Revisions on Environmental Management Standard ISO 14001

The revision of ISO 14001 is on its way to guarantee that it will continue its relevance and will remain significant within the next 2 decades. Being one of the most successful standards of ISO, the structure of ISO 14001 aims to help in the improvement of management control in order to reduce environmental impacts.

Utilizing ISO 14001 establishes a sense of security to the organization’s customers, employees and investors in terms of the environmental effects of its operations. Given the demands for companies to have an improved internal control over the environmental implications of their business operations in the last decade, incorporating ISO 14001 in their business provides a competitive edge. The implementation and application of Environmental Management System in an organization’s operations is highly beneficial on their asset value and guaranteesfavorable public perception that can put them in the global market, resulting to an increased access to new customers and partners.

In 2012, WG 5 consisting of experts from 25 countries, ISO/TC207 members and the ISO technical committee of the Environmental Management convened at the German Institute for Standardization (DIN) for the undergoing second revision of the ISO 14001. The recent work of ISO’s Joint Technical Coordination Group (JTCG) on High Level Management System Standard (MSS) Structure, providing common terms, common structure and common text to cover all ISO standards, is one of the significant conditions that will be considered by WG 5 in the revision. Though ISO 14001 already has an existing Management System Standard, it will be the first ISO standard that will be revised to adopt the latest MMS developed by JTCG.

The second consideration in the revision will focus on all the factors of the possible implications evolving stakeholder expectations and new developments in EMS. Covered in the second part are themes revolving around improvement in environmental impact, sustainable growth, regulatory and legal compliance and business management strategies. Application of ISO 14001 to small businesses, environmental impact to the supply and value chain, engagement of stakeholders and external communications were also analysed during the convening of WG 5.

The methodology of the revision poses a higher level of consideration for broader issues that allows organizations to address environmental impacts on and from its own actions and natural causes. Focusing on integration of environmental decision-making and organizational plan, the approach is strategically cyclical and operational levels require modification on the process. The delivery system of the EMS, if properly utilized, will bring definite credit to the organization’s management at all levels for achieving success. Integration will manifest at strategic and organizational level as environmental and business objectives are fused into one.

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