ISO 14001:2015 Environmental Management System

This International Standard provides organizations with a framework to protect the environment and respond to changing environmental conditions in balance with socioeconomic needs. It specifies requirements that enable an organization to achieve the intended outcomes it sets for its environmental management system.

A systematic approach to environmental management can provide top management with information to build success over the long term. It can also create options for contributing to sustainable development by:

  • Protecting the environment by preventing or mitigating adverse environmental impacts.
  • Mitigating the potential adverse effect of environmental conditions on the organization.
  • Assisting the organization in the fulfilment of compliance obligations.
  • Enhancing environmental performance.
  • Controlling or influencing the way the organization’s products and services are designed,manufactured, distributed, consumed and disposed of by using a life cycle perspective that can prevent environmental impacts from being unintentionally shifted elsewhere within the life cycle.
  • Achieving financial and operational benefits that can result from implementing environmentally sound alternatives that strengthen the organization’s market position.
  • Communicating environmental information to relevant interested parties. This International Standard, like other International Standards, is not intended to increase or change an organization’s legal requirements.

Environmental management systems depend on commitment from all levels and functions of the organization, led by top management. Organizations can leverage opportunities to prevent or mitigate adverse environmental impacts and enhance beneficial environmental impacts, particularly those with strategic and competitive implications.

Application of this International Standard can differ from one organization to another.

The level of detail and complexity of the environmental management system will vary depending on the context of the organization, the scope of its environmental management system, its compliance obligations, and the nature of its activities, products and services, including its environmental aspects and associated environmental impacts.

This international standard enables an organization to use a common approach and risk-based thinking to integrate its environmental management system with other management systems.

For more details refer to the following link:

ISO/IEC 14001:2015 Standard

Intended outcomes of an environmental management system include:

  • Enhancement of environmental performance.
  • Fulfilment of compliance obligations.
  • Achievement of environmental objectives.

This International Standard 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. The Standard does not state specific environmental performance criteria.