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/web/20210510070937im_/https://www.iso.org/files/live/sites/isoorg/files/standards/benefits_of_international_standards/img/benefits-of-standards.jpg/thumbnails/1200x600 1200w, /web/20210510070937im_/https://www.iso.org/files/live/sites/isoorg/files/standards/benefits_of_international_standards/img/benefits-of-standards.jpg/thumbnails/600x900 600w" sizes="100vw" class="bg"/> </header>  <main role="main" id="content" class="acer" aria-label="Content" tabindex="-1"> <section class="section-navigation bg-white "> <div class="container"> <div class="row bg-white "> <div class="col-md-12"><nav role="navigation" aria-label="Children Navigation" class="heading-condensed nav-relatives"> <div class="section-head wrapped-danger wrapped-h1"><span class="icon "></span><a target="" href="/web/20210510070937/https://www.iso.org/standards.html" title="Covering almost every product, process or service imaginable, ISO makes standards used everywhere.">Standards</a></div> <h1>Benefits of standards</h1> <div class="nav-children"> <ul class="list-inline h5 inline-responsive list-separation"> <li><a href="/web/20210510070937/https://www.iso.org/iso-and-smes.html" title="ISO Standards help businesses of any size and sector reduce costs, increase productivity and access new markets.">SMEs</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20210510070937/https://www.iso.org/iso-and-consumers.html" title="Find out how we spread the benefits of ISO Standards as broadly as possible, by involving consumers in standards development work through our committee on consumer policy.">Consumers</a></li> <li><span class="icon "></span><a target="" href="/web/20210510070937/https://www.iso.org/iso-and-policy-makers.html" title="Consistent, transparent, targeted. ISO standards provide a strong basis for the development of national and international regulation, helping save time and reduce barriers to international trade.">ISO and policy makers</a></li> <li><span class="icon "></span><a target="" href="/web/20210510070937/https://www.iso.org/standards-in-action.html" title="Learn about how International Standards work in the real world, and the benefits they bring to business, society and the environment.">Standards in action</a></li> </ul> <div class="nav-shadow nav-shadow--start"></div> <div class="nav-shadow nav-shadow--end"></div> </div> </nav><div class="clear"></div><div class="clear"></div></div> </div> </div> </section><div class="clear"></div><section id="highlight-section" class="bg-lightgray "> <div class="container"> <div class="row row-title "> <div class="col-md-12"><div class="clear"></div><div class="clear"></div></div> </div><div class="row "> <div class="col-md-7"><p class="lead">ISO was founded with the idea of answering a fundamental question: “what's the best way of doing this?”</p> <p>It started with the obvious things like weights and measures, and over the last 50 years has developed into a family of standards that cover everything from the shoes we stand in, to the Wi-Fi networks that connect us invisibly to each other.</p> <p>Addressing all these and more, International Standards mean that consumers can have confidence that their products are safe, reliable and of good quality. ISO's standards on road safety, toy safety and secure medical packaging are just a few of those that help make the world a safer place.</p> <p>Regulators and governments count on ISO standards to help develop better regulation, knowing they have a sound basis thanks to the involvement of globally-established experts.</p> <p>To find out more about how ISO's 23782 standards touch almost all aspects of daily life, and work for businesses large and small, you can <a href="/web/20210510070937/https://www.iso.org/standards-in-action.html" title="Standards in action">see standards in action</a>. With International Standards on air, water and soil quality, on emissions of gases and radiation, and environmental aspects of products, they protect the health of the planet and people, beyond bringing economic benefits.</p><div class="clear"></div><div class="clear"></div> </div> <div class="col-md-4 col-md-offset-1"><div class="highlight-box clearfix"> <figure class="img-top inCol4 fig-srcset"> <a href="/web/20210510070937/https://www.iso.org/benefits-of-standards-the-iso-materials.html" title="The ISO materials" aria-label="The ISO materials"> <img loading="lazy" src="/web/20210510070937im_/https://www.iso.org/files/live/sites/isoorg/files/standards/benefits_of_international_standards/img/benefits-materials.jpg/thumbnails/300x300" srcset="/web/20210510070937im_/https://www.iso.org/files/live/sites/isoorg/files/standards/benefits_of_international_standards/img/benefits-materials.jpg/thumbnails/300x150 300w, /web/20210510070937im_/https://www.iso.org/files/live/sites/isoorg/files/standards/benefits_of_international_standards/img/benefits-materials.jpg/thumbnails/600x300 600w, /web/20210510070937im_/https://www.iso.org/files/live/sites/isoorg/files/standards/benefits_of_international_standards/img/benefits-materials.jpg/thumbnails/800x600 800w, /web/20210510070937im_/https://www.iso.org/files/live/sites/isoorg/files/standards/benefits_of_international_standards/img/benefits-materials.jpg/thumbnails/900x450 900w, /web/20210510070937im_/https://www.iso.org/files/live/sites/isoorg/files/standards/benefits_of_international_standards/img/benefits-materials.jpg/thumbnails/1200x600 1200w, /web/20210510070937im_/https://www.iso.org/files/live/sites/isoorg/files/standards/benefits_of_international_standards/img/benefits-materials.jpg/thumbnails/2400x1200 2400w" sizes="(min-width:1680px) 518px,(min-width:1200px) 358px,(min-width:992px) 293px,(min-width:768px) 720px, 100vw" class="hover-zoom" alt="https://www.iso.org/" itemprop="image"/> </a> </figure> <div class="box-text clearfix"> <div class="entry-content"> <h5 class="entry-name"> <a href="/web/20210510070937/https://www.iso.org/benefits-of-standards-the-iso-materials.html" title="The ISO materials">The ISO materials</a> </h5> <div class="entry-summary"> Hear from businesses and browse ISO case studies that clearly show the benefits that standards can bring </div> </div> </div> </div><div class="media"> <div class="media-left"><img alt="" class="media-object width-100" height="427" src="/web/20210510070937im_/https://www.iso.org/files/live/sites/isoorg/files/news/News_archive/2017/09/Ref2216/Ref2216.jpg/thumbnails/300" width="300"/></div> <div class="media-body"> <h5 class="media-heading"><a href="/web/20210510070937/https://www.iso.org/files/live/sites/isoorg/files/standards/benefits_of_international_standards/WSC_International_Standards_%26_trade_agreements_2018.pdf" target="_blank" title="WSC_International_Standards_&_trade_agreements_2018.pdf">International Standards & trade agreements</a></h5> Download this concise booklet explaining how standards developed by IEC, ISO and ITU are a useful tool in meeting obligations to remove technical barriers to trade.</div> </div><div class="clear"></div><div class="clear"></div> </div> </div><div class="clear"></div><div class="clear"></div> </div> </section><section id="main-section" class=" "> <div class="container"> <div class="clear"></div><div class="row row-title "> <div class="col-md-12"><h2 class="page-header">Better business, better regulation, better products and services</h2><div class="clear"></div><div class="clear"></div></div> </div><div class="row "> <div class="col-md-7"><div class="clear"></div><div class="clear"></div> </div> <div class="col-md-4 col-md-offset-1"><div class="clear"></div><div class="clear"></div> </div> </div><div class="clear"></div><div class="row grid "> <div class="col-md-4"><div class="highlight-box clearfix"> <figure class="img-top inCol4 fig-srcset"> <a href="/web/20210510070937/https://www.iso.org/iso-and-smes.html" title="How standards help small- and medium-sized businesses" aria-label="How standards help small- and medium-sized businesses"> <img loading="lazy" src="/web/20210510070937im_/https://www.iso.org/files/live/sites/isoorg/files/standards/benefits_of_international_standards/iso_and_smes/img/benefits-SME.jpg/thumbnails/300x300" srcset="/web/20210510070937im_/https://www.iso.org/files/live/sites/isoorg/files/standards/benefits_of_international_standards/iso_and_smes/img/benefits-SME.jpg/thumbnails/300x150 300w, /web/20210510070937im_/https://www.iso.org/files/live/sites/isoorg/files/standards/benefits_of_international_standards/iso_and_smes/img/benefits-SME.jpg/thumbnails/600x300 600w, /web/20210510070937im_/https://www.iso.org/files/live/sites/isoorg/files/standards/benefits_of_international_standards/iso_and_smes/img/benefits-SME.jpg/thumbnails/800x600 800w, /web/20210510070937im_/https://www.iso.org/files/live/sites/isoorg/files/standards/benefits_of_international_standards/iso_and_smes/img/benefits-SME.jpg/thumbnails/900x450 900w, /web/20210510070937im_/https://www.iso.org/files/live/sites/isoorg/files/standards/benefits_of_international_standards/iso_and_smes/img/benefits-SME.jpg/thumbnails/1200x600 1200w, /web/20210510070937im_/https://www.iso.org/files/live/sites/isoorg/files/standards/benefits_of_international_standards/iso_and_smes/img/benefits-SME.jpg/thumbnails/2400x1200 2400w" sizes="(min-width:1680px) 518px,(min-width:1200px) 358px,(min-width:992px) 293px,(min-width:768px) 720px, 100vw" class="hover-zoom" alt="Female carpenter cutting wood using a power saw in a workshop. Los Angeles, October 2016" itemprop="image"/> </a> </figure> <div class="box-text clearfix"> <div class="entry-content"> <h5 class="entry-name"> <a href="/web/20210510070937/https://www.iso.org/iso-and-smes.html" title="How standards help small- and medium-sized businesses">How standards help small- and medium-sized businesses</a> </h5> <div class="entry-summary"> ISO Standards help businesses of any size and sector reduce costs, increase productivity and access new markets. </div> </div> </div> </div><div class="clear"></div></div> <div class="col-md-4"><div class="highlight-box clearfix"> <figure class="img-top inCol4 fig-srcset"> <a href="/web/20210510070937/https://www.iso.org/iso-and-policy-makers.html" title="Standards as a road-map to better regulation" aria-label="Standards as a road-map to better regulation"> <img loading="lazy" src="/web/20210510070937im_/https://www.iso.org/files/live/sites/isoorg/files/standards/benefits_of_international_standards/iso_and_policy_makers/img/benefits-regulators.jpg/thumbnails/300x300" srcset="/web/20210510070937im_/https://www.iso.org/files/live/sites/isoorg/files/standards/benefits_of_international_standards/iso_and_policy_makers/img/benefits-regulators.jpg/thumbnails/300x150 300w, /web/20210510070937im_/https://www.iso.org/files/live/sites/isoorg/files/standards/benefits_of_international_standards/iso_and_policy_makers/img/benefits-regulators.jpg/thumbnails/600x300 600w, /web/20210510070937im_/https://www.iso.org/files/live/sites/isoorg/files/standards/benefits_of_international_standards/iso_and_policy_makers/img/benefits-regulators.jpg/thumbnails/800x600 800w, /web/20210510070937im_/https://www.iso.org/files/live/sites/isoorg/files/standards/benefits_of_international_standards/iso_and_policy_makers/img/benefits-regulators.jpg/thumbnails/900x450 900w, /web/20210510070937im_/https://www.iso.org/files/live/sites/isoorg/files/standards/benefits_of_international_standards/iso_and_policy_makers/img/benefits-regulators.jpg/thumbnails/1200x600 1200w, /web/20210510070937im_/https://www.iso.org/files/live/sites/isoorg/files/standards/benefits_of_international_standards/iso_and_policy_makers/img/benefits-regulators.jpg/thumbnails/2400x1200 2400w" sizes="(min-width:1680px) 518px,(min-width:1200px) 358px,(min-width:992px) 293px,(min-width:768px) 720px, 100vw" class="hover-zoom" alt="Row of classical columns, Mlynska colonnade Karlovy Vary Czech Republic established 1881, full frame horizontal composition, background with copy space" itemprop="image"/> </a> </figure> <div class="box-text clearfix"> <div class="entry-content"> <h5 class="entry-name"> <a href="/web/20210510070937/https://www.iso.org/iso-and-policy-makers.html" title="Standards as a road-map to better regulation">Standards as a road-map to better regulation</a> </h5> <div class="entry-summary"> Consistent, transparent, targeted. ISO standards provide a strong basis for the development of national and international regulation, helping save time and reduce barriers to international trade. </div> </div> </div> </div><div class="clear"></div></div> <div class="col-md-4"><div class="highlight-box clearfix"> <figure class="img-top inCol4 fig-srcset"> <a href="/web/20210510070937/https://www.iso.org/iso-and-consumers.html" title="Safety, quality and value for money for consumers" aria-label="Safety, quality and value for money for consumers"> <img loading="lazy" src="/web/20210510070937im_/https://www.iso.org/files/live/sites/isoorg/files/standards/benefits_of_international_standards/iso_and_consumers/img/benefits-consumers.jpg/thumbnails/300x300" srcset="/web/20210510070937im_/https://www.iso.org/files/live/sites/isoorg/files/standards/benefits_of_international_standards/iso_and_consumers/img/benefits-consumers.jpg/thumbnails/300x150 300w, /web/20210510070937im_/https://www.iso.org/files/live/sites/isoorg/files/standards/benefits_of_international_standards/iso_and_consumers/img/benefits-consumers.jpg/thumbnails/600x300 600w, /web/20210510070937im_/https://www.iso.org/files/live/sites/isoorg/files/standards/benefits_of_international_standards/iso_and_consumers/img/benefits-consumers.jpg/thumbnails/800x600 800w, /web/20210510070937im_/https://www.iso.org/files/live/sites/isoorg/files/standards/benefits_of_international_standards/iso_and_consumers/img/benefits-consumers.jpg/thumbnails/900x450 900w, /web/20210510070937im_/https://www.iso.org/files/live/sites/isoorg/files/standards/benefits_of_international_standards/iso_and_consumers/img/benefits-consumers.jpg/thumbnails/1200x600 1200w, /web/20210510070937im_/https://www.iso.org/files/live/sites/isoorg/files/standards/benefits_of_international_standards/iso_and_consumers/img/benefits-consumers.jpg/thumbnails/2400x1200 2400w" sizes="(min-width:1680px) 518px,(min-width:1200px) 358px,(min-width:992px) 293px,(min-width:768px) 720px, 100vw" class="hover-zoom" alt="In this rear view, an unrecognizable woman stands with a shopping cart in front of a shelf full of food in the bread aisle of a grocery store." itemprop="image"/> </a> </figure> <div class="box-text clearfix"> <div class="entry-content"> <h5 class="entry-name"> <a href="/web/20210510070937/https://www.iso.org/iso-and-consumers.html" title="Safety, quality and value for money for consumers">Safety, quality and value for money for consumers</a> </h5> <div class="entry-summary"> Find out how we spread the benefits of ISO Standards as broadly as possible, by involving consumers in standards development work through our committee on consumer policy. </div> </div> </div> </div><div class="clear"></div></div> </div><div class="clear"></div><div class="clear"></div> </div> </section><section class=" bg-info"> <div class="container"> <div class="row "> <div class="col-md-4"><div class="publication clearfix"> <div class="figure-box"> <figure class="tilt"> <div class="img-container"> <a href="/web/20210510070937/https://www.iso.org/publication/PUB100288.html" title="Economic benefits of standards Volume 1"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20210510070937im_/https://www.iso.org/obp/graphics/pub/9dfea6a9-3afb-4603-ac63-6a23dc0c8699_3f2db9194f65d1b984ed9ac3f154bb4b.jpg" class="shadow width-100pct" alt="Cover page: Economic benefits of standards Volume 1" title="Economic benefits of standards Volume 1"/> </a> </div> </figure> </div> <div class="content-box"> <div class="section-head wrapped-danger wrapped-h4">Publications</div> <h4> <a href="/web/20210510070937/https://www.iso.org/publication/PUB100288.html" title="Economic benefits of standards Volume 1">Economic benefits of standards Volume 1</a> </h4> <div class="description" itemprop="description"> <p>This ground-breaking book presents "The ISO Methodology to assess the economic benefits of standards" in action.</p> </div> </div> </div><div class="clear"></div></div> <div class="col-md-4"><div class="publication clearfix"> <div class="figure-box"> <figure class="tilt"> <div class="img-container"> <a href="/web/20210510070937/https://www.iso.org/publication/PUB100311.html" title="Economic benefits of standards Volume 2"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20210510070937im_/https://www.iso.org/obp/graphics/pub/18d8778f-f846-443b-aca3-7e982af4e120_8c44a510fe7fd09bc1613624b3da451d.jpg" class="shadow width-100pct" alt="Cover page: Economic benefits of standards Volume 2" title="Economic benefits of standards Volume 2"/> </a> </div> </figure> </div> <div class="content-box"> <div class="section-head wrapped-danger wrapped-h4">Publications</div> <h4> <a href="/web/20210510070937/https://www.iso.org/publication/PUB100311.html" title="Economic benefits of standards Volume 2">Economic benefits of standards Volume 2</a> </h4> <div class="description" itemprop="description"> <p>This ground-breaking book presents "The ISO Methodology to assess the economic benefits of standards" in action. It provides case studies from a variety of organizations of different sizes and from different sectors from the following countries: Cameroon, China, Egypt, Italy, Jordan, Lebanon, Mauritius, …</p> </div> </div> </div><div class="clear"></div></div> <div class="col-md-4"><div class="publication clearfix"> <div class="figure-box"> <figure class="tilt"> <div class="img-container"> <a href="/web/20210510070937/https://www.iso.org/publication/PUB100344.html" title="Economic benefits of Standards - ISO Methodology 2.0"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20210510070937im_/https://www.iso.org/obp/graphics/pub/6f9e9cf3-ed9b-49ea-bf78-10e704fcbaff_58d6174c33bd2fb10ce23365b36ab228.jpg" class="shadow width-100pct" alt="Cover page: Economic benefits of Standards - ISO Methodology 2.0" title="Economic benefits of Standards - ISO Methodology 2.0"/> </a> </div> </figure> </div> <div class="content-box"> <div class="section-head wrapped-danger wrapped-h4">Publications</div> <h4> <a href="/web/20210510070937/https://www.iso.org/publication/PUB100344.html" title="Economic benefits of Standards - ISO Methodology 2.0">Economic benefits of Standards - ISO Methodology 2.0</a> </h4> <div class="description" itemprop="description"> <p>This book explains how to use the ISO Methodology - a step-by-step way to quantitatively measure the economic benefits of standards. The ISO Methodology is applied at the company level. It involves identifying the activities for which standards are used, and then investigating how these activities, supported …</p> </div> </div> </div><div class="clear"></div></div> </div> </div> </section><div class="clear"></div><div class="clear"></div> <div class="nav-breadcrumb print-footer bg-darkgray"> <div class="container"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-8 small">  <ol class="breadcrumb"> <li><a href="/web/20210510070937/https://www.iso.org/home.html" title="Home page"><span class="glyphicon glyphicon-home" aria-hidden="true"></span></a></li> <li> <a href="/web/20210510070937/https://www.iso.org/standards.html">Standards</a> </li> <li> Benefits </li> </ol><div class="clear"></div> </div> <div class="col-sm-4 hidden-print text-right small"> <a role="button" class="accordion-toggle collapsed" data-toggle="collapse" href="#collapseSitemap" target="_self" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="collapseSitemap">Sitemap</a> </div> </div> <div class="collapse border-top" 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