It is recognized that the environment is of vital importance in meeting today's needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own, while maintaining a balance between society and the economy. Achieving the goal of sustainable development is possible through balancing these three pillars of sustainability.
Sustainable development has increasingly gained importance due to growing social expectations for transparency and accountability, stricter regulations, rising environmental pressures from pollution, inefficient resource use, improper waste management, climate change, ecosystem degradation, and biodiversity loss. This situation has led organizations to adopt a systematic approach to environmental management by implementing ISO 14001:2015 Environmental Management Systems to contribute to the environmental dimension of sustainability.
The purpose of the Environmental Management System (EMS), as defined by ISO 14001:2015, is to provide organizations with a framework to protect the environment while responding to changing environmental conditions in balance with socioeconomic needs. ISO 14001:2015 sets requirements that enable organizations to achieve their intended outcomes within their management systems. A systematic approach to environmental management provides senior management with insights and options to ensure long-term success and contribute to sustainable development through:
The success of an environmental management system depends on the commitment of the organization at all levels and functions, under the leadership of top management. Organizations can enhance opportunities to increase beneficial environmental impacts, particularly those with strategic and competitive dimensions, while aiming to prevent or reduce negative environmental impacts.
Top management can effectively identify risks and opportunities by integrating environmental management into the organization’s business processes, strategic direction, and decision-making, as well as by aligning environmental management with all other management systems within the organization.
Demonstrating the successful implementation of ISO 14001:2015 can be used to assure relevant stakeholders that an effective environmental management system is in place.
The adaptation of ISO 14001:2015 does not in itself guarantee the most appropriate environmental outcomes. The implementation of the ISO 14001:2015 standard may vary from organization to organization (within the context of each organization).
Two organizations may carry out similar activities; however, even with different compliance obligations, different commitments in environmental policies, different environmental technologies, and different environmental performance objectives, compliance with the requirements of this standard can still be achieved.
The level of detail and complexity of the environmental management system will vary depending on the context of the organization, the scope of the environmental management system, the compliance obligations of the management system, and the nature of its activities, products, and services, including the environmental aspects and related environmental impacts of the management system.
The fundamental approach of the ISO 14001:2015 Environmental Management System is based on the concept known as Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA). The PDCA model provides a repetitive process used by organizations to achieve continuous improvement. It can be applied to the ISO 14001:2015 environmental management system and each of its components. PDCA can be briefly expressed as follows:
ISO 14001:2015 specifies the requirements for an environmental management system that an organization can use to improve its environmental performance. The ISO 14001:2015 standard is intended for organizations that aim to contribute to the environmental aspect of sustainability by systematically managing their environmental responsibilities. The ISO 14001:2015 standard helps organizations achieve the intended outcomes of their environmental management system, providing value to the environment, the organization itself, and relevant stakeholders. In alignment with the organization’s environmental policies, the outputs of an environmental management system include:
ISO 14001:2015 applies to organizations of all sizes, types, and structures and can be implemented to the environmental aspects of activities, products, and services that the organization can control or influence using a life cycle approach.
This standard does not specify particular environmental performance criteria. ISO 14001:2015, in whole or in part, can be used to systematically improve environmental management.
A declaration of compliance with ISO 14001:2015 is only valid if an organization's environmental management system meets all requirements of ISO 14001:2015 and fully satisfies them without any exceptions.