,859 m2 distributed over two floors, will have the most advanced analysis technology.
This new laboratory aims to be a reference center in environmental control, as well as a logistics center for Eurofins’ environmental division in Spain.

Eurofins | IPROMA begins the construction works of its new central laboratory, located on the street Lituania, nº 8, Poligono del Transporte II in Castellon de la Plana. The new laboratory, which has a surface area of 3,859 m2 distributed over two floors, will have the most advanced analysis technology.

The LEAN principles applied in the design of the laboratory will have a direct impact on the improvement of results delivery times, as well as on the productive capacity. This new laboratory aims to be a reference center in environmental control throughout the national territory at the disposal of its clients.

A total of 6 companies presented offer in phase 1 to apply for the tender contract for the construction of the new facilities, being only 3 the finalist companies in phase 2, and where the company finally awarded was GIMECONS.

The new facilities will become the benchmark logistics center for Eurofins’ Environment Division in Spain.

The new laboratory is expected to be operational in August 2022.

La entrada Eurofins Iproma begins the construction works of its central laboratory se publicó primero en Eurofins Environment Testing Spain.

The Ministry of Science and Innovation gives the µNanoCare project a green light

Ana Vazquez — Thu, 19 Nov 2020 16:26:11 +0000

The µNanoCare project will address the quantification of micronanoplastics in reclaimed water and agricultural ecosystems and will assess the associated environmental risk. The project is funded by the Ministry of Science and Innovation in the call “Retos Colaboración 2019” and will run until the end of 2023. The consortium that forms µNanoCare is made up of three entities: IMDEA Agua as a research center and IPROMA (coordinator) and FACSA as leading companies in their sectors.

The Ministry of Science and Innovation and the Presidency of the Spanish National Research Agency have definitively resolved the funding to carry out the R+D+i Projects “Retos-Colaboración” of the National Program for Research, Development and Innovation Oriented to Challenges of the Society, within the framework of the National Plan for Scientific and Technical Research and Innovation 2017-2020. The μNanoCare project (Quantification of micronanoplastics in reclaimed water and agricultural ecosystems. Environmental risk assessment-RTC2019-007261-5) has been selected and funded in this call with € 742,809.40 and will be carried out during 3 and a half years (1/7/2020-31/12/2023).

The general objective of the μNanoCare project is to develop a method capable of quantifying the presence of MNPs in environmental samples and reducing both the emission and the uncertainty associated with their fate and environmental risk based on:

an effective and innovative sampling and analysis methodology
eco-efficient wastewater treatments
assessment of exposure and associated ecotoxicological risks

To do this, the μNanoCare consortium has a multidisciplinary team capable of addressing the problem from these three pillars. The project is coordinated by IPROMA, a company with extensive experience in the development of analytical methods and extensive scientific participation in the analysis of micro-nanoplastics; and has the participation of FACSA, a company specializing in wastewater treatment technologies, and the IMDEA Agua Institute, an international benchmark research center in the development of membrane technologies and the evaluation of environmental contamination and risks.

La entrada The Ministry of Science and Innovation gives the µNanoCare project a green light se publicó primero en Eurofins Environment Testing Spain.