<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="color:#212529"><span style="background-color:#ffffff">ISO 14001:2015 specifies the requirements for an environmental management system that an organization can use to enhance its environmental performance. ISO 14001:2015 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.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p style="text-align:start"><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="color:#212529"><span style="background-color:#ffffff">ISO 14001:2015 helps an organization achieve the intended outcomes of its environmental management system, which provide value for the environment, the organization itself and interested parties. Consistent with the organization&#39;s environmental policy, the intended outcomes of an environmental management system include:</span></span></span></span></p>

<p style="text-align:start"><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="color:#212529"><span style="background-color:#ffffff">&middot; enhancement of environmental performance;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p style="text-align:start"><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="color:#212529"><span style="background-color:#ffffff">&middot; fulfilment of compliance obligations;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p style="text-align:start"><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="color:#212529"><span style="background-color:#ffffff">&middot; achievement of environmental objectives.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p style="text-align:start"><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="color:#212529"><span style="background-color:#ffffff">ISO 14001:2015 is applicable to any organization, regardless of size, type and nature, and applies to the environmental aspects of its activities, products and services that the organization determines it can either control or influence considering a life cycle perspective. ISO 14001:2015 does not state specific environmental performance criteria.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p style="text-align:start"><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="color:#212529"><span style="background-color:#ffffff">ISO 14001:2015 can be used in whole or in part to systematically improve environmental management. Claims of conformity to ISO 14001:2015, however, are not acceptable unless all its requirements are incorporated into an organization&#39;s environmental management system and fulfilled without exclusion.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"><strong><span style="color:black">WHAT IS ISO 14001:2015 &ndash;&nbsp;ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS?</span></strong></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-size:10.5pt"><span style="color:#090909">ISO 14001 is the international standard that specifies requirements for an effective&nbsp;<a 608b082d0d46eb3fcdb48ada="" data-feathr-click-track="true" data-feathr-link-aids="["><span style="color:#0b6bb5">environmental management system (EMS)</span></a>. It provides a framework that an organization can follow, rather than establishing environmental performance requirements.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-size:10.5pt"><span style="color:#090909">Part of the&nbsp;<a 608b082d0d46eb3fcdb48ada="" data-feathr-click-track="true" data-feathr-link-aids="["><span style="color:#0b6bb5">ISO 14000 family of standards on environmental management</span></a>, ISO 14001 is a voluntary standard that organizations can certify to. Integrating it with other management systems standards, most commonly&nbsp;<a 608b082d0d46eb3fcdb48ada="" data-feathr-click-track="true" data-feathr-link-aids="["><span style="color:#0b6bb5">ISO 9001</span></a>, can further assist in accomplishing organizational goals.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-size:10.5pt"><span style="color:#090909">The&nbsp;<a 608b082d0d46eb3fcdb48ada="" data-feathr-click-track="true" data-feathr-link-aids="["><span style="color:#0b6bb5">International Organization for Standardization (ISO)</span></a>&nbsp;defines an environmental management system as &ldquo;part of the management system used to manage environmental aspects, fulfill compliance obligations, and address risks and opportunities.&rdquo; The framework in the ISO 14001 standard can be used within a&nbsp;<a 608b082d0d46eb3fcdb48ada="" data-feathr-click-track="true" data-feathr-link-aids="["><span style="color:#0b6bb5">plan-do-check-act (PDCA)</span></a>&nbsp;approach to&nbsp;<a 608b082d0d46eb3fcdb48ada="" data-feathr-click-track="true" data-feathr-link-aids="["><span style="color:#0b6bb5">continuous improvement</span></a>.</span></span></span></span></p>

<ul>
	<li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"><span style="font-size:10.5pt"><span style="color:#090909"><a 608b082d0d46eb3fcdb48ada="" data-feathr-click-track="true" data-feathr-link-aids="["><span style="color:#0b6bb5">Who should use the 14001:2015 revision?</span></a></span></span></span></span></span></li>
	<li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"><span style="font-size:10.5pt"><span style="color:#090909"><a 608b082d0d46eb3fcdb48ada="" data-feathr-click-track="true" data-feathr-link-aids="["><span style="color:#0b6bb5">What are the benefits of ISO 14001?</span></a></span></span></span></span></span></li>
	<li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"><span style="font-size:10.5pt"><span style="color:#090909"><a 608b082d0d46eb3fcdb48ada="" data-feathr-click-track="true" data-feathr-link-aids="["><span style="color:#0b6bb5">ISO 14001 certification</span></a></span></span></span></span></span></li>
	<li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"><span style="font-size:10.5pt"><span style="color:#090909"><a 608b082d0d46eb3fcdb48ada="" data-feathr-click-track="true" data-feathr-link-aids="["><span style="color:#0b6bb5">ISO 14000 family of standards</span></a></span></span></span></span></span></li>
	<li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"><span style="font-size:10.5pt"><span style="color:#090909"><a 608b082d0d46eb3fcdb48ada="" data-feathr-click-track="true" data-feathr-link-aids="["><span style="color:#0b6bb5">ISO 14001 resources</span></a></span></span></span></span></span></li>
</ul>

<h2><span style="font-size:13pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:Cambria,"><span style="color:#4f81bd"><strong><a 608b082d0d46eb3fcdb48ada="" data-feathr-click-track="true" data-feathr-link-aids="["><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="color:black">WHO SHOULD USE THE ISO 14001:2015 REVISION?</span></span></a></strong></span></span></span></span></h2>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-size:10.5pt"><span style="color:#090909">ISO 14001:2015 should be used by any organization that wishes to set up, improve, or maintain an environmental management system to conform with its established environmental policy and requirements. The requirements of the standard can be incorporated into any environmental management system, the extent to which is determined by several factors including the organization&rsquo;s industry, environmental policy, products and service offerings, and location.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-size:10.5pt"><span style="color:#090909">ISO 14001:2015 is relevant to all organizations, regardless of size, location, sector, or industry.</span></span></span></span></p>

<h2><span style="font-size:13pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:Cambria,"><span style="color:#4f81bd"><strong><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="color:black">What topics does ISO 14001:2015 cover?</span></span></strong></span></span></span></span></h2>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-size:10.5pt"><span style="color:#090909">At the highest level, ISO 14001:2015 covers the following topics with regard to environmental management systems:</span></span></span></span></p>

<ul>
	<li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"><span style="font-size:10.5pt"><span style="color:#090909">Context of the organization</span></span></span></span></span></li>
	<li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"><span style="font-size:10.5pt"><span style="color:#090909">Leadership</span></span></span></span></span></li>
	<li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"><span style="font-size:10.5pt"><span style="color:#090909">Planning</span></span></span></span></span></li>
	<li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"><span style="font-size:10.5pt"><span style="color:#090909">Support</span></span></span></span></span></li>
	<li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"><span style="font-size:10.5pt"><span style="color:#090909">Operation</span></span></span></span></span></li>
	<li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"><span style="font-size:10.5pt"><span style="color:#090909">Performance evaluation</span></span></span></span></span></li>
	<li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"><span style="font-size:10.5pt"><span style="color:#090909">Improvement</span></span></span></span></span></li>
</ul>

<h2><span style="font-size:13pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:Cambria,"><span style="color:#4f81bd"><strong><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="color:black">14001:2004 vs. 14001:2015</span></span></strong></span></span></span></span></h2>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-size:10.5pt"><span style="color:#090909">The 2015 revision of ISO 14001 introduces a number of changes from previous versions.&nbsp;<a 608b082d0d46eb3fcdb48ada="" data-feathr-click-track="true" data-feathr-link-aids="["><span style="color:#0b6bb5">A review of 20 years of research on this standard</span></a>&nbsp;is available for ASQ member.&nbsp; &nbsp;</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-size:10.5pt"><span style="color:#090909">As part of the effort to structure all ISO standards in the same way, the ISO 14001:2015 revisions include incorporating a required high-level structure, using mandatory definitions, and incorporating common standards requirements and clauses.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-size:10.5pt"><span style="color:#090909">10 major areas of impact of the 2015 revision:</span></span></span></span></p>

<ol>
	<li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"><span style="font-size:10.5pt"><span style="color:#090909">Expansion in EMS coverage and scope</span></span></span></span></span></li>
	<li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"><span style="font-size:10.5pt"><span style="color:#090909">Required interactions with external parties</span></span></span></span></span></li>
	<li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"><span style="font-size:10.5pt"><span style="color:#090909">New requirements for leadership engagement</span></span></span></span></span></li>
	<li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"><span style="font-size:10.5pt"><span style="color:#090909">Expanded legal compliance requirements</span></span></span></span></span></li>
	<li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"><span style="font-size:10.5pt"><span style="color:#090909">Need for risk-based planning and controls</span></span></span></span></span></li>
	<li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"><span style="font-size:10.5pt"><span style="color:#090909">New documentation requirements</span></span></span></span></span></li>
	<li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"><span style="font-size:10.5pt"><span style="color:#090909">Expanded operational control requirements</span></span></span></span></span></li>
	<li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"><span style="font-size:10.5pt"><span style="color:#090909">Changes in competence and awareness requirements</span></span></span></span></span></li>
	<li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"><span style="font-size:10.5pt"><span style="color:#090909">Impacts on the internal audit program</span></span></span></span></span></li>
	<li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"><span style="font-size:10.5pt"><span style="color:#090909">Increased certification costs</span></span></span></span></span></li>
</ol>

<h2><span style="font-size:13pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:Cambria,"><span style="color:#4f81bd"><strong><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="color:black">Integrating ISO 9001 and ISO 14001</span></span></strong></span></span></span></span></h2>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-size:10.5pt"><span style="color:#090909"><a 608b082d0d46eb3fcdb48ada="" data-feathr-click-track="true" data-feathr-link-aids="["><span style="color:#0b6bb5">Integrating management systems standards</span></a>&nbsp;can increase focus while reducing the potential for confusion. Elements of&nbsp;<a 608b082d0d46eb3fcdb48ada="" data-feathr-click-track="true" data-feathr-link-aids="["><span style="color:#0b6bb5">ISO 9001</span></a>&nbsp;can be enhanced with corresponding components of ISO 14001.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-size:10.5pt"><span style="color:#090909">Responsibilities for the combined standards might include:</span></span></span></span></p>

<ul>
	<li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"><span style="font-size:10.5pt"><span style="color:#090909">Drafting a policy statement and quantifiable objectives</span></span></span></span></span></li>
	<li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"><span style="font-size:10.5pt"><span style="color:#090909">Setting up organizational charts and job descriptions</span></span></span></span></span></li>
	<li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"><span style="font-size:10.5pt"><span style="color:#090909">Providing adequate resources</span></span></span></span></span></li>
	<li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"><span style="font-size:10.5pt"><span style="color:#090909">Managing documentation for both standards in a single document control system</span></span></span></span></span></li>
	<li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"><span style="font-size:10.5pt"><span style="color:#090909">Appointing a management representative as well as coordinators for the quality and environmental managements systems</span></span></span></span></span></li>
</ul>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-size:10.5pt"><span style="color:#090909">When adding ISO 14001 components to those of ISO 9001, planning must be expanded to deal with environmental impacts, and the inspection and test systems modified to cover environmental conformance. The organization must meet the environmental expectations of customers and the government, and it must incorporate environmental management elements into internal audit programs and training sessions.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-size:10.5pt"><span style="color:#090909">ISO 14001 can be integrated with standards besides ISO 9001 in order to provide synergy with other systems, such as OHSAS 18001 and&nbsp;<a 608b082d0d46eb3fcdb48ada="" data-feathr-click-track="true" data-feathr-link-aids="["><span style="color:#0b6bb5">ISO 13485</span></a>.</span></span></span></span></p>

<h2><span style="font-size:13pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:Cambria,"><span style="color:#4f81bd"><strong><a name="Benefits"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="color:black">WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF ISO 14001:2015?</span></span></a></strong></span></span></span></span></h2>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-size:10.5pt"><span style="color:#090909">Using ISO 14001:2015 has many benefits for organizations with environmental management systems. Organizations and companies find that using the standard helps them:</span></span></span></span></p>

<ul>
	<li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"><span style="font-size:10.5pt"><span style="color:#090909">Improve resource efficiency</span></span></span></span></span></li>
	<li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"><span style="font-size:10.5pt"><span style="color:#090909">Reduce waste</span></span></span></span></span></li>
	<li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"><span style="font-size:10.5pt"><span style="color:#090909">Drive down costs</span></span></span></span></span></li>
	<li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"><span style="font-size:10.5pt"><span style="color:#090909">Provide assurance that environmental impact is being measured</span></span></span></span></span></li>
	<li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"><span style="font-size:10.5pt"><span style="color:#090909">Gain competitive advantage in supply chain design</span></span></span></span></span></li>
	<li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"><span style="font-size:10.5pt"><span style="color:#090909">Increase new business opportunities</span></span></span></span></span></li>
	<li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"><span style="font-size:10.5pt"><span style="color:#090909">Meet legal obligations</span></span></span></span></span></li>
	<li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"><span style="font-size:10.5pt"><span style="color:#090909">Increase stakeholder and customer trust</span></span></span></span></span></li>
	<li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"><span style="font-size:10.5pt"><span style="color:#090909">Improve overall environmental impact</span></span></span></span></span></li>
	<li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"><span style="font-size:10.5pt"><span style="color:#090909">Manage environmental obligations with consistency&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></span></li>
</ul>

<h2><span style="font-size:13pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:Cambria,"><span style="color:#4f81bd"><strong><a 608b082d0d46eb3fcdb48ada="" data-feathr-click-track="true" data-feathr-link-aids="["><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="color:black">ISO 14001 CERTIFICATION</span></span></a></strong></span></span></span></span></h2>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-size:10.5pt"><span style="color:#090909">Organizations that have already achieved ISO 14001 certification are encouraged to transition to the 2015 version. Organizations will have a three-year transition period to update their environmental management systems to the new standard.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-size:10.5pt"><span style="color:#090909">To get started with ISO 14001:2015:</span></span></span></span></p>

<ul>
	<li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"><span style="font-size:10.5pt"><span style="color:#090909">Review existing quality management system requirements (<a 608b082d0d46eb3fcdb48ada="" data-feathr-click-track="true" data-feathr-link-aids="["><span style="color:#0b6bb5">ISO 9001:2015</span></a>)</span></span></span></span></span></li>
	<li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"><span style="font-size:10.5pt"><span style="color:#090909">Purchase&nbsp;<a 608b082d0d46eb3fcdb48ada="" data-feathr-click-track="true" data-feathr-link-aids="["><span style="color:#0b6bb5">ISO 14001:2015</span></a></span></span></span></span></span></li>
	<li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"><span style="font-size:10.5pt"><span style="color:#090909">Get&nbsp;<a 608b082d0d46eb3fcdb48ada="" data-feathr-click-track="true" data-feathr-link-aids="["><span style="color:#0b6bb5">ISO 14001 training</span></a></span></span></span></span></span></li>
	<li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"><span style="font-size:10.5pt"><span style="color:#090909">Certify to ISO 14001</span></span></span></span></span></li>
</ul>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
