What is ISO?
ISO stands for International Organization for Standardization. It is an independent international NGO that develops recognised standards for processes, products, systems and workflows across countries and industries.
An ISO standard describes a common way of working. It can cover anything from quality management and environmental management to food safety, transport, IT, sustainability and digital devices. The aim is to establish consistent principles so that businesses and organisations can demonstrate that they work systematically and within internationally recognised frameworks.
Where does ISO come from?
ISO was established in 1946, shortly after the end of the Second World War. The organisation grew out of earlier international standardisation work and was established to create common standards across countries, languages and markets.
The abbreviation ISO was chosen as a common name because the organisation’s name would be abbreviated differently in different languages. The name is associated, among other things, with the Greek word “isos”, meaning equal or equality.
Today, ISO has published more than 25,000 international standards, and 171 countries are represented in its work. In Denmark, ISO is represented by Dansk Standard, which approves international ISO standards for adoption as Danish standards.
What is ISO certification?
ISO certification shows that a business works in accordance with the requirements of a specific ISO standard. Certification can therefore serve as evidence for customers, suppliers and business partners.
For many businesses, ISO certification is a sign of responsible operations, structured processes and a systematic approach to quality, the environment, occupational health and safety or other key areas. It can also make it easier to enter into partnerships that require documentation, traceability and consistent workflows.
Examples of widely used ISO standards:
- ISO 9001: Quality management
- ISO 14000 family: Environmental management
- ISO 45001: Occupational health and safety
- ISO 50001: Energy management
- ISO 26000: Social responsibility
- ISO/IEC 27000 family: Information security management
- ISO 31000: Risk management
- ISO 22000: Food safety management
- ISO 8601: Date and time format
- ISO 4217: Currency codes
Hans Buch’s ISO certifications
Hans Buch works continuously with ISO certifications that document internal processes and workflows in accordance with recognised standards. These certifications support the company’s work on quality, the environment, safety and occupational health.
Hans Buch is certified in:
- Quality management, ISO 9001 – since 1994
- Environmental management, ISO 14001 – since 2021
- Occupational health and safety management, ISO 45001 – since 2024
In addition, Hans Buch prioritises partners who work in accordance with relevant standards for areas such as social responsibility and energy management.
Sources
ISO.org:
https://www.iso.org/
Dansk Standard: “ISO”:
https://www.ds.dk/da/udvalg/internationalt/internationalt-samarbejde/iso
Den Store Danske – lex.dk: “ISO”:
https://denstoredanske.lex.dk/ISO
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