ISO 14001: What are the updates to the standard?

At ISO 14001 is a standard that defines the requirements to implement an environmental management system, helping companies to achieve long-term success by managing their environmental aspects and impacts and creating alternatives to contribute to sustainable development..

Key objectives of an ISO environmental management system 14001:15

• Define a framework for protecting the environment;
• Enable responses to changing environmental conditions in balance with socioeconomic needs;
• Determine the minimum requirements that allow achieving the intended results of the environmental management system;
• Assist in managing compliance with applicable legal requirements;
• Increase environmental performance;
• Control and/or influence stakeholders using a lifecycle perspective;
• Communicate environmental information to relevant stakeholders.

The main changes to the standard – ISO 14001:15

• Adoption of annex SL (High Level Structure), that defines the requirements and structure of the standard:
  1. Scope;
  2. Normative References;
  3. Terms and Definitions;
  4. Organization Context (SGA);
  5. Leadership (Management responsibility);
  6. Planning (Management responsibility);
  7. Support (Resource management);
  8. Operation (Product Realization);
  9. Performance Evaluation (Measurement, Analysis and Improvement);
  10. Improvement (Measurement, Analysis and Improvement).

• Clear definition of the expected results of the SGA, such as: environmental performance improvements, meeting compliance obligations and achieving environmental goals;
• Adoption of the term compliance obligations that replaces the phrase "legal requirements and other requirements" to which the organization subscribes;
• Explicit risk-based thinking requirement: potential adverse effects (threats) and potential beneficial effects (opportunities);
• More requirements for top management and other management levels;
• Adoption of the term “Documented information” instead of “documents and records”;
• New clauses such as:
  • “4.1. Understanding the organization and its context”;
  • “4.2. Understanding Stakeholders' Needs and Expectations”;
  • “5.1. leadership and commitment”;
  • “6.1. Actions to address risks and opportunities";
  • “8.1. Outsourcing”;
  • “9.1. analysis and evaluation”.
• Elimination of specific terms and requirements such as: "Management representative, preventive action";

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