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ISO 14001 and KPIs: Reducing Environmental Impact

Updated on
February 20, 2025

What is ISO 14001?

It is a global standard applicable to a variety of organisations, both public and private, large or small, adopting a High-Level Structure similar to other well-known standards, allowing its integration into management systems. Its goal is to achieve environmental objectives, including those proposed by the United Nations for Sustainable Development. The standard encompasses document management, risk management, and regulatory compliance, promoting continuous improvement.

What are environmental KPIs?

In today's business world, environmental sustainability has become a fundamental pillar for long-term success. The ISO 14001 standard provides a solid framework for organisations to effectively manage their environmental impacts. Within this framework, Environmental Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) play a crucial role in the assessment and continuous improvement of a company's environmental compliance.

How to define the main environmental KPIs?

Four key environmental KPIs can be determined. It is important that organisations choose these indicators in consideration of the specific process on which they operate and under the supervision of top management.


Use of natural resources: Consumption of water, electricity, gas, fossil fuels and other resources. Amount of paper used in the production, packaging or packing process.
Emissions and waste: Pollutant emissions and discharges to air, land or water. Weight of dumped or discarded materials.
Environmental incidents: Number of actual incidents affecting the environment. Number of potential incidents identified. Time lost due to actual environmental incidents.
Proactive measures: Risk reduction measures implemented to prevent incidents. Results of environmental audits.

Defining these environmental KPIs is essential for organisations that have implemented an Environmental Management System based on ISO 14001:2015 and want to be certified under it.

How can Dcycle help you with environmental impact management, ISO 14001 and Environmental KPIs?

Dcycle provides an innovative solution to improve the environmental performance of companies, specialising in carbon footprint calculation and environmental management. Discover our automations, such as the required data download that simplifies the ISO 14001 certification process, allowing organisations to save time and resources by ensuring the accuracy of the information collected. This combination of the ISO 14001 standard and environmental KPIs with Dcycle's platform provides a powerful tool for improving business sustainability, allowing companies to focus on environmental protection and long-term success.

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Vanesa García
Head of Product Design

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How Can You Calculate a Product’s Carbon Footprint?

Carbon footprint calculation analyzes all emissions generated throughout a product’s life cycle, including raw material extraction, production, transportation, usage, and disposal.

The most recognized methodologies are:

  • Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)
  • ISO 14067
  • PAS 2050

Digital tools like Dcycle simplify the process, providing accurate and actionable insights.

What Are the Most Recognized Certifications?
  • ISO 14067 – Defines carbon footprint measurement for products.
  • EPD (Environmental Product Declaration) – Environmental impact based on LCA.
  • Cradle to Cradle (C2C) – Evaluates sustainability and circularity.
  • LEED & BREEAM – Certifications for sustainable buildings.
Which Industries Have the Highest Carbon Footprint?
  • Construction – High emissions from cement and steel.
  • Textile – Intense water usage and fiber production emissions.
  • Food Industry – Large-scale agriculture and transportation impact.
  • Transportation – Fossil fuel dependency in vehicles and aviation.
How Can Companies Reduce Product Carbon Footprints?
  • Use recycled or low-emission materials.
  • Optimize production processes to cut energy use.
  • Shift to renewable energy sources.
  • Improve transportation and logistics to reduce emissions.
Is Carbon Reduction Expensive?

Some strategies require initial investment, but long-term benefits outweigh costs.

  • Energy efficiency lowers operational expenses.
  • Material reuse and recycling reduces procurement costs.
  • Sustainability certifications open new business opportunities.

Investing in carbon reduction is not just an environmental action, it’s a smart business strategy.