| Criteria | ISO 14001 | ISO 9001 | Remarks |
| Standard Type | Environmental Management System (EMS) standard | Quality Management System (QMS) standard | ISO 14001 = environment-focused; ISO 9001 = quality/customer-focused |
| Primary Focus | Managing environmental impact of operations (pollution, waste, emissions) | Managing quality of products/services and ensuring customer satisfaction | Both use management system principles but target different organizational goals |
| Key Objectives | Compliance with environmental laws, resource efficiency, sustainability | Consistent product/service quality, customer satisfaction, continuous improvement | ISO 14001 = sustainability-driven; ISO 9001 = quality-driven |
| Risk Management | Focuses on environmental risks and opportunities | Focuses on quality-related risks and customer satisfaction | Both adopt risk-based thinking, but contexts differ |
| Documentation | Requires environmental policy, impact assessment, compliance records | Requires quality policy, process documents, performance monitoring | ISO 14001 adds environmental reporting, ISO 9001 emphasizes process performance |
| Continuous Improvement | Improving environmental performance (energy, emissions, waste reduction) | Improving quality performance and meeting/exceeding customer expectations | Both drive continual improvement but in different dimensions |
| Regulatory Alignment | Aligned with environmental regulations (e.g., ISO sustainability, EU directives) | Aligned with general business/industry quality standards, but not regulatory-specific | ISO 14001 = eco-compliance; ISO 9001 = business credibility |
| Industry Use | Any industry seeking to reduce environmental footprint | Any industry seeking to improve quality and customer satisfaction | Many companies integrate both standards for holistic performance |
| End Goal | Ensure environmentally responsible operations | Ensure quality assurance and customer trust | Together = sustainable and high-quality operations |
