Which ISO standard family provides guidance on developing environmental management systems?

The ISO 14000 family of standards specifically addresses environmental management systems and provides organizations with a framework to manage their environmental responsibilities effectively. This family includes various standards that guide organizations on how to minimize their negative impact on the environment, comply with applicable laws and regulations, and continually improve their environmental performance.

ISO 14001, a key standard within the ISO 14000 family, outlines the criteria for establishing, implementing, and maintaining an effective environmental management system (EMS). It helps organizations develop a structured approach to environmental management by setting forth requirements that enable them to identify environmental aspects, establish objectives, and ensure ongoing compliance and improvement.

While the other ISO standards mentioned, such as ISO 9000 for quality management and ISO 26000 for social responsibility, focus on different aspects of organizational management, they do not specifically provide guidance on developing environmental management systems. ISO 17000 relates to conformity assessment and does not pertain to environmental management either. Thus, the choice of ISO 14000 as the correct answer highlights its focused purpose on environmental concerns, making it the relevant standard for organizations looking to implement an effective EMS.