The ISO 14001
requirements provide a set of standard elements that will guide in the
implementation of an Environmental Management System (EMS). The requirements
are designed to be applicable to any organization, regardless of its size,
type, location, or level of maturity. All elements of the standard are
mandatory, but the requirements stipulate the elements of an EMS that need to
be covered, and the standard does not define how to address those requirements.
There are two significant changes to be aware of:
1. The new
version has been written using the new high level structure, Annex SL, which is
now common to all new management systems standards, including the updated
version of ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 45001 which will supersede OHSAS 18001. This
will make integration of multiple management system standards easier and less
time consuming.
2. The second
action comes from the ‘Future Challenges for EMS Study Group’ which gauged the
potential implications of growing stakeholder expectations and new developments
in environmental management systems. The study group also assessed the
obstacles and opportunities for increased uptake of ISO 14001 in small
companies.
It’s based on
Annex SL, the new high level structure (HLS) which is a common framework for
all ISO management systems. This helps keep consistency, align different
management system standards, offer matching sub-clauses against the top-level
structure and apply common language across all standards. It makes it easier
for organizations to incorporate their environmental management system, into
core business processes, make efficiencies, and get more involvement from
senior management.
ISO 14001:2015 will be
structured according to the so called “High Level Structure†of the ISO/IEC
Directives, Part 1, Consolidated ISO supplement, 2014, Annex SL, Appendix 2
which sets out the high level structure, identical core text and common terms
and core definitions that are to form, when possible, the nucleus of future and
revised management system standards such as ISO 9001 and ISO 14001. The new
structure helps to combine and integrate different management systems and
includes the PDCA approach (Plan-Do-Check-Act). When it comes to value chain planning and control, ISO
14001:2015 will introduce a new set of requirements to manage or influence
upstream and downstream processes. These include all outsourced activities,
such as transport, packaging and disposal, as well as the procurement of goods
and services. The main changes are related to:
Increased
requirements for top management commitment and involvement.
Emphasis
on risk-based thinking
Need to
understand the context of the organization, the needs and expectations and
requirements of interested parties
Consideration
of a life cycle perspective
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