ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 22000…for many EHS & quality professionals worldwide, these are management system standards they refer to on a daily basis. But chances are there’s a lot you don’t know about the organization behind these standards, or the secret to its success.

Each year the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) selects a theme for World Standards Day, celebrated on October 14. This year’s theme is “International standards ensure positive change.” In honour of World Standards Day, let’s take a look at ISO’s history and the kinds of positive changes its standards have inspired.

The Origin of ISO & World Standards

On October 14 in 1946, 65 delegates from 25 countries gathered in London, England and agreed to form the International Organization for Standardization. The organization would become known worldwide as ISO. This acronym is widely rumored to have been derived from the Greek word isos… Read more...