ISO 14001:2015 has been published!

One of the world's most popular standards for environmental management has just been revised, with key improvements that make it fit for the future.

ISO 14001:2015, which sets out the requirements for an environmental management standard, is one of the world’s most widely used standards and a key business tool for many organizations. With more than 300 000 certificates currently issued around the world, it ranks high on the agenda of many organizations worldwide who place importance on their environmental impact.

A newly revised version has just been published, to ensure it remains relevant to the marketplace. ISO 14001:2015 responds to the latest trends, such as an increasing recognition by companies of the need to factor in both external and internal elements that influence their impact, including climate volatility.

Other key improvements in the new version include:

• A greater commitment from leadership

• An increased alignment with strategic direction

• Greater protection for the environment, with a focus on proactive initiatives

• More effective communication, driven through a communications strategy

• Life-cycle thinking, considering each stage of a product or service, from development to end-of-life.

Read the ISO Press Release in full here. 

This  “new” edition officially replaces the previous 2004 edition of the ISO 14001 standard. The requirements of this final revision falls in line with the FDIS content reviewed with NQA clients, auditors and staff in the past few months.

It is projected that NQA will begin offering ISO 14001:2015 within a month (i.e. October 2015), allowing time for clients, auditors and staff to adequately develop the necessary competencies and finalize preparations in accordance to this new published standard.

There have been changes to the structure, key concepts and terminology of the standard, here is a link to more information: ISO 14001:2015 Product Page.