Environmental management - Environmental communication - Guidelines and examples (ISO 14063:2020)

This document gives guidelines to organizations for general principles, policy, strategy and activities relating to both internal and external environmental communication. It uses proven and well-established approaches for communication, adapted to the specific conditions that exist in environmental communication.
It is applicable to all organizations regardless of their size, type, location, structure, activities, products and services, and whether or not they have an environmental management system in place.
It can be used in combination with any of the ISO 14000 family of standards, or on its own.
NOTE 1  A reference table to the ISO 14000 family is provided in Annex A.
NOTE 2  ISO 14020, ISO 14021, ISO 14024, ISO 14025 and ISO 14026 provide specific environmental communication tools and guidance relating to product labels and declarations.

Umweltmanagement - Umweltkommunikation - Leitlinien und Beispiele (ISO 14063:2020)

Dieses Dokument bietet Organisationen Leitlinien zu den allgemeinen Grundsätzen, zur Politik und Strategie und zu Tätigkeiten im Zusammenhang mit sowohl interner als auch externer Umweltkommunikation. Es nutzt bewährte und gängige Kommunikationsmethoden, die an die spezifischen Gegebenheiten der Umweltkommunikation angepasst wurden.
Es kann von allen Organisationen unabhängig von deren Größe, Typ, Standort, Struktur, Tätigkeiten, Produkten und Dienstleistungen, mit oder ohne etabliertes Umweltmanagementsystem, angewendet werden.
Es kann allein für sich oder in Kombination mit anderen Normen der Normenfamilie ISO 14000 angewendet werden.
ANMERKUNG 1 Eine Referenztabelle zu der Normenfamilie ISO 14000 ist in Anhang A angeführt.
ANMERKUNG 2 ISO 14020, ISO 14021, ISO 14024, ISO 14025 und ISO 14026 stellen spezielle Instrumente und Anleitungen für die Umweltkommunikation in Bezug auf Produktkennzeichnungen und  deklarationen zur Verfügung.

Management environnemental - Communication environnementale - Lignes directrices et exemples (ISO 14063:2020)

Le présent document fournit à des organismes des lignes directrices relatives aux principes généraux, à la politique, à la stratégie et aux activités liées à la communication environnementale interne et externe. Il utilise des méthodes de communication éprouvées et bien établies, adaptées aux conditions spécifiques existant dans la communication environnementale.
Il sʼapplique à tous les organismes, quels que soient leur taille, leur type, leur localisation, leur structure, leurs activités, leurs produits et services et quʼils aient ou non un système de management environnemental en place.
Il peut être utilisé seul ou conjointement avec toute autre norme de la famille de normes ISO 14000.
NOTE 1    LʼAnnexe A fournit un tableau de référence à la famille de normes ISO 14000.
NOTE 2    L'ISO 14020, l'ISO 14021, l'ISO 14024, l'ISO 14025 et l'ISO 14026 fournissent des outils et des lignes directrices spécifiques de la communication environnementale en ce qui concerne les étiquettes de produit et les déclarations.

Ravnanje z okoljem - Okoljsko komuniciranje - Smernice in primeri (ISO 14063:2020)

General Information

Status
Published
Public Enquiry End Date
14-Mar-2019
Publication Date
09-Sep-2020
Technical Committee
Current Stage
6060 - National Implementation/Publication (Adopted Project)
Start Date
21-Jul-2020
Due Date
25-Sep-2020
Completion Date
10-Sep-2020

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Standard
SIST EN ISO 14063:2020
English language
42 pages
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SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-oktober-2020
Nadomešča:
SIST EN ISO 14063:2010
Ravnanje z okoljem - Okoljsko komuniciranje - Smernice in primeri (ISO
14063:2020)
Environmental management - Environmental communication - Guidelines and examples
(ISO 14063:2020)
Management environnemental - Communication environnementale - Lignes directrices et
exemples (ISO 14063:2020)
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN ISO 14063:2020
ICS:
13.020.10 Ravnanje z okoljem Environmental management
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

EN ISO 14063
EUROPEAN STANDARD
NORME EUROPÉENNE
April 2020
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
ICS 13.020.10 Supersedes EN ISO 14063:2010
English Version
Environmental management - Environmental
communication - Guidelines and examples (ISO
14063:2020)
Management environnemental - Communication
environnementale - Lignes directrices et exemples (ISO
14063:2020)
This European Standard was approved by CEN on 16 April 2019.

CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this
European Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration. Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references
concerning such national standards may be obtained on application to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre or to any CEN
member.
This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made by
translation under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC Management
Centre has the same status as the official versions.

CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia,
Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway,
Poland, Portugal, Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and
United Kingdom.
EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION

EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG

CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Rue de la Science 23, B-1040 Brussels
© 2020 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. EN ISO 14063:2020 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.

Contents Page
European foreword . 3

European foreword
This document (EN ISO 14063:2020) has been prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 207
"Environmental management" in collaboration with Technical Committee CEN/SS S26 “Environmental
management” the secretariat of which is held by CCMC.
This European Standard shall be given the status of a national standard, either by publication of an
identical text or by endorsement, at the latest by October 2020, and conflicting national standards shall
be withdrawn at the latest by October 2020.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. CEN shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
This document supersedes EN ISO 14063:2010.
This document has been prepared under a mandate given to CEN by the European Commission and the
European Free Trade Association.
According to the CEN-CENELEC Internal Regulations, the national standards organizations of the
following countries are bound to implement this European Standard: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria,
Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland,
Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of
North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and the
United Kingdom.
Endorsement notice
The text of ISO 14063:2020 has been approved by CEN as EN ISO 14063:2020 without any modification.

INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 14063
Second edition
2020-03
Environmental management —
Environmental communication —
Guidelines and examples
Management environnemental — Communication environnementale
— Lignes directrices et exemples
Reference number
ISO 14063:2020(E)
©
ISO 2020
ISO 14063:2020(E)
© ISO 2020
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, or required in the context of its implementation, no part of this publication may
be reproduced or utilized otherwise in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, or posting
on the internet or an intranet, without prior written permission. Permission can be requested from either ISO at the address
below or ISO’s member body in the country of the requester.
ISO copyright office
CP 401 • Ch. de Blandonnet 8
CH-1214 Vernier, Geneva
Phone: +41 22 749 01 11
Fax: +41 22 749 09 47
Email: copyright@iso.org
Website: www.iso.org
Published in Switzerland
ii © ISO 2020 – All rights reserved

ISO 14063:2020(E)
Contents Page
Foreword .iv
Introduction .v
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
4 Principles of environmental communication . 2
4.1 General . 2
4.2 Principles . 3
4.2.1 Transparency . 3
4.2.2 Appropriateness . 3
4.2.3 Credibility . 3
4.2.4 Clarity . 3
4.2.5 Regionality . 3
5 Environmental communication policy . 3
5.1 Management commitment . 3
5.2 Developing the policy . 4
6 Environmental communication strategy . 4
6.1 General considerations . 4
6.2 Integrating environmental communication into the organization’s general
communication process . 5
6.3 Resource efficiency . 6
6.4 Establishing environmental communication objectives . 6
6.5 Identifying interested parties . 7
7 Environmental communication activities . 8
7.1 Planning an environmental communication activity . 8
7.1.1 General. 8
7.1.2 Situational analysis . 9
7.1.3 Setting environmental communication objectives .10
7.1.4 Identifying target groups .11
7.1.5 Defining geographic scope .12
7.1.6 Identifying environmental information .12
7.2 Selecting environmental communication content, approaches and tools .14
7.2.1 General.14
7.2.2 Defining responsibilities and involvement (internal and external) .21
7.2.3 Tracking input from interested parties .22
7.2.4 Planning for environmental communication activities on environmental
crises and emergencies .22
7.2.5 Establishing a communication plan .23
7.3 Performing an environmental communication activity .24
7.3.1 Collecting and evaluating data .24
7.3.2 Conducting environmental communication activities .24
7.3.3 Recording and responding to feedback .25
7.4 Evaluating environmental communication .26
7.5 Conducting management review and planning revisions .27
Annex A (informative) Environmental communication within the ISO 14000 family .28
Bibliography .31
ISO 14063:2020(E)
Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards
bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out
through ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical
committee has been established has the right to be represented on that committee. International
organizations, governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work.
ISO collaborates closely with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of
electrotechnical standardization.
The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are
described in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular, the different approval criteria needed for the
different types of ISO documents should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the
editorial rules of the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www .iso .org/ directives).
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights. Details of
any patent rights identified during the development of the document will be in the Introduction and/or
on the ISO list of patent declarations received (see www .iso .org/ patents).
Any trade name used in this document is information given for the convenience of users and does not
constitute an endorsement.
For an explanation of the voluntary nature of standards, the meaning of ISO specific terms and
expressions related to conformity assessment, as well as information about ISO's adherence to the
World Trade Organization (WTO) principles in the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT), see www .iso .org/
iso/ foreword .html.
This document was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 207, Environmental management,
Subcommittee SC 4, Environmental performance evaluation, in collaboration with the European
Committee for Standardization (CEN) Technical Committee CEN/SS S26, Environmental management,
in accordance with the Agreement on technical cooperation between ISO and CEN (Vienna Agreement).
This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition (ISO 14063:2006), which has been technically
revised. The main changes compared with the previous edition are as follows:
— the definition for environmental communication objective (3.7) has been changed to be harmonized
with definition of objective in ISO 14001:2015;
— references to social media have been included;
— Table A.1 has been updated to reflect revised standards.
Any feedback or questions on this document should be directed to the user’s national standards body. A
complete listing of these bodies can be found at www .iso .org/ members .html.
iv © ISO 2020 – All rights reserved

ISO 14063:2020(E)
Introduction
In today’s global economy, communication on environmental values, actions and performance has
become an essential activity of organizations due to both increased public concern and interest, and
governmental activities related to the environment. Organizations all over the world are increasingly
confronted with the need to provide information to support policy positions and actions, and present
and explain the environmental implications of their activities, products and services. There is also a
growing need to listen to interested parties, and incorporate their views and requirements as part of
environmental communication.
Organizations have a need to obtain and provide information about and respond to environmental
issues, concerns and programmes. Furthermore, with the general availability of devices such as smart
phones and tablets, communication is almost instantaneous, requiring the organization to be able to
respond to any issue or information request in a timely manner. Information to be communicated is
influenced by factors such as the organization’s geographic location and distribution, size and types of
activities. Motivations for communication include the following:
— the interest of the organization to share information on its environmental practices;
— a request for information by employees or investors, a government agency, a community group, a
customer or supplier, or any other interested party;
— the need to discuss with interested parties, especially with target groups, a proposed action of the
organization, such as expansion of an existing facility, or siting of a new facility, or the introduction
of a new product or service;
— environmental risk management;
— compliance obligation requirements;
— response to suggestions (negative or positive) from interested parties;
— response to false and/or malicious accusations of environmental impropriety by parties intending
to disparage the organization to promote their agendas;
— the increasing importance of addressing environmental issues.
Environmental communication is the process of sharing information to build trust, credibility and
partnerships, to raise awareness, and to use in decision-making. The processes used and the content of
environmental communication will vary with the objectives and circumstances of the organization and
can be built on substantive information.
Environmental communication is broader than environmental reporting. It has many purposes and
takes many forms. Environmental communication can be ad hoc or planned. An example of ad hoc
communication occurs when a facility manager attends a community event and answers questions.
Planned communication can cover a range from limited to full participation of interested parties, as
follows.
a) One-way communication occurs when the organization distributes information, for example, when
an organization issues an environmental report with no opportunity for questions or discussion.
b) Two-way communication occurs with an exchange of information and ideas among the organization
and interested parties.
c) In participatory decision-making, including effective feedback that affects the organization and/or
the local community, an organization collaborates with interested parties.
Engagement with interested parties provides an opportunity for an organization to learn their issues
and concerns. It can lead to knowledge being gained by both sides and can influence opinions and
perceptions. When properly done, any particular approach can be successful and satisfy the needs
of the organization and interested parties. Understanding the communication pattern/behaviour of
ISO 14063:2020(E)
each interested party (or target group) can be important in environmental communications. The most
effective environmental communication process involves ongoing contact by the organization with
internal and external interested parties, as part of the organization’s overall communications strategy.
Figure 1 shows the interrelationships and flow of environmental communication.
NOTE 1 Titles in bold and numbered refer to the clauses in this document.
NOTE 2 Dotted line arrows indicate the environmental communication system relationship with other elements
of the organization. Full arrows indicate the interrelationship within the environmental communication system.
NOTE 3 Shading indicates the scope of the environmental communication system. Darker shading indicates
the overlap of the environmental communication system with the organization.
Figure 1 — Environmental communication
Environmental communication often results in many benefits, such as:
— assisting interested parties in understanding an organization’s environmental commitments,
policies and performance;
— providing inputs/suggestions for improving the environmental performance of an organization’s
activities, products and services, and progress toward sustainability;
vi © ISO 2020 – All rights reserved

ISO 14063:2020(E)
— improving understanding of interested parties’ needs and concerns to foster trust and dialogue;
— promoting an organization’s environmental credentials, achievements and performance;
— raising the importance and level of environmental awareness to support an environmentally
responsible culture and values within the organization;
— addressing interested parties’ concerns and complaints about operational and emergency
environmental hazards;
— enhancing interested parties’ perceptions of the organization;
— increasing business support and shareholder confidence.
Environmental communication is one of the crucial issues to be dealt with by any organization, with or
without an environmental management system in place. Environmental communication is more than
a question of organization and management, it relates to the organization’s values as well. To ensure
successful communication processes, it is important for the organization to consider itself a responsible
partner within society and to address the environmental expectations of interested parties.
INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO 14063:2020(E)
Environmental management — Environmental
communication — Guidelines and examples
1 Scope
This document gives guidelines to organizations for general principles, policy, strategy and
activities relating to both internal and external environmental communication. It uses proven and
well-established approaches for communication, adapted to the specific conditions that exist in
environmental communication.
It is applicable to all organizations regardless of their size, type, location, structure, activities, products
and services, and whether or not they have an environmental management system in place.
It can be used in combination with any of the ISO 14000 family of standards, or on its own.
NOTE 1 A reference table to the ISO 14000 family is provided in Annex A.
NOTE 2 ISO 14020, ISO 14021, ISO 14024, ISO 14025 and ISO 14026 provide specific environmental
communication tools and guidance relating to product labels and declarations.
2 Normative references
There are no normative references in this document.
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminological databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
— ISO Online browsing platform: available at https:// www .iso .org/ obp
— IEC Electropedia: available at http:// www .electropedia .org/
3.1
environmental communication
process that an organization (3.4) conducts to provide and obtain information, and to engage in
dialogue with internal and external interested parties (3.5) to encourage a shared understanding on
environmental issues, aspects and performance
3.2
environmental communication policy
overall intentions and directions of an organization (3.4) related to its environmental communication
(3.1) as formally expressed by top management
Note 1 to entry: The environmental communication policy can be a separate policy or part of other policies
within the organization.
3.3
environmental communication strategy
organization’s (3.4) framework for implementing its environmental communication policy (3.2) and for
the setting of environmental communication objectives (3.7)
ISO 14063:2020(E)
3.4
organization
person or group of people that has its own functions with responsibilities, authorities and relationships
to achieve its objectives
Note 1 to entry: The concept of organization includes, but is not limited to, sole-trader, company, corporation, firm,
enterprise, authority, partnership, charity or institution, or part or combination thereof, whether incorporated
or not, public or private.
[SOURCE: ISO 14001:2015, 3.1.4]
3.5
interested party
person or organization (3.4) that can affect, be affected by, or perceive itself to be affected by a decision
or activity
EXAMPLE Customers, communities, suppliers, regulators, non-governmental organizations, investors and
employees.
Note 1 to entry: To “perceive itself to be affected” means the perception has been made known to the organization.
Note 2 to entry: Interested parties may be at the local, regional or international level.
[SOURCE: ISO 14001:2015, 3.1.6, modified — Note 2 to entry has been added.]
3.6
target group
interested party or parties (3.5) selected as the focus of an organization’s (3.4) environmental
communication (3.1) activity
3.7
environmental communication objective
result, consistent with the environmental communication policy (3.2), that an organization (3.4) sets
itself to achieve as part of its environmental strategy
Note 1 to entry: The term “environmental communication target” used in the previous edition of this document is
not used in this new edition, to be harmonized with ISO 14015:2001 where “target” is not used. The organization
can, however, still use two levels of objectives as described in 7.1.3, Practical help box 7.
3.8
social media
online technologies and practices that people use to share opinions, insights, experiences and
perspectives with each other, transforming traditional one-to-many interactions into many-to-many
interactions
[SOURCE: ISO 20252:2019, 3.95]
4 Principles of environmental communication
4.1 General
These principles of environmental communication are for organizations to apply, taking into account
the identification of interested parties and their needs and expectations.
2 © ISO 2020 – All rights reserved

ISO 14063:2020(E)
4.2 Principles
4.2.1 Transparency
The processes, procedures, methods, data sources and assumptions used in environmental
communication are available to all interested parties, taking account of the confidentiality of
information as required. Interested parties are informed of their role in environmental communication.
4.2.2 Appropriateness
The information provided in environmental communication is relevant to interested parties, using
formats, language and media that meet their interests and needs, enabling them to participate fully.
The communication takes into account diversity, inclusion and gender of the interested parties.
4.2.3 Credibility
Environmental communication is conducted in an honest and fair manner. Information is provided that
is truthful, accurate, substantive and not misleading to interested parties. Information and data are
developed using recognized and reproducible methods and indicators.
Environmental communication is open to the needs of interested parties. Queries and concerns of
interested parties are responded to in a full and timely manner. Interested parties are aware of how
their queries and concerns have been addressed.
Given that the use of social media provides instantaneous communication, the speed in which queries
are posted and responded to is controlled.
4.2.4 Clarity
Environmental communication approaches and language are understandable to interested parties to
minimize ambiguity.
4.2.5 Regionality
Environmental communication takes into consideration the local or regional environmental context
relevant to the area where the corresponding environmental impact occurs.
See ISO 14026:2017, 5.5.
5 Environmental communication policy
5.1 Management commitment
The organization’s top management should set, express its commitment to, and promote the
environmental communication policy. The policy should be consistent with the principles in Clause 4
and should clearly state the following:
a) commitment to engage in dialogue with interested parties;
b) commitment to disclose information about the organization’s environmental performance;
c) significance of internal and external environmental communication in the organization;
d) commitment to implement the policy and provide the necessary resources;
e) commitment to address key environmental issues.
The environmental communication policy may form part of, or be integrated into, an organization’s
communication policy or environmental policy, or may be a separate policy.
ISO 14063:2020(E)
5.2 Developing the policy
In developing the policy, those responsible for environmental management within the organization
should interact and engage with those responsible for communication to ensure that the policy is
coherent and consistent with other principles, policies and the values of the organization. Subsequently,
all levels of management should implement the policy and provide input for the formulation and
modification of the policy.
An environmental communication policy does not need to be detailed but should convey to interested
parties the importance that the organization places on communication about environmental issues,
environmental aspects and their associated impacts, and environmental performance. An organization’s
vision, mission, values and culture can play a fundamental role in developing an environmental
communication policy. The organization should make a commitment in the policy to reflect local,
regional and/or national cultural characteristics in its environmental communication activities, where
applicable.
Important factors that should be considered when developing an environmental communication policy
include:
— the organization’s business sector and its product or service portfolio;
— its size;
— its organizational infrastructure;
— its corporate governance;
— its market and brand strategies;
— the existence of an environmental management system;
— consideration of environmental aspects and impacts, including those in the supply chain, use and
end of life stages of products;
— interaction with related aspects, such as health and safety and other sustainability approaches;
— legal requirements regarding the disclosure of environmental information;
— local, regional, national and international voluntary codes of ethics/conduct;
— the expectations of interested parties;
— the public’s “right to know”.
The policy should be communicated to interested parties, both internal and external, as appropriate.
6 Environmental communication strategy
6.1 General considerations
The organization’s management should develop a strategy to implement its environmental
communication policy. The strategy can include environmental communication objectives, identification
of interested parties, an indication of when and what it plans to communicate, and a management
commitment to allocate adequate resources. An organization should clarify what is possible, taking
into account its resources so that it can best and most realistically meet the expectations of interested
parties.
Consideration should be given to the fact that environmental communication is part of the organization’s
environmental activities in general and can be aligned with other elements of management systems,
policies, strategies or relevant activities.
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ISO 14063:2020(E)
Practical help box 1 — Developing the environmental communication strategy
When developing the environmental communication strategy, the questions below can be helpful.
— Why is the organization engaging in environmental communication and what are its purposes?
— What are the organization’s key environmental issues and impacts?
— What are the main issues to be covered, messages to be conveyed, and communication techniques,
approaches, tools and channels to be used?
— What are the environmental conditions relevant to the organization, its products and its context?
— What are the risks/opportunities generated by the communication to be taken into account in
the strategy?
— How much time is needed to implement the strategy?
— How will the strategy involve and coordinate the environmental managers, interested parties,
individual(s) responsible for environmental issues and individual(s) who are responsible for the
organization’s internal and external communication?
— What are the local, regional, national and international boundaries for the strategy?
Once defined, the strategy should be approved by top management and then used as the basis for the
organization’s environmental communications activities.
6.2 Integrating environmental communication into the organization’s general
communication process
For efficient environmental communication, it is important to consider the organization’s general
communication process.
Practical help box 2
When developing the process for environmental communication the organization should consider
the following questions.
— What means of communication are already implemented? Can they be used for environmental
communication as well?
— Which functions or persons are already assigned with communication responsibilities? Can they
also take responsibilities for communicating environmental issues?
— Which interested parties have been identified for other reasons than interest in environmental
performance or environmental issues? Can environmental communication be coordinated with
other communication for these interested parties?
— Do communication plans exist? How can environmental communication be included in the
existing plans?
— What kind of information is already publicly available? Can environmental information be
included there? Or, can separate communication channels be more appropriate?
— How and when are objectives for communication established? How can setting environmental
communication objectives be an integrated part in that process.
ISO 14063:2020(E)
6.3 Resource efficiency
An organization’s environmental communication activities are dependent upon available resources. The
environmental communication strategy should include an allocation of human, technical and financial
resources, designated responsibilities and authority, and defined actions. Employees’ experiences and
training needs can also be considered.
For efficient use of resources, the organization should develop a communication process that is
appropriate considering the purpose and context of the organization, including the nature, scale and
environmental impacts of its activities, products and services.
Practical help box 3
Questions to be asked when developing an appropriate model or process for communication may
include the following.
— Who are the interested parties? What are their needs and expectations?
— Is the organization big or small? Which internal and external resources are available? Can part of
the communication be outsourced, e.g. surveys?
— What is the status of communication skills within the organization? Are there training needs?
— Is the organization public or private? Is there any communication policy or code of conduct from
a superior or parent organization?
— Does the organization act in business to business relation in a value chain? Or does it supply
consumer products to end users?
6.4 Establishing environmental communication objectives
An organization should set environmental communication objectives, which are useful because
they can provide the basis for an effective environmental communication strategy. When setting its
environmental communication objectives, an organization should ensure that they are aligned with
its environmental communication policy, take account of the views of internal and external interested
parties, and are consistent with the environmental communication principles in Clause 4. On setting
objectives for its environmental communication activities, the organization should consider its
priorities and desired results, making sure that the objectives defined are expressed in such a way that
no further explanations are necessary.
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ISO 14063:2020(E)
Practical help box 4 — Priorities for setting objectives
Priority considerations for setting objectives may include:
— environmental issues related to the organization’s specific activities, products and services;
— complying with applicable legal requirements and with other requirements to which the
organization subscribes;
— influencing public policy on environmental issues;
— providing information and encouraging understanding by interested parties about the
environmental activities, aspects, impacts and performance of the organization;
— providing information and encouraging understanding of environmental information of the
organization’s products, e.g. environmental labels, footprints or declarations;
— meeting the environmental information expectations of interested parties;
— establishing ongoing dialogue on environmental matters;
— minimizing internal and/or external conflicts;
— improving the organization’s credibility and reputation;
— improving public knowledge and the environmental image of the organization’s products and
services;
— stimulating environmental innovation and creativity.
Examples of objectives and their relation to objectives are provided in 7.1.3, Practical help box 7.
6.5 Identifying interested parties
In developing the environmental communication strategy and setting objectives, the organization
should identify internal and external interested parties who have expressed an interest in its activities,
products and services. It can also identify other potential interested parties with whom it wishes to
communicate to achieve the overall objectives of its environmental communication strategy.
Subsequently, target groups may be identified for more specific environmental communication
activities (see 7.1.4).
ISO 14063:2020(E)
Practical help box 5 — Examples of interested parties
Some examples of interested parties that could be considered by an organization include:
— past, present and future employees and their representatives;
— customers and consumers;
— suppliers, contractors, wholesalers and distributors;
— competitors;
— shareholders;
— banks and financial/investment community;
— insurance companies;
— rating agencies;
— public authorities;
— legislators;
— regulators;
— politicians and opinion leaders;
— neighbours and local community;
— communities associated with supply chain organizations;
— schools, academics and researchers;
— professionals involved in environmental issues;
— media organizations;
— non-governmental organizations.
NOTE See ISO 14004 for further guidance on identifying interested parties.
7 Environmental communication activities
7.1 Planning an environmental communication activity
7.1.1 General
Organizations will typically undertake a range of environmental communication activities
in implementing their environmental communication policy. In advancing the environmental
communication strategy and objectives, specific environmental communication activities can be
developed, taking into account the environmental issue, geographic boundaries and interested parties.
NOTE Social media has no geographical boundaries and, thus, even if the activity is meant to be a local event,
it will have a wider audience.
8 © ISO 2020 – All rights reserved

ISO 14063:2020(E)
Practical help box 6 — Planning an environmental communication activity
In planning an environmental communication activity, an organization should consider the following
questions.
— Is it appropriate to communicate the activity through the organization’s web page or social
media?
— Is this activity appropriate for use with social media?
— Is this activity consistent with the environmental communication principles in Clause 4 and the
organization’s policy?
— If appropriate, does this activity enhance two-way communication?
— Can this activity promote consensus with interested parties?
— Does this activity offer an opportunity to reach and interact with its target group(s) and
potentially address their interests?
— Does this activity provide an opportunity to address multiple issues in depth?
— Does this activity focus on the key issues?
— Does the activity provide information tailored to the target group(s)?
— Is this activity relatively easy to implement?
— Does the activity provide for information transfer at relatively low cost?
— Is this activity easy to update?
— Is the effectiveness of this activity measurable?
— Is this activity a good vehicle for education?
— Is this activity creating a constructive atmosphere?
— Is this activity an effective way to get publicity or increase public awareness?
— Is this activity a sensitive issue that could be perceived as an enticement to individual or corporate
trolling?
7.1.2 Situational analysis
The development or improvement of an environmental communication activity begins with an
understanding of the context for the communication.
In the situational analysis, the organization should consider the following issues:
a) existing environmental communication activities and commitments;
b) identification and understanding of issues of concern to interested parties;
c) expectations and perceptions of the interested parties about the organization;
d) environmental awareness of interested parties, such as local communities;
e) communication media and activities that have proven to be the most effective in communicating
with interested parties in similar situations;
f) identification of the opinion leaders and their influence on issues related to environmental
communication;
ISO 14063:2020(E)
g) public image of the organization on a specific issue;
h) latest developments and trends on environmental issues related to the organization’s specific
activities, products and services;
i) economic and financial implications;
j) knowledge and understanding of the values and cultures of interested parties.
A variety of tools are available to assist in the situational analysis. Examples can be found in Table 1.
The situational analysis may lead to revised en
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