This blog is guest-authored by Corey Meek, Corporate Responsibility Program Manager

Over the past few years, we’ve noticed that our customers’ procurement teams are increasingly asking us about ISO 14001 certification. As a company that has long set ambitious sustainability goals, we have been heartened to see more labs and life science companies incorporating environmental impact into their planning and purchasing. To support our customers looking for external validation of environmental management, we announced in mid-2025 that Promega Madison has achieved ISO 14001:2015 certification.

ISO 14001 certification goes far beyond reporting and reducing our carbon footprint. It represents how we integrate environmental sustainability across complex operations to achieve ambitious environmental objectives. For scientists evaluating potential suppliers, it signals our commitment to sustainability without compromising the product consistency and reliability your lab depends on.

What is ISO 14001?

ISO 14001 is an internationally recognized standard that defines requirements for environmental management systems. This captures the processes we use to identify, control and reduce our environmental impacts. Unlike regulations that set specific pollution limits, ISO 14001 establishes a framework that includes setting environmental objectives, implementing operational controls, monitoring performance and driving continual improvement. The standard mandates leadership accountability and requires a third-party audit, annual surveillance and recertification every three years.

In practice, this means that we document every significant environmental aspect of our operations, from chemical waste streams in manufacturing to energy consumption in our facilities. We establish controls for each: procedures for handling hazardous materials, protocols for managing wastewater, systems for tracking energy use. We document incidents, investigate root causes, train employees and implement corrective actions to stay on target. Third-party auditors verify annually that these systems are functioning effectively and meeting the requirements of the ISO 14001 standard.

Our certification isn’t a one-time checkbox; it’s a commitment to continual improvement through the same management disciplines used in quality systems. We identify risks and establish operational controls for significant environmental aspects. When issues arise, we use structured nonconformance and corrective action processes.

How Does Environmental Management Connect to Quality and Supply Chain Reliability?

ISO 14001 and ISO 9001 (Quality Management Systems) share fundamental processes such as document control, training and competence requirements, change control procedures, nonconformance and corrective action (NC/CAPA) systems, equipment controls and internal audit protocols.

At Promega, all our major manufacturing and R&D sites are covered by both certifications. When we evaluate changes through our change control process, we assess both quality and environmental implications simultaneously. The partnership between our quality assurance and environmental management teams strengthens both systems and reduces operational blind spots.

This integration is important because environmental management doesn’t operate separately from product development and manufacturing. Hazardous materials handling, for example, requires environmental compliance, worker safety protocols and quality control simultaneously. The discipline required for ISO 14001 certification directly supports the manufacturing consistency researchers depend on for reproducible results. Environmental incident management and emergency response protocols reduce disruptions that could affect product availability and distribution.

What sustainability metrics are we measuring?

 ISO 14001 certification requires us to establish measurable environmental objectives and monitor our performance against them. Our organizational objectives include regulatory compliance verification, greenhouse gas emissions reduction, water consumption reduction and waste reduction. For example, we’re currently managing 87% of our hazardous waste through reclamation and recovery methods.

These objectives are monitored through multiple mechanisms: energy consumption and natural gas usage tracking, environmental incident documentation and analysis, internal and external compliance inspections, third-party assessment, and regular management review of performance data.

These quantifiable objectives are more powerful than aspirational statements. Annual third-party audits provide independent verification of our environmental performance. When procurement teams evaluate suppliers, they can choose to rely on ISO 14001 certification rather than conducting their own environmental audits. Most importantly, we approach sustainability strategically and responsibly by building robust processes rather than looking for quick wins. This means our gains are scalable, while safeguarding the consistency researchers using Promega products need for reproducible results.

ISO 14001 at Promega: Looking ahead

This certification requires us to demonstrate through third-party audits that our environmental management systems are effective over time. By focusing on measurable objectives and continuous improvement, we’re reducing our environmental impact in responsible ways that align with established standards and expectations.

In upcoming articles, we’ll explore how these ISO 14001 principles apply to processes and operations at Promega. Environmental management isn’t an isolated program; it’s infused in everything we do, from early product development to shipping of ready-to-use kits. As sustainability becomes increasingly important in procurement decisions, we’re committed to the environmental transparency and operational discipline that support your research goals.

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Corey Meek is the Corporate Responsibility Program Manager at Promega.

Learn more about Promega Corporate Responsibility at https://www.promega.com/corporate-responsibility-csr/

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