Respect environmental standards to affirm your commitment to eco-responsibility
In a context of climate crisis and urgent ecological transition, complying with environmental standards has become an essential commitment for companies. Whether to comply with regulations, improve their image or strengthen their competitiveness, companies now have no choice but to commit to a structured approach to reducing their environmental impact.
But what is an environmental standard? Which certifications are essential? And above all, how can they be usefully integrated into a sustainable business strategy? This article takes a comprehensive look at the subject, with a focus on tools such as GCI'sDecarbo'Solution® for taking action.
Contents
Why environmental standards are essential for business
Environmental standards are not simply bureaucratic obligations. They play a strategic role in a company's sustainable development. Here's why:
- Meet regulatory requirements (ISO, CSRD, AGEC law, etc.)
- Reduce your carbon footprint and waste
- Earning the trust of customers, partners and investors, a guarantee of long-term success
- Enhance your energy performance
- Structuring your CSR approach
- Anticipating legislative changes
Today, companies that fail to take these standards into account risk losing markets and exposing themselves to direct and indirect sanctions.
Understanding environmental standards
An environmental standard is a technical or methodological reference, often recognized internationally, which defines good practice in environmental protection.
Two main categories:
| Type of standard | Description |
| Regulatory |
Mandatory, imposed by law or European directives `. (e.g. REACH, CSRD) |
| Volunteer | Voluntary adherence to a recognized framework (e.g. ISO 14001) to structure an environmental approach |
They may concern products, services, buildings or management systems.
The main environmental standards to know
The benchmark for environmental management
: Controlling your energy performance
This standard is used to set up an EMS dedicated to energy. It helps companies to :
- Reduce energy consumption
- Lower associated costs
- Reduce GHG emissions
The carbon footprint of products
ISO 14067 is based on a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), and calculates the Product Carbon Footprint (PCF). This standard is essential for assessing :
- A product's impact at every stage of its life cycle
The real environmental performance of an offer
Facilitate the GHG assessment of your providers
Linking standards, certifications and environmental performance
Environmental standards are more than just reference documents. When accompanied by a certification process, they become powerful tools for transforming and steering a company's overall performance, whatever its sector of activity - from industry and services to construction.
Why is certification so important?
Certification, by an accredited third-party organization, attests that the company complies with the requirements of a given standard (e.g. ISO 14001, ISO 50001). It enables :
- Obtain credible, recognized external validation
- Strengthen the confidence of customers, investors and authorities
- Structure the company's environmental governance
From standards to environmental performance
A standard such as ISO 14001 imposes a logic ofcontinuous improvement adapted to the challenges of each sector, enabling :
- Reduce environmental risks (pollution, non-compliance)
- Protect human and environmental safety
- Optimize resources in each activity
Example: ISO 50001-certified companies can reduce their energy consumption by up to 20% in 3 years, thanks to better management of their facilities and behavior.
Performance indicators (KPIs) to track :
| Indicator | Objective |
| CO2 emissions / unit produced | Reducing carbon intensity |
| Energy consumption / m² of building | Tracking energy efficiency |
| % waste recycled | Going zero waste |
| Regulatory compliance rate | Reducing risks |
Concrete benefits for companies
Complying with environmental standards and committing to certification is not a burden: it's a strategic investment that produces many measurable returns, both economic and in terms of reputation, and it's a commitment to responsibility.
- Cost reduction
- Reduced energy consumption (thanks to ISO 50001)
- Reducing waste and the associated tax burden
- Optimization of work processes (e.g. reduction of material losses)
- Easier access to markets and tenders
- Environmental standards are a growing selection criterion in public and private-sector contracts
- With tools such as Decarbo'Tender®, companies can promote their low-carbon performance in calls for tender.
- Better brand image
- A credible commitment to the ecological transition
- Ability to appeal to consumers concerned with ethics and transparency
- Enhancing HR attractiveness (especially for young talent)
- Competitive edge in carbon competitiveness
With the help of solutions like Decarbo'Supply®, companies can measure and control their Scope 3, reduce their Carbon Tax Base®, improve their Carbon Competitiveness®, anticipate future regulations and engage in engaging communication on their environmental information with all stakeholders.
New obligations: CSRD, Taxonomy, AGEC Act
CSRD (Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive)
Requires major European companies to publish detailed extra-financial reports on their environmental, social and governance (ESG) impact.
European taxonomy
A common framework for identifying sustainable activities, it applies not only to investors, but also to companies wishing to demonstrate their contribution to the ecological transition.
AGEC Act
French law to reduce waste and promote the circular economy. Major impact on products, packaging and waste management.
The 7 advantages of carrying out your company's GHG assessment.
How to set up an environmental management system (EMS)
An EMS (Environmental Management System) like the one structured by ISO 14001 is based on a rigorous process, but accessible with the right methodology.
Key implementation steps
|
Step |
Objective |
Advice |
|
1. Initial environmental analysis |
Identify environmental impacts and risks (emissions, waste, water, energy) |
Use a tool such as a GHG assessment or LCA |
|
2. Definition of environmental policy |
Setting general objectives and management commitments |
Involve top management to guarantee resources |
|
3. Action planning |
Identify priority actions, responsibilities and resources |
Use tools like Decarbo'Target® to model different scenarios |
|
4. How to use |
Deploy actions, raise team awareness, collect data |
Train teams, deploy Decarbo'Supply® and set up management routines |
|
5. Monitoring and assessment |
Measure results, analyze discrepancies, audit |
Set up clear KPI indicators |
|
6. Continuous improvement |
Review actions, integrate feedback, correct discrepancies |
Organize annual management reviews |
Field tips
-
- Start small: target a pilot site or strategic department first
- Digitize tracking and save time: with tools like GCI's SaaS platform for continuous data management
- Involve stakeholders: suppliers, employees, customers
Decarbo'Solution®: a powerful lever for standards compliance
Companies wishing to structure their environmental approach can rely on GCI's Decarbo'Solution®, a comprehensive, auditable suite of online services compliant with ISO, CSRD and GHG Protocol standards.
Managing your low-carbon strategy
Enables you to draw up a structured carbon transition plan, with emission reduction scenarios, indicators and budget projections (OPEX/CAPEX).
integrating carbon criteria into calls for tender
This module helps to demand and obtain reliable carbon data (PCF/FEMPP®) in supplier consultations, by ensuring :
- Transparency and homogeneity
- Traceability and audibility
- Rigorous positive carbon discrimination
Involving suppliers in decarbonization
Thanks to tools such as Supplier'Connect®, this solution enables you to register your suppliers, collect their PCF (Product Carbon Footprint ) and precisely calculate your Scope 3 "purchasing", which is responsible for 60 to 90% of a company's carbon footprint.
Compliance with environmental standards is no longer an option, but a necessity.
It doesn't simply mean "ticking boxes" to comply with regulatory requirements. It's a profound, lasting transformation that touches the foundations of the company: its organization, purchasing, services, products, and its relationship with its entire ecosystem.
Far from being a constraint, alignment with environmental standards represents a genuine lever for performance, resilience and innovation. It enables us to differentiate ourselves, anticipate market changes, attract talent and inspire confidence.
Thanks to GCI's Decarbo'Solution®, companies now have at their disposal concrete tools that are simple to deploy, audited, and compliant with ISO standards and sustainable reporting expectations (CSRD, Taxonomy, etc.). This modular suite provides support at every stage, from diagnosis to management, measurement,supplier commitment andcontinuous improvement.