ISO 14001:2015 – Environmental Management System
Why ISO 14001:2015?
In order to follow the “High Level Structure”to facilitate identical structure for all the management systems as well as the consistent use of core texts and terms. This will make the standards more comprehensible and combined certifications more efficient.
The new version will include a requirement to understand the organization’s context in order to better manage risk, with more emphasis made on leaders within organizations to promote environmental management. In addition there will be a shift towards improving environmental performance rather than improving the management system.
ISO 14001:2015 – Revision
Most Important Changes (ISO 14001:2015):
The most important changes summarized along the chapters of the standard:
Chapter 4 “Context of the Organization“: In this clause, draft standard accommodates the objective of companies giving more consideration to external issues and impacts in their environmental management system. The needs and expectations of “interested parties” are to be better understood and evaluated as to whether they give rise to specific requirements.
Chapter 5 “Leadership“: In this clause, Top management should require to take on more responsibility for the effective implementation of the management system and the integration of environmental management into business processes. The environmental policy also includes a commitment to protect the environment beyond the corporate boundaries. A requirement of management representative is no longer being clearly requested, but adequate responsibilities and authorities must be ensured within the organization.
Chapter 6 “Planning“: In this clause, the entire planning process of the organization in respective of environmental management has been restructured. All positive and negative environmental impacts of activities, products and services should account by the organization. Organization also presents environmental impacts more strongly in “from a life cycle perspective” in the future. Although the environmental assessment does not need to explicitly include a life cycle assessment of products and processes for example, it should nevertheless examine the significant environmental aspects and all required commitments
Chapter 7 “Support”: In this clause, the commitments to environmental protection are to be given more consideration in terms of communications as well. External representation and reporting must be regulated. With respect to documents and records, only the term “documented information” shall be used in the future, thus taking account of modern recording media.
Chapter 8 “Operation“: Operational scheduling and control should pay closer attention to upstream and downstream and, in particular, outsourced processes. This also includes the environmental impacts of products and services right through to the end of their utilization.
Chapter 9 “Performance evaluation“: Based on the extended environmental assessment (see Chap. 6), standards for what is expected of the environmental performance evaluation are now also being raised. This must happen as early as environmental objectives are set (Chap. 6), where, insofar as appropriate and possible, indicators for measuring achievement of said objectives and thus environmental performance are to be used. The ISO 14031 standard “Environmental Management – Environmental Performance Evaluation” shall be referred to for this purpose. Working with key performance indicators has hereby also been incorporated into environmental management. From now on, monitoring and measuring will also explicitly include all other corporate commitments and risks in relation to environmental performance.
SIGNIFICANCE OF ISO 14001
A response to the environmental stakes.
Attention is increasingly being given to controlling the environmental impact of companies. As a leader in management systems certification, AFNOR Certification is already accompanying in their environmental certification initiative.
ISO 14001 is increasingly becoming an important qualification for organizations wanting to remain competitive in the global marketplace.
BENEFITS OF ISO 14001
Improved company image: environmental certification shows your commitment to social responsibility.
A dialog tool: with AFAQ certification you will gain your partners’ confidence (customers, administrations, investors, insurers, etc.).
A cost control tool: an environmental management system allows you to set up preventive actions that will minimize the impact of accidents.
A tool for mobilizing your coworkers, uniting your personnel in a common project that directly improves their professional environment (health, safety, etc.).
ISO 14001 – FOR WHOM
Organizations of all sizes and types in any industry sector, who wish, to build an environmental dimension into their business policy.
Organizations who wants to demonstrate their environmental sensitivity to their customer and society at large.
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