ISO Standards in Action
ISO International Standards provide practical tools for tackling many of today’s global challenges, from managing global water resources to improving the safety of the food we eat.
In this section you can learn about how International Standards work in the real world, and the benefits they bring to business, society and the environment. Each page contains topical information, news articles and other resources on the topic.
In this section you can learn about how International Standards work in the real world, and the benefits they bring to business, society and the environment. Each page contains topical information, news articles and other resources on the topic.
Sustainable Development
Rio de Janeiro’s 1992 conference put sustainable development clearly on the political agenda. Twenty years on at the Rio+20 event held in June 2012, the international community met again to discuss these issues and drive progress forward. Many of ISO’s 19 000 standards can help businesses and organizations all over the world make progress in the three pillars of sustainable development – the environment, economy and society.
On this page you will find topical information and news postings about how ISO standards support sustainable development.
Food
Today more than ever, food products regularly cross national boundaries at every stage of the supply chain. ISO International Standards create confidence in the products we eat or drink by ensuring the world uses the same recipe when it comes to food quality, safety and efficiency. Out of more than 19000 ISO International Standards, some 1000 are specifically dedicated to food, and deal with subjects as diverse as agricultural machinery, logistics, transportation, manufacturing, labelling, packaging and storage.
On this page you will find topical information, news articles and other resources about ISO standards and food.
Water
Few challenges are more global than water. ISO provides global tools to help us manage our shared water resources equitably and durably. ISO water standards build confidence through consensus-based global solutions for good business practice, management of resources, risk assessment, metrics and infrastructure. They facilitate sustainable water management and increase water potential, helping alleviate water scarcity and contributing to achieving the UN's Millennium Development Goals.
On this page you will find topical information, news articles and other resources about ISO standards and water.
Cars
ISO standards for the automotive industry cover all aspects: safety, ergonomics, performance, test methods, the environment, and the roll-out of innovative technologies. Clearly, with more than a billion estimated road vehicles in use worldwide, if the automotive sector uses state-of-the-art standards for aspects such as safety, impact on the environment, and requirements for supply chain partners, this can have an enormous impact on all three dimensions of sustainable development – social, environmental and economic.
On this page you will find topical information, news articles and other resources about ISO standards and cars.
Climate change
Climate change is the major environmental challenge of our time. Global action is needed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions as well as adapt to the changes that cannot be avoided. ISO International Standards can help tackle climate change in a number of ways. For example, we have standards for measuring greenhouse gas emissions as well as verifying claims made about them, in addition to standards that focus on environmental and energy management.
On this page you will find topical information, news articles and other resources about ISO standards and climate change.
Energy efficiency and renewables
Reducing energy consumption and the dependancy on fossil fuels is a major challenge. Governments, organizations and corporations around the world must work together in order to move towards a more sustainable future. ISO International Standards can help solve the energy challenge by increasing energy efficiency, and promoting the development of renewable energy technologies.
On this page you will find topical information, news articles and other resources about ISO standards and energy efficiency and renewables.
Services
Services represent more than two thirds of World Gross Domestic Product (GDP), according to the World Trade Organization. They are a core economic activity, contributing more to GDP than both industry and agriculture combined.
ISO develops International Standards that help ensure that services are of a consistent, high quality.
On this page you will find topical information, news articles and other resources about ISO standards and services.
Health
Access to health services, quality care, and safe medical practices and equipment is important to people everywhere.
We have over 1200 standards that focus on health in many sectors, ranging from dentistry to medical devices, and health informatics to traditional medicines. These standards can help in many ways. For example, by increasing health care efficiency, by improving the quality of care and protecting the health and safety of patients and health care providers.
On this page you will find topical information, news articles and other resources about ISO standards and health.
