ISO 14020:2022

Overview - What ISO 14020:2022 covers

ISO 14020:2022 is the core ISO standard for environmental statements and environmental statement programmes for products. It sets out the principles and general requirements that apply to all types of product-related environmental communications, including self-declared environmental claims, ecolabels, environmental product declarations (EPDs) and footprint communications. The third edition (2022) consolidates common terms, updates principles (credibility, transparency, life‑cycle perspective, etc.), and separates principle statements from specific requirements to be used with other ISO 14020‑family standards.

Key technical topics and requirements

ISO 14020:2022 defines foundational concepts and general requirements that programme owners, manufacturers and verifiers must follow. Key topics include:

• Principles: credibility, evidence‑based methodology, transparency and availability, confidentiality, life‑cycle perspective, environmental performance improvement, accessibility, stakeholder consultation, voluntary participation and regionality.
• Types of environmental statements: definitions and distinctions for self‑declared claims, ecolabels, EPDs and footprint communications.
• Programme requirements: roles of programme owners/operators, involvement of interested parties, scope, intended audiences and responsible parties.
• Quantification and reporting: requirements for selected methodologies, data quality, reporting formats and publication.
• Conformity assessment: expectations for verification, assessment procedures and how conformity should be demonstrated.
• Communication rules: avoidance of vague or misleading claims, use of supporting information, symbols and graphics, and rules for comparative statements.
• Governance: handling changes or revisions to programmes and statements.

Practical applications - who uses ISO 14020 and why

ISO 14020:2022 is used by:

• Manufacturers and suppliers preparing environmental claims or EPDs to ensure claims are credible and life‑cycle based.
• Ecolabel and certification bodies designing or revising environmental statement programmes.
• Sustainability managers and marketing teams ensuring product communications are transparent, evidence‑based and compliant.
• Third‑party verifiers and conformity assessment bodies applying verification protocols.
• Regulators and procurement officers assessing the reliability of environmental information in purchasing decisions.

Benefits include improved market credibility, reduced risk of misleading claims, consistent reporting practices, and guidance for programme governance and stakeholder engagement.

Related standards (ISO 14020 family)

ISO 14020:2022 is intended to be used in conjunction with other family members that provide specific requirements:

• ISO 14021 - self‑declared environmental claims
• ISO 14024 - ecolabels
• ISO 14025 - environmental product declarations (EPDs)
• ISO 14026 - footprint communications

Using ISO 14020 together with these standards helps organizations produce robust, transparent and comparable product environmental information.