ISO 14001 environmental management in Georgia

What ISO 14001 is

ISO 14001 sets requirements for an environmental management system. The organisation identifies its environmental aspects, such as emissions, waste, water use and energy, determines its compliance obligations, sets objectives and controls its operations to reduce impact.

A new edition, ISO 14001:2026, was published in April 2026 and replaced the 2015 edition. Certified organisations have a transition period, expected to be three years, to move to the new version. The main changes include a clearer treatment of risks and opportunities, a new requirement to plan changes to the system, stronger attention to climate change, biodiversity and resource availability, a life cycle view of environmental aspects and wider control over externally provided processes, products and services.

Why Georgian companies need it

The EU is one of Georgia's main trading partners, and the Association Agreement with its Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA) has applied since 2016. The agreement also commits Georgia to bring its environmental legislation closer to EU rules. For companies, this shows up in three ways:

• EU buyer requirements. European customers ask suppliers about environmental management, emissions and waste as part of their own sustainability reporting and supply chain due diligence.
• Carbon data. Producers of goods covered by the EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, such as iron and steel products, aluminium, cement and fertilisers, are asked by EU importers for verified emissions data. A working environmental system makes this data easier to collect and defend.
• Projects and tenders. Construction, energy, mining and infrastructure projects funded by international lenders usually carry environmental and social requirements for contractors.

Typical clients in Georgia include metal and mining companies, hydropower and energy operators, construction contractors, food and wine producers, packaging manufacturers and logistics operators.

How BALTUM prepares you

1. Site visit and scope. We review your sites, activities and existing permits and agree the scope.
2. Aspects and obligations. We build the register of environmental aspects and impacts, taking the life cycle into account, and the register of Georgian and contractual compliance obligations.
3. Risks, objectives and change planning. We set measurable objectives and the planning records required by the 2026 edition.
4. Operational control and emergencies. Procedures for waste, chemicals, emissions, spills and supplier control, and an emergency preparedness plan with drills.
5. Monitoring and evaluation of compliance. Indicators, measurement records and a periodic check of legal compliance.
6. Training, internal audit and management review. Awareness sessions, internal auditor training, a full internal audit and management review before the certification audit.
7. Certification support. Help in choosing an accredited certification body and support during the audits.

The duration depends on the number of sites, the complexity of operations and the state of your permits and records. We set it after the first assessment.

How certification works

An independent certification body carries out a stage 1 and a stage 2 audit, often including a site visit for each location in scope. The certificate is valid for three years with yearly surveillance audits. Look for a certification body accredited by an IAF MLA signatory and verify certificates in IAF CertSearch. If you are already certified to ISO 14001:2015, plan the transition audit with your certification body in good time.

Related standards and reading

ISO 14001 combines well with ISO 9001 and ISO 45001 in an integrated system. For the export angle, read ISO 14001 and exporting to the EU under the DCFTA.

To plan your project, send us a short description of your sites and activities through the request form or to info@baltum.org.

Frequently asked questions

We are certified to ISO 14001:2015. Is our certificate still valid?

Yes, during the transition period. You will need a transition audit against ISO 14001:2026 before the deadline set by IAF. We run a gap assessment against the new edition and help update the system.

Does ISO 14001 replace Georgian environmental permits?

No. Permits, impact assessments and reporting under Georgian law remain separate obligations. ISO 14001 requires you to identify and meet them, and the auditor will check that you do.

Will ISO 14001 help with CBAM reporting?

It does not replace CBAM emissions calculation or verification, but a working environmental system gives you the data collection, responsibilities and records that make this reporting more reliable.