The future of ISO 14001 is nearer than you may think, find out more about why it is being updated, what issues may impact your environmental management system in this article.
In this article, I share some of the key points that are likely to impact on your environmental management system. You will want to catch-up on all the content of this episode.
I travelled to San Diego, California on the west coast of the United States to a city where the land meets the Pacific Ocean that is still an operational port, a city full of historic districts for the many tourists that meet here every year.
The reason to be in such a lovely city was to meet up with other international Technical Experts to review the current development of an update to ISO 14001:2015, which is, currently, a Committee Draft (CD) to resolve comments made by National Standardisation Bodies, such as BSI and ANSI, & looking forward to a wider commenting round later in 2024.
This episode breaks down the current status of the revision process covering:
- Why is an update to ISO 14001:2015 being developed?
- What can be expected from the update?
- When can we expect the ISO 14001:2015 amendment?
Why is it being developed?
So, let’s look at the reason for the update.
In order to prepare for a potential revision, which could take place in as early as 2026, ISO reached out in conjunction with its committee experts to sound out the marketplace. The preparations included recommendations from a strategic planning study group looking at Future Challenges for EMS, which sought to identify the future needs and potential direction for any possible revision of ISO 14001.
This horizon-scanning report on future challenges was followed by feedback from a global user community between September 2021, which asked targeted four primary questions of interest covering:
- What is the nature and extent of value that users gain from ISO 14001 with regard to environmental management and business management?
- How can ISO 14001 and related standards be improved to address the needs and expectations of current and potential users?
- To what extent should ISO 14001 address or strengthen attention to future challenges concepts and recommendations?
- To what extent are users interested in additional guidance in relation to specific environmental topic areas (i.e., as part of the ISO 14002 guidance series).
Following the completion of the survey, its output was, finally, published in 2023 and is freely available from the ISO website here
Finally, the development takes into account of the ISO directives Annex SL changes, which proscribes a common high-level structure for all Type A Management System Standards, such as ISO 14001 and ISO 9001 to ensure a level of compatible requirements for those users adopting two or more management systems within their organisation.
Whilst, the Annex SL is aimed at Management System Standards writers, it provides insight into changes for the ISO 14001 including:
- Clarity that where many requirements in the Harmonized Structure use the verb “determine”. MSS writers should be aware that this does not specifically require documented information to be available as evidence of conformity.
- The use of the phrase “the documented information is available” for when documents should be maintained & “the documented information shall be available as evidence” to indicate the retention of a record.
There are, of course, other changes to the presentation and clarification.
A copy of the latest version of the Annex SL Appendix 2 (normative) Harmonized structure for MSS with guidance for use can be freely downloaded from the ISO website here.
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What can we expect?
The updating of ISO 14001:0215 is designed to clarify the intent behind key requirements and provide additional guidance. The drafting has looked at seven specific themes identified to further explore clarification of the requirements of ISO 14001:2015, namely:
- Alignment of strategy, business processes and an integrated management system approach
- Understanding context and Risks & Opportunities
- Life Cycle Perspective
- Highlighting technical topics as the ISO 14002 series develops guidance in aspects such as climate, waste, water etc.
- External reporting
- Engagement and the culture of environmental responsibility
- Outsourced processes and Supply Chain
The ISO 14001:2015 amendment will follow the earlier amendment on climate change – See my video here and in the Description Box – is focused on clarifying text and providing additional guidance, while limiting new requirements to those required by Harmonized Structure (or Annex SL), for all management system standards. The overall objective of this amendment is to ensure the existing requirements are understood in the correct manner to support organizations with implementation of their EMS.
It is not certain whether the amendment will be a standard, which together with ISO 14001:2015, the current amendment 1 on climate change, have to be read together to understand the requirement or whether it will be published as a consolidated version incorporating the current ISO 14001:2015, and the two amendments together in one document.
When can we expect the ISO 14001:2015 amendment?
The timeline has already been started by the ISO Technical Committee SC1 through its Working Group 15 with initial meetings from September 2023 to February 2024.
Out of these initial meetings, the discussions led to a Committee Draft (ISO CD 14001), which was circulated for comment within the ISO Committee, TC 207 / SC1 between March and April 2024.
The Ballot and comments are reviewed in a process of disposition to accept, accept with amendments or reject the comment. This process is anticipated take place over the period: May to July 2024 and is anticipated to lead to a DIS (Draft International Standard).
Between August and December 2024, it is anticipated that the Draft International Standard will be a further balloting with ISO Members and a commenting period within ISO Members with a public consultation followed by disposition of any comments by the Working Group between January – June 2025.
Out of this process, it is anticipated that a FDIS (Final Draft International Standard) for a final ballot period to occur from June to August 2025. Any comments at this final stage will not change the requirements or introduce new requirements but are designed to correct any grammatical, spelling or obvious errors. This process is intended to be undertaken in September 2025.
Finally, the final output from this long process will lead to the final publication anticipated to be in October 2025.
If this article has helped to advance your understanding of the development of the update of ISO 14001:2015, please leave a comment in the box below, if it has help you.
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