Detailed Guide to Transition Your EMS to the ISO 14001: 2015 Version

Organizations that have the ISO 14001 certification for their Environmental Management Systems (EMS) must be aware of the standard’s revisions so they can upgrade their EMS to its latest version. ISO 14001 sets out the specific requirements for establishing and operating an EMS, which helps organizations to check, assess, and control the different impacts of their business on the environment and its resources. Being the top recognized standard for environmental management, achieving it exhibits your organization’s commitment to protecting the natural environment and sustaining its resources.

However, to maintain the efficiency of your EMS and make it capable of addressing the new rising environmental concerns or impacts of the business, it is essential to update the EMS. It should be checked from time to time to assure its conformance to the latest requirements of ISO 14001. Thus, whenever ISO 14001 gets revised, it is the duty of the organization to get their EMS reviewed and improved. With the latest revision made on the standard in 2015, here is what you need to do to upgrade your existing EMS to the latest version. We present here a comprehensive guide to transition your existing EMS to ISO 14001:2015.

Why are Changes Made in the ISO 14001: 2015 Version?

Most of the ISO standards are updated every 5 years and so is the case of the ISO 14001 standard. They are updated mainly to keep the standards relevant to the evolving marketplace. The changes made in the ISO 14001 standard were mainly due to the emerging global environmental trends like climate volatility, deterioration of air quality, excess soil contamination, etc., which require an organization to consider both internal as well as external factors influencing their environmental performance.

Key Changes Introduced

Considering the recent global environmental trends and challenges, the following changes were made in the latest 2015 version of the ISO 14001 standard.

• The organization should identify the internal as well as external factors that can affect their EMS and competence to meet the stakeholders’ expectations.

• The top management team should undertake the EMS operations and ensure that it integrates with all processes of the organization.

• There should be advanced planning in the organization to handle the potential environmental risks and emergency situations and reduce their impacts on the business performance.

• There is greater emphasis on improving communication channels, internally and externally, to ensure all environment-related incidents are quickly reported and responded to.

• Organizations should consider specific requirements for reducing the environmental impacts of their product lifecycle activities such as designing, development, etc.

• Organization should monitor and measure the performance of their EMS by collecting relevant data or evidence and assessing them.

• Organizations should have a more methodical approach to review their EMS and improve its performance continually while ensuring ISO conformity.

Benefits of Acknowledging the Changes

Incorporating all the changes in the EMS can offer a range of benefits to your business including:

• Strengthening of your EMS practices

• Enforcement of leadership in environmental management

• Stronger focus on communication strategy

• Comprehensive approach of EMS to address impacts at all stages of product life cycle

• Continual improvement of your environmental performance

Steps to Successfully Transition to ISO 14001: 2015

If you have an EMS implemented in your organization but it is based on the much earlier ISO 14001:2004, you need to upgrade it to the 2015 version. Here are a few simple steps to do that.

• Step 1: Check and improve your existing EMS manual to assure that it includes all the new requirements and environmental practices as per the ISO 14001:2015 standard.

• Step 2: Prepare your organization’s members i.e., train them and make them understand the new version’s requirements. Implement the changes in your processes by ensuring the effective participation of employees.

• Step 3: Review your EMS manual, all the processes and new practices to ensure they are conforming to the 2015 version and are also enhancing your environmental performance.

Key Takeaway

Obtaining the ISO 14001 certification leads to the implementation of a feasible EMS that integrates with the organization’s core management and helps to address all types of environmental impacts at all stages of their production and supply chain. It helps you to reduce your overall impacts and fulfill your environmental responsibility easily. For this reason, it is essential to keep your EMS updated and compliant with the latest requirements of the ISO 14001 standard. It ensures that your EMS stays not only competent at addressing your impacts but is also continually improved to deal with newly emerging environmental issues.

Author Bio:

Damon Anderson is the owner of a trusted ISO consultancy that provides a range of assurance services and takes the responsibility of making organizations ISO certified in a smooth and cost-effective way. He is the lead consultant for the ISO 14001 certification and hence likes to write articles on the same to guide businesses.

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Business Name: Compliancehelp Consulting, LLC

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