One decade after its release, the ISO 14001 Environmental Management Systems (EMSs) standard has reached 127 countries with almost 100,000 certified organizations. Not only has it been widely accepted by the private sector, but ISO 14001 has also received the attention of several governmental agencies that are endorsing and recognizing its implementation. Despite the growing academic research concerned with the outcomes of certification, a common opinion across ISO 14001 literature deals with how little is known regarding how the standard is applied and what certified facilities have achieved.
My research aims to contribute to this debate and to promote a better understanding of the value of an ISO 14001 certificate. Although several authors have attempted to study ISO 14001, no one has ever thought of asking the 'real-life experts' their perceptions on the adoption of the standard. This project is unique in the sense that it relies on environmental auditors and consultants to explore some of the accomplishments and limitations of ISO 14001.
I am looking for experienced environmental auditors and consultants willing to participate in a short interview regarding their perceptions about ISO 14001 certification. Participation will be strictly confidential. If you would like further information, please do not hesitate to contact Joao Mil-Homens at joao@vt.edu, or my research supervisors Joe Rees and John Randolph. You can also find more information about this study on the links below.
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