“We offer Consultation, Certification & Training Processing and Gap Analysis for the businesses determined for ISO 14001:2015 Certification”
ISO 14001:2015 is one of the most successful ISO management standards. Based on a former British Standard (BS 7750), it was published in 1996 and since then over 300.000 companies worldwide implemented an environmental management system based on the standard’s requirements.
Organizations benefit from the implementation of an environmental management system based on ISO 14001 by improving their environmental performance, saving resources, energy and money.
The popularity of ISO 14001 is also a result of the continuous efforts to revise and update the standard, keeping it in line with current ecological, political and social developments. In 2004 a first revision introduced minor changes to ISO 14001, in order to align it better with the ISO 9001 Quality Management Standard, to make its requirements clearer and to facilitate the integration of quality and environmental management systems. During the last correction of the standard in 2009 which did not include new requirements, ISO announced a deeper revision which is now expected to be concluded in the middle of the year 2015.
Adoption of the High Level Structure:
ISO 14001:2015 will be structured according to the so called “High Level Structure” of the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1, Consolidated ISO supplement, 2014, Annex SL, Appendix 2 which sets out the high level structure, identical core text and common terms and core definitions that are to form, when possible, the nucleus of future and revised management system standards such as ISO 9001 and ISO 14001.
The ISO 14001:2015 will have the following 3 introductory clauses, followed by 7 clauses with requirements:
Content changes:
In the DIS version we see environmental performance gain prominence while addressing risk; life cycle of products; and, understanding the needs and concerns of interested parties in the context of the organization.
When it comes to value chain planning and control, ISO 14001:2015 will introduce a new set of requirements to manage or influence upstream and downstream processes. These include all outsourced activities, such as transport, packaging and disposal, as well as the procurement of goods and services.
The main changes are related to:
The main content changes in detail:
Clause 4 “Context of the organization” was included as a completely new clause. It requires a better and more strategic understanding of all the factors affecting the way organizations manage their environmental responsibilities.
Clause 5 “Leadership” recognizes that leadership commitment is critical for the implementation of an EMS, and, in consequence, confirms that the implementation of the EMS is the full responsibility of top management. It requires much more commitment, responsiveness, support and communication from the top management level of an organization. Top management will be expected to ensure that the environmental policy and environmental objectives are established and are compatible with the strategic direction and the context of the organization.
Clause 6 “Planning” requires now, similar to the new requirements of the revised ISO 9001 and in line with the new High Level Structure, that the organization determines the risks associated with threats and opportunities that need to be addressed. The new risk approach covers also the specific requirement for preventive action.
Clause 7 “Support” will not include new requirements but is a bit more prescriptive in relation to resource, competence awareness and especially to the required internal and external communication which shall be more appropriate, transparent and reliable.
Clause 8 “Operations” requires now – consistent with a life cycle perspective – the consideration of the value chain that impacts the environmental management system and the control of changes and outsourced processes. It is also more prescriptive in relation to emergency preparedness and response.
Clause 9 “Performance evaluation” now includes in a single new clause and in line with the new High Level Structure several already existing requirements from the current version of ISO 14001, including monitoring, measurement, analysis, evaluation of environmental performance, evaluation of compliance, internal audits and management review.
Clause 10 “Improvement” contains the current non-conformity and corrective action clause but is more structured and more demanding in relation to the consideration of nonconformities and the resulting actions.
What we offer?
We, at Niall Services offer consultation, training, and certification processing and gap analysis for the organizations striving for ISO 14001:2015 certification or related requirements. We offer our services in several areas and regions including Vapi, Surat, Rajkot, Vadodara, Baroda, Ahmadabad, Pune, Mumbai, Ankleshwar, Bangalore, Kuwait, UAE, China, Japan, France, UK, Europe and Canada and many more.
We offer a wide range of customized training programs related to ISO 14001:2015 certifications to suit the specific requisites of the customers. These include: