The
International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has announced that
proposed revisions to ISO 14001, an international standard for environmental
management systems, are open for comment.
The
ISO 14000 standards focus on environmental management and provide the
information that companies need to understand how to reduce their environmental
impact and increase efficiency. ISO 14001 specifically targets environmental
management systems; the proposed revision will expand the focus on
environmental protection to include proactive solutions and top management
responsibilities.
The
standard is in the Draft International Standard (DIS) stage, fourth of six
stages through which standard revisions move. In the three month-long DIS
stage, any person can submit feedback and suggested changes to the revision
committee. ISO standards are reviewed every five years to respond to trends and
ensure that compatibility remains among all ISO standards.
An
ISO report on emerging changes in the 14001 standard outlines seven specific
areas that will be addressed in the revision. Each of the seven areas affects
companies trying to commit to environmental protection as a business priority.
The
proposed Strategic Environmental Protection clause features a requirement
to identify and leverage opportunities
that benefit the organization and the environment, with a focus on issues or
changing circumstances related to the needs and expectations of interested parties,
regulatory requirements, and local, regional or global environmental conditions
that can be affected by the organization.
The
proposed Leadership clause adds assignments for specific responsibilities for
individuals in leadership positions to increase the role of environmental
management in an organization.
The
standard’s Protecting the Environment clause will be expanded to include
proactive measures for companies to commit to when adopting a greener business
strategy. The overall evaluation will place expectations on companies to
“protect the environment” to the best of their ability and with consistency to
the company’s mission. Protection of the environment is open to interpretation
depending on the company’s directives, with paths including more stringent
pollution standards, adoption of sustainable resources, and protection of
affected ecosystems.
The
proposed Environmental Performance clause shifts emphasis from improving the
company management system to focusing on reducing emissions and waste that
impact the environment. Similarly, the Lifecycle Thinking clause will be
expanded from concerns of environmental impact of goods and services to the
entire lifespan of the product, including use and disposal.
The
Communication clause will be expanded to include individuals working within the
company to make suggestions for a greener business strategy, improved
communication with regulatory agencies, and other companies.
Finally,
the Documentation section will be changed to give companies the resources to
decide when measures need to be taken to “ensure effective process control.”
This amendment to the original standard also takes into account compatibility
with ISO 9001, which focuses on the requirements of a quality management
system.
At
the end of the DIS stage in November, the standard will move into the Final
Draft International Stage. Publication is expected for the end of 2015
For
a copy of the standard, contact ISO or an appropriate national standards body.
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