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Following a lengthy revision process, the new ISO 14001 standard was published on September 15, 2015. This standard adopts the new "High Level Structure" (HLS), which is common to management system standards such as ISO 9001 and the upcoming ISO 45001 (occupational health and safety).
The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) sought to revise this 2004 standard to reflect changing markets and societal expectations:
- Public expectations regarding environmental control are much more precise than in 2004
- Increased need for transparency regarding the environmental performance of organizations
- Desire to align management systems (ISO 9001, ISO 50001, etc.)
- Commitment to positioning environmental approaches at the core of corporate strategy
This new standard takes a broader view, encouraging every company to adopt a holistic approach. Environmental impacts should no longer be assessed solely in a local context, but rather viewed in the context of the environmental impacts across the entire product value chain. The concept of environmental protection is now clearly emphasized. Consequently, the identification of environmental aspects and impacts must be carried out from a life-cycle perspective, specifically taking into account impacts related to product transport, usage, and end-of-life.
Management commitment has been redefined, and the standard now requires the consideration of stakeholder expectations. The goal is to place environmental issues at the heart of corporate strategy and to leverage environmental performance as a driver for growth. ISO positions this standard as a tool designed to contribute to the environmental pillar of sustainable development (see Feedback on the implementation of ISO 14001:2015)
ISO 14001 standard: identifying stakeholder expectations
The standard requires organizations
- to identify their relevant stakeholders (DREAL[1], local residents, local authorities, employees, shareholders, etc.)
- to determine their expectations
- to select from these expectations those that must become compliance obligations (i.e., requirements, such as regulatory obligations)
This development marks a real change from the 2004 version of the ISO 14001 standard, which mainly required that relevant external requests be addressed (complaints, etc.).
Here, the ISO 14001 standard mandates a proactive approach and invites companies to identify the expectations of their interested parties in order to understand their needs and the associated issues. It should be noted that the standard does not impose a specific methodology or means for carrying out this work. Therefore, each company must implement an appropriate approach based on its own context.
It should also be noted that the standard now requires voluntary external communication. It is no longer possible to state in the Environmental manual or in a management review report that the company does not engage in external communication regarding its significant environmental aspects. Companies certified to ISO 14001 must establish a communication process and communicate relevant information regarding their environmental management system externally.
[1] DREAL: Regional Directorate for Environment, Planning and Housing
Understanding the organization and its context
Another novelty introduced with this 2015 version is the obligation to determine external and internal issues that could influence the achievement of expected environmental results. For example, environmental conditions related to climate, air quality, existing pollution, and biodiversity can affect the company's purpose or be affected by the company's environmental impacts.
Internal issues, such as skills management, the ability to implement new technologies, and the management of management systems, must potentially be taken into account. This understanding of environmental issues at the highest level of the company should help strengthen (or at the very least ensure consistency between) the company's strategic directions and its environmental approach.
The ISO 14001 standard thus repositions the management system at the Management level and aims to ensure that it is truly integrated into governance processes rather than being solely driven by the Environment department.
The tools implemented within the framework of CSR initiatives (materiality assessments) help meet this new requirement.
Note: Once again, the ISO 14001 standard does not impose a methodology for defining external and internal issues. Each company must define an approach adapted to its own context.
Identification of risks and opportunities
The standard requires the company to identify its risks and opportunities and take them into account in its environmental management system when:
- defining its objectives,
- developing its action plan,
- management reviews.
This involves conducting a risk analysis and identifying potential negative and positive effects (i.e., threats and opportunities).
Example (source: ISO 14001 standard annex): compliance obligations can create risks and opportunities, such as non-compliance (which can damage the company's reputation or lead to legal action) or performance that exceeds compliance obligations (which can enhance the company's reputation).
Similarly, the presence of historical soil contamination can constitute a risk (inability to use certain land or, worse, a potential obligation to decontaminate); conversely, commissioning a biomass boiler can be an opportunity, particularly in terms of the company's image.
Environmental analysis from a life cycle perspective
Depending on the scope of certification, companies must conduct their environmental analysis from a life cycle perspective. It is worth noting here that the standard does not require a full Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of manufactured products. However, serious consideration must be given to the life cycle stages that the company controls or can influence.
In this case, the identification of environmental aspects and impacts must take into account raw material acquisition, design, production, transportation, use, treatment, and end-of-life disposal. The life cycle stages to be considered will vary depending on the activity, product, or service and the organization of the company.
For many companies, this change will have a significant impact on their procedure for identifying environmental aspects and impacts.
ISO 14001 Standard: Environmental Performance Evaluation
The organization must evaluate its environmental performance and assess the levels of results achieved. The standard specifies that performance can be measured using quantitative or qualitative results.
First, it will be necessary to define monitoring, measurement, and analysis methods, as appropriate, to ensure the validity of the results.
Second, the criteria against which the organization will evaluate its environmental performance must be defined.
New indicators must therefore be devised for companies currently certified under the 2004 version of the ISO 14001 standard. ISO 14031 can be a useful tool, as it provides a methodology for identifying relevant indicators and evaluating environmental performance.
Through these 5 changes:
- reflection on environmental issues in the context of global, economic, and social challenges,
- greater consideration of environmental stakeholders,
- management commitment to promoting environmental management through a process-based approach,
- application of the standard across the entire product value chain (outsourced processes, products, and services) using a life-cycle perspective,
- improvement of environmental performance,
The 2015 version of the ISO 14001 standard aims to adapt to new challenges and offer an ambitious yet pragmatic approach for companies, thereby serving as the environmental pillar of a CSR strategy.