ISO 14001:2015
Environmental Management System
What is ISO 14001?
ISO 14001 is an internationally recognized environmental management system (EMS) standard that helps organizations effectively improve their environmental performance. Through environmental planning and control over the life cycle of the activities, the adverse environmental impacts can be significantly reduced, not only within the organization, but also deliver positive influence to its product/service providers and customers.
Benefit of ISO 14001
Today's society is raising awareness of the protection of the environment, regardless of national governments, international or regional organizations, and even individuals have needs and expectations. Many government department and enterprises want environmentally friendly products/services. Therefore, organization should consider their environmental responsibility and establish an environmental management system to cater to this global era.
In addition, many organizations can greatly reduce operating costs in the long run by establishing an environmental friendly working mode of energy conservation and resource reduction.
ISO 14001 Requirements
Like other ISO standards, ISO 14001 promotes the adoption of a Plan - Do - Check - Act (or PDCA) cycle and risk-based thinking approach, as reflected in the standard clauses 4 to 10 (Clauses 0 to 3 are introduction, scope, normative references and terms and definitions, not subject to audit-able requirements). You can find out about the standard requirements in the following: (or by related links)
Clause 4 - Context of organization
This is the first step in establishing an EMS, which requires the organization to clearly determine:
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What are the internal and external issues related to the organization's business, policies, etc., which can affect the organization to achieve the intended results?
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Who are your interested parties? What are their needs and expectations? Which of them will become the compliance obligation of the organization?
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What is the scope and boundary of the EMS?
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What is the process of the EMS?
Clause 5 - Leadship
Top management is required to commit and proactively participate in the EMS. They need to be ultimately responsible for the performance of the EMS. The standards clearly state that these responsibilities include establishing and communicating environmental policies, promoting environmental objectives, providing resources, defining the role of organizational staff, authority and responsibility and supporting other relevant management roles.
Clause 6 - Planning
Based on the internal and external issues and interested parties' needs and expectations determined from clause 4, the organization identifies the risks, opportunities and its environmental aspects associated with its operations, activities, services, products). The organization shall plan actions to reduce risks, mitigate environmental impacts and maximize the opportunities. All compliance obligations shall be identified and accessible. Environmental objectives shall be established with the organization to drive continual improvement.
Clause 7 - Support
The organization shall ensure that there is sufficient support to establish, implement, maintain and improve the EMS, including resources, personnel competence, awareness, communication, and documented information.
Clause 8 - Operations
The organization shall ensure that its operations are properly planned and controlled, including:
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Plan to implement the actions determined in clause 6 above
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Prepare and respond to environmental-related emergency/incidents
Clause 9 - Performance evaluation
The organization shall review the performance of the EMS, including evaluating its operation/activities/products/services compliance, reviewing the effectiveness of actions addressing risks, opportunities and environmental aspects, evaluating external providers' performance, and determining the need for improvement. The organization is also required to conduct internal audits and management reviews on a regular basis to check that EMS is effectively implemented and the performance is being reported to the organization's top management.
Clause 10 - Improvement
The organization shall drive continual improvement of the EMS based on the results of Section 9, the identification and control of risks and opportunities, and the investigation and corrective actions of any nonconformity.