Understanding the new ISO 14001 requirements can be time-consuming.
ISO 14001, Overview ISO 14001 Environmental Management Systems registration is an internationally recognized standard developed by the International Standards. ISO 14001-Clause 4.3.1,Environmental aspects,ISO 14001-Clause 4.3 Planning,Activity, Aspects and impacts, Procedure for Aspects, Significant Aspects,Records. According to ISO, environmental aspects are any activities, services or products that relate to our environment. When the environment is changed, this is an environmental impact, whether the change is beneficial or adverse, and whether it results partly or wholly from the environmental aspects of the organization. According to the ISO 14001 standard, “an environmental aspect is an element of an organization’s activities, products, or services that has or may have an impact on the environment” and environmental impacts are “any change to the environment, whether adverse or beneficial, wholly or partially resulting from an organization’s environmental aspects.”. Oct 19, 2017 Getting to know the ISO 14001 requirements. The new ISO 14001 revision was published in 2015. The standard outlines requirements for an environmental management system (EMS), with a new emphasis on sustainability. To learn more about the standard, check out our ISO 14001 resource page. ISO 14001 is broken down into 10 sections, or clauses. ISO specifies the requirements for an environmental management system that an organization can use to improve its environmental performance. ISO 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.
The ISO 14001 standard isn’t exactly a page turner, either, ranking somewhere between your health insurance policy and TV user manual.
But it’s critical that you understand the ISO 14001 requirements in order to comply with the new standard.
In this post, we’ll break down the main requirements — at a high level and in plain English. Uninstall endnote x7 mac.
Getting to know the ISO 14001 requirements
The new ISO 14001 revision was published in 2015. The standard outlines requirements for an environmental management system (EMS), with a new emphasis on sustainability.
>>> To learn more about the standard, check out our ISO 14001 resource page.
ISO 14001 is broken down into 10 sections, or clauses. For this post, we’ll be focusing on clauses 4-10, which provide a framework for an EMS.
While you read, keep in mind that ISO 14001 doesn’t lay out any specific requirements for environmental performance. Instead, you’ll identify your own goals and areas of improvement within the framework established by the standard.
ISO 14001 requirements
Clause 4. Context of the organization:
As we’ve mentioned before, ISO 14001:2015 isn’t a “one size fits all” standard.
Naturally, the environmental issues and considerations that are relevant to, say, a transportation company are going to be very different from those of a utility company.
That’s why the standard requires each organization to explicitly evaluate who you are, what you do, who cares about you, and how you will respond. You’ll consider:
- What issues and conditions are relevant?
- What are our compliance obligations?
- What external issues affect our business?
- What internal issues affect our business and management system?
One of the most significant changes in 14001:2015 is that companies must evaluate the needs and expectations of their stakeholders.
Just like you’d consider what your customers want in a new product, you’ll have to consider what needs they want met in terms of your environmental performance.
All these considerations go into determining the scope of your EMS and the structure of the management system itself.
Clause 5. Leadership:
ISO 14001:2015, like the previous 2004 standard, requires you to develop an environmental policy that outlines roles, responsibilities, and authorities throughout the company.
But unlike the old standard, ISO 14001:2015 underlines the importance of leadership involvement.
Instead of one person wearing the “environmental management representative” hat, top management will be held responsible for the effectiveness of the EMS.
In order to comply with ISO 14001's leadership requirement, you’ll need to demonstrate that your leaders know your environmental objectives and are working to create a culture of continual environmental improvement.
Clause 6. Planning:
Under ISO 14001, companies must identify and plan for any activity that could impact the environment.
To meet this requirement, you’ll need to identify significant environmental aspects and impacts like:
- energy usage
- air emissions
- GHG emissions
- water pollution
- waste management
You’ll also need to identify your compliance obligations, like state and local regulations.
After you’ve identified potential risks and opportunities, you’ll need to determine your environmental objectives and plan specific actions to achieve those targets.
Clause 7. Support:
Environmental Aspects Iso 14001
Support is the largest section in the new ISO 14001 requirement. This clause looks at your resources, communication, and documentation for your EMS.
Under the new standard, it’s up to individual companies to determine what documentation is necessary for an effective management system, like how you’ll measure training effectiveness and demonstrate competence.
With the rise in technology and big data, the new standard emphasizes the use of digital documentation as a way to manage this information.
Finally, you’ll need to define how you’re going to communicate with stakeholders.
Clause 8. Operation:
This clause requires you to identify which of your activities might impact the environment, and define operational controls to minimize that impact.
To meet this requirement, you’ll need to create documented procedures like work instructions and preventive maintenance programs.
You’ll also need to have a documented emergency preparedness and response plan for potential accidents that could affect the environment, like a chemical spill.
Clause 9. Performance evaluation:
This clause requires you to determine how you’ll monitor, measure, analyze, and evaluate your EMS.
To meet this requirement, you’ll need to evaluate both your environmental performance, as well as ways to improve your management system.
This includes creating a system of internal audits and management review to ensure your EMS is working properly.
Clause 10. Improvement:
One of the most prominent themes in ISO 14001:2015 is a commitment to continual improvement.
To that end, the last clause requires you to determine how you’ll deal with nonconformity, including corrective actions, as well as actions for continual improvement actions.
Next steps
Clearly, there’s a lot to think about when you’re working toward compliance with the new ISO 14001 standard.
We’ve developed a free checklist to help you make sure you don’t miss any steps in your ISO 14001 implementation.
>>> For more information on ISO 14001, check out our resource page “The Definitive Guide to ISO 14001 Environmental Management”.
Back to PostsISO 14001:2015 Aspects and Their Impact: Waste Management
EHSQ Alliance Contributor
By Garry Cornell
Chapter 9 of The ISO 14001: 2015 Companion discusses managing typical environmental aspects and impacts of the standard. In Part 1 of our four-part series, author Garry Cornell examines the impact of waste.
ISO 14001 requires you to identify and reduce your environmental aspects. But what does this mean? What will auditors typically look for?
In truth, there is not just one answer. Different auditors will focus on different things. Chapter 9 gives some ideas about the sorts of issues that might come up, depending on what your business activities are. The chapter looks at common environmental aspects – such as waste, energy use and management, chemicals and plant and facilities maintenance – and briefly describes the controls and measures that can be put into place. This article examines the environmental impact of waste.
Waste
If waste is identified as a significant aspect at your facility, there are many things that can be done to reduce the environmental impacts. These make up the “waste hierarchy,” which is a preferred list of methods to manage waste, listed in order of best environmental options first:
Waste elimination and minimization – Prioritize waste elimination above other measures. Look to eliminate waste within the process, from materials purchased, to on-site processes, to any waste arising from your business. Look for alternatives, such as having outer packaging removed by the vendor.
Reuse – Look for ways to reuse waste for another purpose. For example, if you receive packaging, can you reuse this packaging in your process or use it to send items out?
Recycling – Segregate waste that can be recycled, such as cardboard, wood, metal, glass and plastics from “general” waste. In some areas of the world, there are recycling options available for almost all waste types, including wet food waste. There are differences between countries and regions on how the waste can be collected – either segregated into different waste streams or collected together and sorted by the waste collector. Choose a waste contractor that can offer you the best recycling options for your waste. In many cases, segregated and “clean” recyclable waste has a value and can be sold, either to the waste collector or to another user.
Recovery – The waste is sent to recover the energy from it, usually by incineration, or through anaerobic digestion that generates heat (and soil).
Landfill – This is the least-favored environmental option, as the waste is simply dumped into the ground where it generates methane gases and contaminated “leachate” wastewater.
Organizations are now able to deal with their waste to achieve “zero-to-landfill.” This means waste is reused, recycled or recovered so nothing is disposed of to the landfill. This typically is achieved through good segregation and strong discipline in the organization, so people segregate waste correctly.
In most cases, having good operational control in place is essential for good waste management. Once you have found the best way to treat the waste, the next challenge is to get everyone to put the right waste in the right place. This is often more difficult than it sounds!
Writing how to deal with waste into operational procedures is one step, especially where there is good discipline to follow procedure. Good signage also helps – clearly labeling what should go into each receptacle, or even using pictures. Control over waste areas is also useful, with clear responsibility for waste storage areas that sometimes are left without a clear owner.
Click here to purchase the complete book, 'The ISO 14001:2015 Companion.'
Click here to purchase the complete book, 'The ISO 14001:2015 Companion.'
(Copyright ©2018 Advisera Expert Solutions)
About the author: Garry Cornell works with businesses to improve environmental management through training, auditing and advice. He has 25 years' experience working with some of the world's leading businesses and is the author of 'The ISO14001:2015 Companion.'
For additional information about ISO 14001: 2015: