ISO 14001:2015 Environmental Management System Requirements

We have broken down the ISO 14001:2015 Standard requirements in order to make it easer to understand and also help you and your organization put the requirements into action. ISO 14001:2015 is the latest revision of the ISO 14001 standard. Within the requirements their are 10 sections (otherwise referred to as clauses) along with supporting subsections (subclauses). Requirements 1-3 are general information, whereas 4-10 are to applied to your Environmental Management System (EMS). In order to successfully implement ISO 14001:2015 you must fulfill the requirements within 4-10.

Expand each section below for a summary of the clause and a link to more information.

Learn more about ISO 9001 and how to get certified with our Free 14001:2015 Quick Start Kit.

Section 0: Introduction

This section introduces the purpose, principles and key concepts of the standard, including risk-based thinking and the process approach. <ISO 14001 Introduction>

Section 1: Scope

This section defines the scope of the 9001:2015 standard. In summary, the scope includes specifying requirements for a QMS of any organization. <ISO 14001 Explained>

Section 2: Normative References

The supporting standard referenced in ISO 9001:2015 and is indispensable for its application is ISO 9000:2015 which covers terminology and fundamentals. This and other supporting standards make up the 9000 series. <ISO 14001 Supporting Standards>

Section 3: Terms and Definitions

Terminology used throughout this standard comes directly from ISO 14001:2015, environmental management systems – Fundamentals and vocabulary. <ISO 15001 Explained>

Section 4: Context of the Organization

Determine external and internal issues, the needs and expectations of interested parties, environmental management system scope and its processes. <ISO 14001 Context>

Section 5: Leadership

Top management to demonstrate leadership and commitment, establish and communicate a environmental policy, and ensure responsibilities and authorities are assigned, communicated and understood. <ISO 14001 Leadership>

Section 6: Planning

Organizational Environmental Management System Planning to address organizational risks, opportunities, changes and quality objectives. <ISO 14001 Planning>

Section 7: Support

Provide resource needs, ensure employees are competent and aware, and include documented information to support your environmental management system. <ISO 14001 Support>

Section 8: Operation

Plan and control processes needed to meet the requirements for products and services (Design and development, external providers, production and service provision, release of products and services, nonconforming outputs). <ISO 14001 Operation>

Section 9: Performance Evaluation

Monitor, measure, analyze, and evaluate your environmental management system. <ISO 14001 Performance Evaluation>

Section 10: Improvement

Select opportunities for improvement, take action against nonconformities, implement corrective actions as necessary, and continually improve your environmental management system. <ISO 14001 Improvement>