ISO 14001:2015

ENVIRONMENTAL
MANAGEMENT
SYSTEM
ISO 14001:2015
Environmental
management system
Structure of the course
Introductive section
Context of the organization (clause 4)
Leadership (clause 5)
Planning (clause 6)
Support (clause 7)
Operation (clause 8)
Performance evaluation (clause 9)
Improvement (clause 10)
Sustainable
development
Meeting the needs of the present without
compromising the ability of future
generation to meet their own needs

ISO 14001 proposes a systematic

approach to environmental management
Environmental
management system
Management system – set of interrelated or
interacting elements of an organization to establish
policies and objectives and processes to achieve those
objectives
Environmental management system – used to
manage environmental aspects, fulfil compliance
obligations and address risks and opportunities
Plan Do Check Act (PDCA) framework
PLAN DO CHECK ACT
Establish Implement the Monitor and Take actions to
environmental processes, as measure the improve
objectives and the planned processes against continually
processes needed the policy, the
to deliver results objectives and the
criteria, and report
results
ISO 14001:2015
Requirements for an environmental
management system (EMS)
• Applicable to any organization
• First edition published in 1996, current in 2015
Structure of ISO 14001:2015
1. Scope
2. Normative references
3. Terms and definitions
4. Context of the organization
5. Leadership
6. Planning
7. Support Requirements for the EMS

8. Operation
9. Performance evaluation
10. Improvement
The ISO 14000 series
ISO 14004 ISO 14002 ISO 14006 ISO14008
Guidelines for the Guidelines for Guidelines for Monetary valuation
implementation of specific topic areas incorporating of environmental
the EMS (e.g. water, climate, ecodesign impacts and
resources and aspects
waste)

…
Context of the
organization
Determine internal and external issues that are
relevant to the organization’s purpose and that affect
its ability to achieve the intended outcomes of the
environmental management system (including
environmental conditions affecting the organization
or capable to affect it)
Context of the organization
External issues Internal issues Environmental conditions
• Availability of utilities • Governance and structure • Higher temperatures
• Access to financial resources • Resources and capabilities • Extreme weather events
• Competition • Culture of the organization • …
• Supply chain • Contractual relationships
• Legislation • Policies and objectives
• … • …
Internal and external issues

Monitor internal and

external issues
 Person or organization that can affect, be
affected by, or perceive itself to be affected
by a decision or activity.
Interested party (stakeholder)
Needs and expectations
of interested parties
Determine relevant interested parties (e.g.
employees, investors, regulatory bodies, NGOs,
customers, etc.)
Identify the needs and expectations of interested
parties
Determine which of these needs and expectations
become compliance obligations
Compliance
obligations
Legal requirements that an
organization has to comply with
and other requirements that an
organization has to or chooses to
comply with
 Needs and expectations of
interested parties
Interested Needs and expectations Compliance
party obligations (yes/ no)
Investors Expect proper management of risks and Yes
opportunities
Employees Expect to work in a safe and healthy Yes
environment
Regulators Expect compliance with laws and Yes
regulations
Customer X Want at least 80% recycled materials in No
products
Climate action The organization shall determine whether

changes climate change is a relevant issue

Climate action
changes
Relevant interested parties can have
requirements related to climate change
Scope of the
environmental
management system
Determine the boundaries and
applicability of the EMS to
establish its scope

“Manufacturing machines and spare parts

for combustion engines at site A”
Scope of the environmental
management system
The organization shall consider its ability to
exercise control and influence
All activities, products and services within the
scope shall be addressed by the EMS
The scope shall be maintained as documented
information and available to interested parties
Environmental The organization shall establish,
implement, maintain and continually
management improve an environmental management
system
system
Plan Do Check Act

Plan Do

Understand context and stakeholders’ Determine and provide resources

requirements Ensure required competence
Determine the scope of the EMS Ensure awareness
Ensure top management support and Establish communication processes
commitment Create, update and control documents
Establish an environmental policy Establish controls for the processes to
Assign responsibilities and authorities meet environmental requirements
Determine environmental aspects Prepare for emergencies and test the
Identify compliance obligations preparations
Determine risks and opportunities
Establish environmental objectives
Plan Do Check Act

Check Act

Monitor, measure, analyze and evaluate Deal with nonconformities

environmental performance Act to improve the EMS continually
Evaluate fulfilment of compliance
obligations
Conduct internal audits
Review the system periodically
Recapitulation (Context of the organization)
Understand Environmental
Understand Establish the
stakeholders’ management
the context requirements scope system
Determine Determine Establish the Establish,
internal and stakeholders and scope of the implement,
external issues their needs and environmental maintain and
relevant for the expectations management continually
environmental system improve an
management environmental
system management
system
ISO 14001:2015
ENVIRONMENTAL
MANAGEMENT
SYSTEM

Marks & Spencer’s Plan A

Plan A
(because there is no Plan B)
M&S strategy for sustainability started in 2007
GHG emissions
Energy efficiency
Waste reduction
Sustainable sourcing
Social responsibility
Ethical business practices
Net zero
by 2040
Address direct and indirect
GHG emissions
Focus areas
Improve energy efficiency
Fund suppliers to adopt technology for
efficiency and GHG emissions reductions
Rethink packaging and improve recycling
“Shwopping” campaign
Sustainable sourcing (palm oil, fibres,
animal feed)
Leadership and Top management shall demonstrate
leadership and commitment with respect
commitment to the environmental management system
Leadership and
commitment
Take accountability for the effectiveness of the EMS
Make resources available
Integrate the EMS into the business processes
Communicate on the importance of effective
environmental management
Leadership and
commitment
Support others to demonstrate leadership
Promote continual improvement
Direct and support individuals to contribute to the EMS
Ensure that an environmental policy and environmental
objectives are established
Environmental policy

Top management shall establish,

implement and maintain an
environmental policy
Environmental policy
Appropriate to the purpose and context of the
organization
Provides a framework for setting environmental
objectives
Commitment to protect the environment, including
to prevent pollution
Other commitments (e.g. sustainable use of
resources, climate change mitigation and
adaptation, protection of biodiversity, etc.)
Commitment to fulfilling compliance obligations
Commitment for continual improvement
Environmental policy
Available as documented information
Communicated within the organization
Available to interested parties
Organizational roles,
responsibilities and authorities
Top management shall ensure that the responsibilities and authorities for
relevant roles are assigned and communicated within the organization
Assign responsibility
and authority for..
ensuring that the EMS conforms to
ISO 14001
reporting on the performance of the
EMS to the top management
Environmental management system
responsibilities (examples)
Managers Purchasing
• Ensure that the organization meets • Define environmental related
compliance obligations requirements for suppliers and
criteria for their evaluation
• Develop objectives in relation to
environmental management All personnel
Sales and marketing • Conform to EMS requirements

• Identify customer requirements that • …

relate to environmental management
Recapitulation (Leadership)
Leadership and Roles, responsibilities
Environmental policy
commitment and authorities

Top management shall Establish, implement Ensure that

demonstrate leadership and maintain an responsibilities and
and commitment with environmental policy. authorities relevant for
respect to the Communicate the environmental
environmental policy within the management are
management system organization and make it assigned and
available to interested communicated
parties
Risks and opportunities
The organization shall determine risks and
opportunities that need to be addressed
Risks and
opportunities
Determine risks and opportunities in relation to:
- the environmental aspects,
- compliance obligations and
- other issues and requirements (part of the
context)
Potential emergency
situations
Determine potential emergency
situations, including those that can have
an environmental impact
Environmental
aspects
The organization shall determine the
environmental aspects of its activities,
products and services, that it can control
and those that it can influence, and their
associated environmental impacts,
considering a life cycle perspective.
Environmental aspects and impacts
Environmental aspect Environmental impact
Element of an organization’s activities, Change to the environment, which can be
products or services that interacts or adverse or beneficial, resulting from an
can interact with the environment organization’s environmental aspects

Cause and effect

Life cycle
perspective
Consider the different stages in the product
or service life cycle and the environmental
aspects associated with each stage
 Smartphone life cycle

Life cycle Environmental Environmental Observations

stages aspects impacts
Design Use of energy. Climate change. Under the organization’s control.
Generation of waste. Pollution of the soil. Ability to influence aspects
associated with other life cycle
stages
Materials Landscape Land and water pollution. Limited control. Potential ability to
procurement degradation. Resource depletion. influence environmental aspects
Emissions. Climate change.
Manufacturing Use of natural Soil, water and air Under the organization’s control
resources. Use of pollution. Climate change.
energy. Emissions. Resource depletion.
Generation of waste.
Distribution and Emissions. Air, soil, water pollution. Ability to control depends on the
sale Packaging waste. Resource depletion. business model
Climate change.
Use Use of energy. Climate change. Resource Potential to influence
Generation of waste. depletion. Pollution of soil, environmental aspects
water.
End of life Generation of waste. Pollution of soil, water. Potential to influence
management environmental aspects
Determine environmental
aspects considering…
The activities of the organization and
the life cycle of its products and
services
Changes (e.g., new or planned
developments, new products, etc.)
Abnormal conditions (e.g. equipment
failure, maintenance, installation shut-
down and start-up, etc.)
Foreseeable emergency situations
(e.g., natural disasters, power outages,
accidental spills, etc.)
Environmental Emissions to air
Releases to water

aspects Releases to land

Use of raw materials and natural resources
Use of energy
Energy emitted (e.g. heat, radiation, vibration
(noise) and light)
Generation of waste and/ or by-products
Use of space
Significant
environmental aspects
The organization shall determine, using established
criteria, those aspects that have or can have a
significant environmental impact.

Significance is a concept relative to an organization

and to its context
Determining significance
Environmental aspect Frequency Severity Score Legal Concerns of Significant
requirements interested parties aspect?
(?) (?)
GHG emissions Very high (5) High (4) High (20) … … Yes
Wastewater discharges Medium (3) High (4) Medium (12) … … Yes
Paper waste High (4) Very low (1) Very low (4) … … No

Quantification Score
Very low 1-5
Low 6-10
Medium 11-15
High 16-20
Very high 21-25
Compliance Determine and have access to relevant compliance obligations
Determine how compliance obligations apply
obligations Take compliance obligations into account
Compliance obligations in relation to the EMS
- Commitment in the environmental policy for fulfilment of
compliance obligations
- Consideration of compliance obligations when establishing
environmental objectives
- Awareness of the implications of non-compliance
- Consider compliance obligations for the communication
processes
- Evaluate fulfilment of compliance obligations regularly
- Review fulfilment of compliance obligations during internal
audits and management reviews
- Address situations where compliance obligations are not met
Planning action
Plan to take actions to address:
- significant environmental aspects
- compliance obligations
- risks and opportunities
Planning action
Integrate and implement the actions into
the environmental management system
processes or business processes
Evaluate the effectiveness of actions
Environmental
objectives
Establish environmental
objectives at relevant functions
and levels considering the
significant environmental aspects,
the associated compliance
obligations, risks and opportunities
Environmental
objectives
Consistent with the environmental policy
Measurable (if practicable)
Monitored
Communicated
Updated, as appropriate
+
Maintain documented information
Planning to achieve
environmental objectives
What will be done (actions)
Resources required
Responsibilities
When objectives will be completed
How the results will be evaluated (indicators
to track progress)
Recapitulation (Planning)

Risks and Environmental aspects Compliance

opportunities and impacts obligations

Determine risks and Determine environmental Determine and have

opportunities in relation aspects of activities, access to compliance
to environmental products and services obligations in relation to
aspects, compliance and their impacts, environmental aspects
obligations and elements considering a life cycle and take them into
of the context perspective account within the EMS
Recapitulation (Planning)

Planning action Environmental objectives

Plan to take actions to Establish environmental

address environmental objectives at relevant
aspects, compliance functions and levels and
obligations, risks and plan for their achievement
opportunities
Resources
Determine and provide the resources
needed for the environmental
management system (people,
infrastructure, equipment, financial
resources, information systems,
externally provided services, etc.)
Competence
Determine the necessary competence
Ensure persons are competent (based on
education, training, experience)
Determine training needs
Take actions for people to acquire competence
(provision of training, mentoring, re-assignment
of currently employed persons, contracting…)
Evaluate the effectiveness of the actions taken
Awareness
Top management shall ensure that persons
who work under the organization’s control
are aware of:
- the environmental policy;
- significant environmental aspects of
their work;
- their contribution to the EMS;
- implications of not conforming to
requirements.
 Establish, implement and maintain processes
Communication for internal and external communications
relevant to the EMS
Communication
On what
When
…to communicate
With whom
How

Consider compliance obligations and

communicate reliable information, consistent
with that generated within the EMS
Internal and external
communications
Internal communication – between various levels and
functions in the organization (including a method to receive
suggestions, comments)
External communication – with external parties (including
a response to communications received)

Documented information, as evidence

EMS documentation
2 categories of documents:
- documents required by ISO 14001
- documents not required by the standard, but
considered necessary by the organization

The extent of documented information for the EMS can vary

from one organization to another.
EMS documentation
Documented information required by ISO 14001:2015
• Scope of the EMS
• Environmental policy and objectives
• Risks and opportunities
• Environmental aspects and impacts + criteria to determine
significance
• Compliance obligations
• Competence of personnel
• Communications related to the EMS
EMS documentation
Documented information required by ISO 14001:2015 (continued)

• Documents to prove that processes are carried out as planned

• Preparing for and dealing with emergency situations
• Monitoring, measurement, analysis and performance evaluation
• Internal audits
• Management review
• Evaluation of compliance
• Nonconformities and results of corrective actions
Creating and updating
documents
Identification and description
Format and media
Review and approval
Control of documented
information
EMS documents shall be controlled to ensure
availability, suitability and protection

Distribution and use

Access
Storage and preservation
Control of changes
Retention
Disposition

Internal + external-origin documents

Recapitulation (Support)

Resources Competence Awareness

Determine and provide Establish a process to Ensure the awareness of

the resources needed for ensure that the those working on behalf
the environmental competence required for of the organization
management system the persons who can
impact environmental
performance is available
Recapitulation (Support)

Communication Documented information

Establish effective The EMS documentation

processes for internal and includes the documents
external communications required by ISO 14001 and
relevant for the those not required but
environmental management considered necessary.
system Control documented
information to ensure it is
available, suitable and
adequately protected
 Reduce carbon emissions
Unilever Sustainable sourcing
Sustainable Living Waste reduction

Plan Water conservation

Net zero by 2039

across the value chain
Direct emissions
reduction
Decarbonize thermal and electrical energy
Phase-out high impact HFC refrigeration
systems
Train staff to report leaks from refrigeration
systems
Indirect emissions
reduction
Supplier Climate Programme
Reformulate products
Deforestation-free supply chain
Regenerative agriculture
Address key chemical ingredients
Packaging
Transportation
Ice cream cabinets
 Control processes to fulfil the commitments in
Operational the environmental policy, to manage significant
environmental aspects, to meet compliance
planning and control obligations and to achieve the environmental
objectives
Environmental controls
Elimination Maintain documented
information to the extent
necessary to have confidence
Substitution that the processes are carried
out as planned

Engineering controls

Administrative controls
Controlling changes
Control planned changes, review the
consequences of unintended changes and
take action to mitigate adverse effects
 Address environmental aspects of different life cycle stages in the
design and development of products/ services

Life cycle Determine and communicate requirements for procurement

perspective Consider the need to provide information about potential

significant environmental impacts associated with the
transportation, delivery, use, end-of-life treatment and final
disposal of products/ services
Outsourced processes
Control or influence outsourced processes
The type and extent of control or influence shall
be defined within the environmental
management system
Prepare for and respond
to emergency situations

Consider foreseeable emergencies

Prepare to respond and to mitigate
adverse environmental impacts
Respond to emergency situations
 Periodically test the planned response

Testing the plans actions, where practicable

Review and revise the processes and
and preparations planned response actions
Maintain documented information
Recapitulation (Operation)

Operational planning and Emergency preparedness and

control response

Control processes to address Prepare for and respond to

significant environmental emergency situations. Test
aspects, to meet compliance periodically the emergency plans
obligations, to treat risks and and preparations
opportunities and to achieve
objectives
Monitoring, measurement,
analysis and performance
evaluation
What to monitor and measure
Methods (to ensure valid results)
When to monitor and measure
When to analyse the results of
monitoring and measurement
Criteria to evaluate performance +
appropriate indicators
Monitoring and
measurement
Monitoring and measurement equipment must be
calibrated and/ or verified
Select appropriate indicators (e.g. energy or water
consumption, waste generated/ recycled, carbon or
water footprint, number of complaints, etc.)
Analysis and
evaluation
Analyse the data obtained from monitoring
and measurement and evaluate the
environmental performance and the
effectiveness of the EMS
Communicate relevant environmental
performance information internally and
externally
Retain documented information as
evidence of monitoring, measurement,
analysis and evaluation
Evaluation of
compliance
Determine the frequency for compliance
evaluation
Evaluate compliance and take actions as
needed
Maintain knowledge and understanding
of compliance status

Retain documented information as

evidence
Internal audit
Conduct internal audits at planned intervals
to determine whether the EMS:
- conforms to requirements
- is effectively implemented and
maintained
Audit programme
Establish an audit programme (frequency,
methods, responsibilities, planning and
reporting requirements)
Consider the environmental importance of
processes, changes, and results of previous
audits
Internal audit
Appoint competent and impartial auditors
Define audit objectives, scope and criteria
Elaborate an audit report
Report results to management
Retain documented information
Management Top management shall review the EMS at
planned intervals, to ensure its continuing
review suitability, adequacy and effectiveness
Inputs to the
management review
Changes (context, environmental aspects,
risks and opportunities)
Communications from interested parties
Status of environmental objectives
Environmental performance
Adequacy of resources for the EMS
Actions from previous reviews
Opportunities for improvement
Outputs of the
management review
Conclusions about the suitability,
adequacy and effectiveness of the EMS
Continual improvement decisions
Possible changes to the EMS
Actions to achieve environmental
objectives
Integration of the EMS with business
processes
Implications for the strategic direction of
the organization
Recapitulation (Performance evaluation)
Monitoring, Evaluation of Management
measurement, analysis
compliance
Internal audit review
and evaluation

Monitor, measure, Evaluate fulfilment Conduct internal Top management

analyse and of compliance audits of the EMS shall review the
evaluate the obligations at planned EMS to ensure its
environmental intervals adequacy,
performance suitability and
effectiveness
 Nonconformity –
non-fulfilment of a
requirement
Managing
nonconformities
React (control and correct the nonconformity and deal with
the consequences)
Review the nonconformity to determine its cause(s)
Determine and implement corrective actions
Review the effectiveness of corrective actions
Make changes to the EMS (if necessary)
Retain documented information
Continual The organization shall continually improve the
suitability, adequacy and effectiveness of its

improvement environmental management system to enhance

environmental performance
Continual
improvement
Encourage employees and other
stakeholders to suggest improvements
Top management should promote
improvement
Useful sources of improvement information
– experience, benchmarking, audits, data
analysis, literature, feedback, etc.
Environmental management system
Context of the
Leadership (5)
organization (4)
Determine relevant internal and Top management shall demonstrate
external issues part of the context. leadership and commitment with
Establish if climate change is a respect to the EMS.
relevant issue. Establish, implement and maintain
Identify interested parties and their an environmental policy.
needs and expectations. Assign and communicate
Determine the scope of the EMS. responsibilities and authorities in
Establish, implement, maintain and relation to the EMS for the different
roles in the organization.
continually improve an EMS.
Environmental management system

Planning (6) Planning (6)

Determine risks and opportunities, Plan to take actions to address

including potential emergency significant environmental aspects,
situations. compliance obligations, risks and
Determine environmental aspects and opportunities.
associated impacts. Establish environmental objectives and
Determine which environmental plan for their achievement.
aspects have a significant impact.
Determine relevant compliance
obligations.
Environmental management system

Support (7) Support (7)

Determine and provide the resources Establish effective processes for

necessary for the EMS. internal and external
Establish a process to ensure communication.
competency. Control the documented information
Ensure the awareness of those of the EMS.
working on behalf of the organization.
Environmental management system

Performance
Operation (8)
evaluation (9)

Control processes to ensure that Monitor, measure, analyse and evaluate

environmental requirements are met. the environmental performance.
Consider the life cycle of products and Evaluate the fulfilment of compliance
services when establishing controls. obligations.
Control or influence outsourced Conduct internal audits of the EMS at
processes. planned intervals.
Prepare for emergency situations, test Top management shall review the EMS
and improve the preparations. periodically to ensure that it continues
to be suitable, effective and adequate.
Environmental management system

Improvement (10)

Manage nonconformities addressing their

causes with corrective actions.
Improve continually the EMS to enhance
environmental performance.
Certification for
organizations
Any organization can be certified for its EMS
An audit of the EMS shall be conducted
(initial certification audit)
The certification is usually valid for 3 years
Annual surveillance audits are conducted
Certification for
persons
Confirmation that competence requirements are met
Different levels (practitioner, auditor …)
Usually involves an exam
Thank you!