ISO 14001:2015 - sustainable environmental management

ISO 14001 – the internationally most successful environmental standard. It all started in 1991 when ISO first pondered the idea of developing a standard that would allow private-sector organizations to implement a suitable environmental management system applicable in all countries and all business sectors. After the need for such a standard was determined, Technical Committee ISO/ TC207 was created in 1993, which then proceeded to work on the development of this new environmental management system standard. Finally, in 1996, ISO 14001 was published.

The current version, ISO 14001:2015, came out in September 2015 following a comprehensive revision. It introduces requirements imposed by the new high-level structure for ISO management system standards as well as several updates specific to environmental management.

The main principles are:

• Top management commitment and involvement.
• Emphasis on risk-based thinking
• Need to understand the context of the organization, the needs and expectations and requirements of interested parties
• Consideration of a life cycle perspective
• Increased flexibility on the use of documentation

1. Scope
2. Normative reference
3. Terms and definitions
4. Context of the organization
5. Leadership
6. Planning
7. Support
8. Operation
9. Performance evaluation
10. Improvement

• Continual improvement of corporate environmental protection
• Internationally recognized proof of good environmental practices
• Better public image from documenting your sustainable management practices
• Deeper understanding of the requirements of interested parties
• Systematic examination of risks and opportunities
• More legal certainty and less environmental risk

As soon as your processes have been identified, recorded and implemented, and the effectiveness of your quality management system has been reviewed in internal audits and the results analyzed in a management review, you are ready for certification. We customize our planning to you, and we coordinate with you based on your individual circumstances, corporate objectives and success factors. Then your organization will undergo the classic DQS certification process: we will assign auditors with excellent knowledge of the standards, as well as many years of experience in the respective business sector.