February 23rd

On this day - February 23rd 1947 - The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) was founded

ISO is an international Non-governmental organization which creates international standards. The organization was created after the Second World War to help international business as trade. At the time consisted the organization of only participants from 25 countries, but it is today truly an international organization. Although ISO was established in February 1947 took it another two months before the required 15 nations had signed off on their constitution and the organization could start their work. Their main office is in Geneve and the official languages are French and English (And to some degree, Russian). ISO creates standards for almost everything today, from Risk management, to environmental management and diving equipment. My favorite standard is the one they have for credit card sizes. Just imaging how much more complicated everyday life and traveling would be if different stores or countries had different sized credit cards and you needed one for each country you were traveling to! Another important standard is the container size standard which have made it incredible much faster, cheaper and easier to transport goods on ships.

And if you found this remotely interesting I would really recommend this book about ISO and its history. I read it several times and I found it useful. Also, if you have any questions about ISO or would like to know more about the history of this relatively unknown, but important organization or their environmental management standards please leve us a message (This is my area of expertise!)