ISO 14001 (Environmental Management System)

ISO 14001:2015 specifies the requirements for an environmental management system that an organization can use to enhance its environmental performance. ISO 14001:2015 is intended for use by an organization seeking to manage its environmental responsibilities in a systematic manner that contributes to the environmental pillar of sustainability.

ISO 14001:2015 helps an organization achieve the intended outcomes of its environmental management system, which provide value for the environment, the organization itself and interested parties. Consistent with the organization’s environmental policy, the intended outcomes of an environmental management system include:

• enhancement of environmental performance;
• fulfilment of compliance obligations;
• achievement of environmental objectives.

ISO 14001:2015 is applicable to any organization, regardless of size, type and nature, and applies to the environmental aspects of its activities, products and services that the organization determines it can either control or influence considering a life cycle perspective. ISO 14001:2015 does not state specific environmental performance criteria.

ISO 14001:2015 can be used in whole or in part to systematically improve environmental management. Claims of conformity to ISO 14001:2015, however, are not acceptable unless all its requirements are incorporated into an organization’s environmental management system and fulfilled without exclusion.

Apart from taking a strategic approach to improving its environmental performance, organizations that have implement the ISO 14001 also benefit the following :-

• Demonstrate compliance with current and future statutory and regulatory requirements
• Increase leadership involvement and engagement of employees
• Improve company reputation and the confidence of stakeholders through strategic communication
• Achieve strategic business aims by incorporating environmental issues into business management
• Provide a competitive and financial advantage through improved efficiencies and reduced costs
• Encourage better environmental performance of suppliers by integrating them into the organization’s business systems

The following documents are required to be produced to be compliant with ISO 14001:2015:-

• Scope of the EMS (clause 4.3)
• Environmental policy (clause 5.2)
• Risk and opportunities to be addressed and processes needed (clause 6.1.1)
• Criteria for evaluation of significant environmental aspects (clause 6.1.2)
• Environmental aspects with associated environmental impacts (clause 6.1.2)
• Significant environmental aspects (clause 6.1.2)
• Environmental objectives and plans for achieving them (clause 6.2)
• Operational control (clause 8.1)
• Emergency preparedness and response (clause 8.2)

To support the implementation of the ISO 14001:2015 Environmental Management System, records – or documented information including but not limited to the following must be retained:-

• Compliance obligations record (clause 6.1.3)
• Records of training, skills, experience and qualifications (clause 7.2)
• Evidence of communication (clause 7.4)
• Monitoring and measurement results (clause 9.1.1)
• Internal audit program (clause 9.2)
• Results of internal audits (clause 9.2)
• Results of the management review (clause 9.3)
• Results of corrective actions (clause 10.1)

There are numerous non-mandatory documents that can be used for ISO 14001 implementation. Generally the following non-mandatory documents are most commonly used:-

• Procedure for determining context of the organization and interested parties (clauses 4.1 and 4.2)
• Procedure for identification and evaluation of environmental aspects and risks (clauses 6.1.1 and 6.1.2)
• Competence, training and awareness procedure (clauses 7.2 and 7.3)
• Procedure for communication (clause 7.4)
• Procedure for document and record control (clause 7.5)
• Procedure for internal audit (clause 9.2)
• Procedure for management review (clause 9.3)
• Procedure for management of nonconformities and corrective actions (clause 10.2)