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ISO 14001:2015(en)
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ISO 14001:2015(en)
Environmental management systems — Requirements with
guidance for use
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Foreword

ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of

national standards bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International
Standards is normally carried out through ISO technical committees. Each member
body interested in a subject for which a technical committee has been established
has the right to be represented on that committee. International organizations,
governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work.
ISO collaborates closely with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on
all matters of electrotechnical standardization.

The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further
maintenance are described in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular the
different approval criteria needed for the different types of ISO documents should be
noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the editorial rules of the
ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www.iso.org/directives).

Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may
be the subject of patent rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any
or all such patent rights. Details of any patent rights identified during the
development of the document will be in the Introduction and/or on the ISO list of
patent declarations received (see www.iso.org/patents).

Any trade name used in this document is information given for the convenience of
users and does not constitute an endorsement.

For an explanation on the meaning of ISO specific terms and expressions related to
conformity assessment, as well as information about ISO's adherence to the World
Trade Organization (WTO) principles in the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) see the
following URL: www.iso.org/iso/foreword.html.

The committee responsible for this document is Technical Committee

ISO/TC 207, Environmental management, Subcommittee SC 1, Environmental
management systems.

This third edition cancels and replaces the second edition (ISO 14001:2004), which
has been technically revised. It also incorporates the Technical
Corrigendum ISO 14001:2004/Cor.1:2009.

Introduction

0.1 Background

Achieving a balance between the environment, society and the economy is

considered essential to meet the needs of the present without compromising the
ability of future generations to meet their needs. Sustainable development as a goal
is achieved by balancing the three pillars of sustainability.

Societal expectations for sustainable development, transparency and accountability

have evolved with increasingly stringent legislation, growing pressures on the
environment from pollution, inefficient use of resources, improper waste
management, climate change, degradation of ecosystems and loss of biodiversity.

This has led organizations to adopt a systematic approach to environmental

management by implementing environmental management systems with the aim of
contributing to the environmental pillar of sustainability.

0.2 Aim of an environmental management system

The purpose of this International Standard is to provide organizations with a

framework to protect the environment and respond to changing environmental
conditions in balance with socio-economic 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 and 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 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.

0.3 Success factors

The success of an environmental management system depends 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. Top management can effectively address its risks and
opportunities by integrating environmental management into the organization's
business processes, strategic direction and decision making, aligning them with
other business priorities, and incorporating environmental governance into its overall
management system. Demonstration of successful implementation of this
International Standard can be used to assure interested parties that an effective
environmental management system is in place.

Adoption of this International Standard, however, will not in itself guarantee optimal
environmental outcomes. Application of this International Standard can differ from
one organization to another due to the context of the organization. Two organizations
can carry out similar activities but can have different compliance obligations,
commitments in their environmental policy, environmental technologies and
environmental performance goals, yet both can conform to the requirements of this
International Standard.

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.

0.4 Plan-Do-Check-Act model

The basis for the approach underlying an environmental management system is

founded on the concept of Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA). The PDCA model provides an
iterative process used by organizations to achieve continual improvement. It can be
applied to an environmental management system and to each of its individual
elements. It can be briefly described as follows.

 — Plan: establish environmental objectives and processes necessary to

deliver results in accordance with the organization’s environmental policy.
 — Do: implement the processes as planned.

 — Check: monitor and measure processes against the environmental policy,

including its commitments, environmental objectives and operating criteria,
and report the results.

 — Act: take actions to continually improve.

Figure 1 shows how the framework introduced in this International Standard could be
integrated into a PDCA model, which can help new and existing users to understand
the importance of a systems approach.

Figure 1 — Relationship between PDCA and the framework in this International

Standard

0.5 Contents of this International Standard

This International Standard conforms to ISO’s requirements for management system
standards. These requirements include a high level structure, identical core text, and
common terms with core definitions, designed to benefit users implementing
multiple ISO management system standards.

This International Standard does not include requirements specific to other

management systems, such as those for quality, occupational health and safety,
energy or financial management. However, this International Standard enables an
organization to use a common approach and risk-based thinking to integrate its
environmental management system with the requirements of other management
systems.

This International Standard contains the requirements used to assess conformity. An

organization that wishes to demonstrate conformity with this International Standard
can do so by:

 — making a self-determination and self-declaration, or

 — seeking confirmation of its conformance by parties having an interest in the
organization, such as customers, or

 — seeking confirmation of its self-declaration by a party external to the

organization, or

 — seeking certification/registration of its environmental management system

by an external organization.

Annex A provides explanatory information to prevent misinterpretation of the

requirements of this International Standard. Annex Bshows broad technical
correspondence between the previous edition of this International Standard and this
edition. Implementation guidance on environmental management systems is
included in ISO 14004.

In this International Standard, the following verbal forms are used:

 — “shall” indicates a requirement;

 — “should” indicates a recommendation;

 — “may” indicates a permission;

 — “can” indicates a possibility or a capability.

Information marked as “NOTE” is intended to assist the understanding or use of the

document. “Notes to entry” used in Clause 3provide additional information that
supplements the terminological data and can contain provisions relating to the use
of a term.

The terms and definitions in Clause 3 are arranged in conceptual order, with an
alphabetical index provided at the end of the document.

1 Scope
This International Standard specifies the requirements for an environmental
management system that an organization can use to enhance its environmental
performance. This International Standard is intended for use by an organization
seeking to manage its environmental responsibilities in a systematic manner that
contributes to the environmental pillar of sustainability.

This International Standard helps an organization achieve the intended outcomes of

its environmental management system, which provide value for the environment, the
organization itself and interested parties. Consistent with the organization's
environmental policy, the 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. This International Standard does not state
specific environmental performance criteria.

This International Standard can be used in whole or in part to systematically improve

environmental management. Claims of conformity to this International Standard,
however, are not acceptable unless all its requirements are incorporated into an
organization's environmental management system and fulfilled without exclusion.

2 Normative references

There are no normative references.

3 Terms and definitions

For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.

3.1 Terms related to organization and leadership

3.1.1
management system
set of interrelated or interacting elements of an organization (3.1.4) to establish
policies and objectives (3.2.5) and processes (3.3.5)to achieve those objectives
Note 1 to entry: A management system can address a single discipline or several
disciplines (e.g. quality, environment, occupational health and safety, energy,
financial management).
Note 2 to entry: The system elements include the organization’ s structure, roles and
responsibilities, planning and operation, performance evaluation and improvement.
Note 3 to entry: The scope of a management system can include the whole of the
organization, specific and identified functions of the organization, specific and
identified sections of the organization, or one or more functions across a group of
organizations.
3.1.2
environmental management system
part of the management system (3.1.1) used to manage environmental
aspects (3.2.2), fulfil compliance obligations (3.2.9), and address risks and
opportunities (3.2.11)
3.1.3
environmental policy
intentions and direction of an organization (3.1.4) related to environmental
performance (3.4.11), as formally expressed by its top management (3.1.5)
3.1.4
organization
person or group of people that has its own functions with responsibilities, authorities
and relationships to achieve its objectives (3.2.5)
Note 1 to entry: The concept of organization includes, but is not limited to sole-
trader, company, corporation, firm, enterprise, authority, partnership, charity or
institution, or part or combination thereof, whether incorporated or not, public or
private.
3.1.5
top management
person or group of people who directs and controls an organization (3.1.4) at the
highest level
Note 1 to entry: Top management has the power to delegate authority and provide
resources within the organization.
Note 2 to entry: If the scope of the management system (3.1.1) covers only part of an
organization, then top management refers to those who direct and control that part
of the organization.
3.1.6
interested party
person or organization (3.1.4) that can affect, be affected by, or perceive itself to be
affected by a decision or activity
EXAMPLE:
Customers, communities, suppliers, regulators, non-governmental organizations,
investors and employees.

Note 1 to entry: To “perceive itself to be affected” means the perception has been
made known to the organization.

3.2 Terms related to planning

3.2.1
environment
surroundings in which an organization (3.1.4) operates, including air, water, land,
natural resources, flora, fauna, humans and their interrelationships
Note 1 to entry: Surroundings can extend from within an organization to the local,
regional and global system.
Note 2 to entry: Surroundings can be described in terms of biodiversity, ecosystems,
climate or other characteristics.
3.2.2
environmental aspect
element of an organization's (3.1.4) activities or products or services that interacts
or can interact with the environment (3.2.1)
Note 1 to entry: An environmental aspect can cause (an) environmental
impact(s) (3.2.4). A significant environmental aspect is one that has or can have one
or more significant environmental impact(s).
Note 2 to entry: Significant environmental aspects are determined by the
organization applying one or more criteria.
3.2.3
environmental condition
state or characteristic of the environment (3.2.1) as determined at a certain point in
time
3.2.4
environmental impact
change to the environment (3.2.1), whether adverse or beneficial, wholly or partially
resulting from an organization's(3.1.4)environmental aspects (3.2.2)
3.2.5
objective
result to be achieved
Note 1 to entry: An objective can be strategic, tactical, or operational.
Note 2 to entry: Objectives can relate to different disciplines (such as financial,
health and safety, and environmental goals) and can apply at different levels (such as
strategic, organization-wide, project, product, service and process (3.3.5)).
Note 3 to entry: An objective can be expressed in other ways, e.g. as an intended
outcome, a purpose, an operational criterion, as an environmental objective (3.2.6),
or by the use of other words with similar meaning (e.g. aim, goal, or target).
3.2.6
environmental objective
objective (3.2.5) set by the organization (3.1.4) consistent with its environmental
policy (3.1.3)
3.2.7
prevention of pollution
use of processes (3.3.5), practices, techniques, materials, products, services or
energy to avoid, reduce or control (separately or in combination) the creation,
emission or discharge of any type of pollutant or waste, in order to reduce
adverse environmental impacts(3.2.4)
Note 1 to entry: Prevention of pollution can include source reduction or elimination;
process, product or service changes; efficient use of resources; material and energy
substitution; reuse; recovery; recycling, reclamation; or treatment.
3.2.8
requirement
need or expectation that is stated, generally implied or obligatory
Note 1 to entry: “Generally implied” means that it is custom or common practice for
the organization (3.1.4) and interested parties(3.1.6) that the need or expectation
under consideration is implied.
Note 2 to entry: A specified requirement is one that is stated, for example
in documented information (3.3.2).
Note 3 to entry: Requirements other than legal requirements become obligatory
when the organization decides to comply with them.
3.2.9
compliance obligations (preferred term)
legal requirements and other requirements (admitted term)
legal requirements (3.2.8) that an organization (3.1.4) has to comply with and other
requirements that an organization has to or chooses to comply with
Note 1 to entry: Compliance obligations are related to the environmental
management system (3.1.2).
Note 2 to entry: Compliance obligations can arise from mandatory requirements,
such as applicable laws and regulations, or voluntary commitments, such as
organizational and industry standards, contractual relationships, codes of practice
and agreements with community groups or non-governmental organizations.
3.2.10
risk
effect of uncertainty
Note 1 to entry: An effect is a deviation from the expected — positive or negative.
Note 2 to entry: Uncertainty is the state, even partial, of deficiency of information
related to, understanding or knowledge of, an event, its consequence, or likelihood.
Note 3 to entry: Risk is often characterized by reference to potential “events” (as
defined in ISO Guide 73:2009, 3.5.1.3) and “consequences” (as defined
in ISO Guide 73:2009, 3.6.1.3), or a combination of these.
Note 4 to entry: Risk is often expressed in terms of a combination of the
consequences of an event (including changes in circumstances) and the
associated “likelihood” (as defined in ISO Guide 73:2009, 3.6.1.1) of occurrence.
3.2.11
risks and opportunities
potential adverse effects (threats) and potential beneficial effects (opportunities)

3.3 Terms related to support and operation

3.3.1
competence
ability to apply knowledge and skills to achieve intended results
3.3.2
documented information
information required to be controlled and maintained by an organization (3.1.4) and
the medium on which it is contained
Note 1 to entry: Documented information can be in any format and media, and from
any source.
Note 2 to entry: Documented information can refer to: — the environmental
management system (3.1.2), including related processes (3.3.5); — information
created in order for the organization to operate (can be referred to as
documentation); — evidence of results achieved (can be referred to as records).
3.3.3
life cycle
consecutive and interlinked stages of a product (or service) system, from raw
material acquisition or generation from natural resources to final disposal
Note 1 to entry: The life cycle stages include acquisition of raw materials, design,
production, transportation/ delivery, use, end-of-life treatment and final disposal.
[SOURCE: ISO 14044:2006, 3.1, modified ― The words “(or service)” have been added
to the definition and Note 1 to entry has been added.]
3.3.4
outsource (verb)
make an arrangement where an external organization (3.1.4) performs part of an
organization’s function or process (3.3.5)
Note 1 to entry: An external organization is outside the scope of the management
system (3.1.1), although the outsourced function or process is within the scope.
3.3.5
process
set of interrelated or interacting activities which transforms inputs into outputs
Note 1 to entry: A process can be documented or not.

3.4 Terms related to performance evaluation and improvement

3.4.1
audit
systematic, independent and documented process (3.3.5) for obtaining audit
evidence and evaluating it objectively to determine the extent to which the audit
criteria are fulfilled
Note 1 to entry: An internal audit is conducted by the organization (3.1.4) itself, or by
an external party on its behalf.
Note 2 to entry: An audit can be a combined audit (combining two or more
disciplines).
Note 3 to entry: Independence can be demonstrated by the freedom from
responsibility for the activity being audited or freedom from bias and conflict of
interest.
Note 4 to entry: “Audit evidence” consists of records, statements of fact or other
information which are relevant to the audit criteria and are verifiable; and “audit
criteria” are the set of policies, procedures or requirements (3.2.8) used as a
reference against which audit evidence is compared, as defined in ISO 19011:2011,
3.3 and 3.2 respectively.
3.4.2
conformity
fulfilment of a requirement (3.2.8)
3.4.3
nonconformity
non-fulfilment of a requirement (3.2.8)
Note 1 to entry: Nonconformity relates to requirements in this International Standard
and additional environmental management system (3.1.2) requirements that
an organization (3.1.4) establishes for itself.
3.4.4
corrective action
action to eliminate the cause of a nonconformity (3.4.3) and to prevent recurrence
Note 1 to entry: There can be more than one cause for a nonconformity.
3.4.5
continual improvement
recurring activity to enhance performance (3.4.10)
Note 1 to entry: Enhancing performance relates to the use of the environmental
management system (3.1.2) to enhance environmental
performance (3.4.11) consistent with the organization's (3.1.4)environmental
policy (3.1.3).
Note 2 to entry: The activity need not take place in all areas simultaneously, or
without interruption.
3.4.6
effectiveness
extent to which planned activities are realized and planned results achieved
3.4.7
indicator
measurable representation of the condition or status of operations, management or
conditions
[SOURCE: ISO 14031:2013, 3.15]
3.4.8
monitoring
determining the status of a system, a process (3.3.5) or an activity
Note 1 to entry: To determine the status, there might be a need to check, supervise
or critically observe.
3.4.9
measurement
process (3.3.5) to determine a value
3.4.10
performance
measurable result
Note 1 to entry: Performance can relate either to quantitative or qualitative findings.
Note 2 to entry: Performance can relate to the management of
activities, processes (3.3.5), products (including services), systems
or organizations (3.1.4).
3.4.11
environmental performance
performance (3.4.10) related to the management of environmental aspects (3.2.2)
Note 1 to entry: For an environmental management system (3.1.2), results can be
measured against the organization's(3.1.4)environmental
policy (3.1.3), environmental objectives (3.2.6) or other criteria,
using indicators (3.4.7).
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Bibliography

[1] ISO 14004, Environmental management systems — General guidelines on

principles, systems and support techniques

[2] ISO 14006, Environmental management systems — Guidelines for incorporating

ecodesign
[3] ISO 14031, Environmental management — Environmental performance
evaluation — Guidelines

[4] ISO 14044, Environmental management — Life cycle assessment —

Requirements and guidelines

[5] ISO 14063, Environmental management — Environmental communication —

Guidelines and examples

[6] ISO 19011, Guidelines for auditing management systems

[7] ISO 31000, Risk management — Principles and guidelines

[8] ISO 50001, Energy management systems — Requirements with guidance for use

[9] ISO Guide 73, Risk management — Vocabulary

© 2015 ISO — All rights reserved

3.3 Terms related to support and operation