ISO/DIS 14001 Proposes Increasingly Strategic Approach to Environmental Management

LONDON - July 16, 2014 - PRLog -- (LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM, 15 JULY) The latest milestone in the ISO 14001 revision process was reached on 1 July 2014 when ISO/DIS 14001 was issued. The first formal draft describes the potential requirements of the revised version of ISO 14001 but it does give an indication of what might be included in the final version of the standard scheduled to be published in Q3 2015.

The scope of the revision by the ISO 14001:2015 sub-committee (ISO/TC 207/SC 1) responsible for the review consists of:

- Incorporation of Annex SL framework; ISO/DIS 14001 adopts the clause structure specified in Annex SL, which is now the required framework for all new and revised ISO Management System Standards (MSS)

- Consideration of ISO report “Future Challenges for EMS” and ISO 14001 Continual Improvement Survey

- Maintenance and improvement of current ISO 14001 principles and requirements

ISO has identified the following emerging changes as a result of the revision:

1.      Strategic Environmental Management

2.      Leadership

3.      Protecting the environment

4.      Environmental performance

5.      Life-cycle thinking

6.      Communication

7.      Documentation

Strategic Environmental Management

There is a new requirement to understand the context of the organisation determining external and internal issues relevant to the organisation and the environment. Particular focus is on the needs and expectations of interested parties that can affect, or be affected by, the organisation. In this context the organisation shall identify risks associated with threats and opportunities, significant environmental aspects and compliance obligations and determine actions to address them within the EMS.

Leadership: Commitment to environmental management

A new clause has been added with specific responsibilities for top management to demonstrate their leadership and commitment to environmental management.

From prevention to protection

Environmental policy shall include a commitment to the “protection of the environment”. There is no definition about this but it includes “prevention of pollution” and other commitments such as sustainable resource use, climate change mitigation and adaptation, protection of biodiversity and ecosystems, etc.

Improving environmental performance

The emphasis is now on improving performance related to the management of environmental aspects. The organisation shall determine criteria to evaluate its environmental performance, using appropriate indicators.

Life-cycle thinking

Organisations will need to extend its control and influence to the environmental impacts from raw material acquisition/generation to end-of-life treatment. This does not imply a requirement to carry out a life-cycle assessment.

Communication

Equal emphasis on external and internal communications has been added. The decision to communicate externally is retained by the organisation but taking into account its compliance obligations.

Documentation

The term “documented information”, is used instead of “documents” and “records”. The organisation has the flexibility to determine when “procedures” are needed.

How can SGS help?

SGS can provide awareness training to help our prospects and clients understand the requirements of ISO/ DIS 14001. More information on ISO 14001 and an overview on Annex SL can be found at www.sgs.co.uk/ISO14001.

Future updates

A copy of the ISO/DIS 14001 standard can be purchased at www.sgs.co.uk/ISO14001.

The official ISO website for the sub-committee (ISO/TC 207/SC 1) with responsibility for Environmental Management Systems (EMS) and ISO 14001 standard is www.iso.org/iso/tc207sc1home.

Further information and updates on the development of ISO 14001:2015 and its publication schedule will be issued by SGS as they become available.

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