A draft update to ISO 14001, the internationally accepted standard for environmental management systems, has been registered by the International Organisation for Standardization (ISO).
It is not yet the official Draft International Standard (DIS). Although the draft has been registered as a DIS, a 12-week ballot period is required. It’s still unclear how the vote will turn out, but if everyone agrees, the draft could become the official Draft International Standard (DIS). If more adjustments are needed, it might be returned to the committee for more work before proceeding. January 2026 is when the final version of ISO 14001 is expected to be published.
Key proposed changes
In order to improve clarity, consistency, and coherence with other ISO management system standards, the proposed update to ISO 14001 introduces improvements. Key proposed changes include:
Conformity with ISO’s Harmonised Structure (HS): To guarantee uniformity among management system standards, the draft includes the most recent HS.
Improved clarity Revisions to the text that include explanatory comments and reword existing requirements in an effort to improve comprehension.
Comprehensive instructions in Annex A: To make requirements clear, the draft offers more detailed instructions on important subjects.
Aspects of climate change: Clause 4.1 (understanding the organisation and its context) specifically addresses climate change, highlighting the significance of external influences and environmental concerns.
Examples of interested parties: A new NOTE in Clause 4.2 (understanding the requirements and expectations of interested parties) clarifies who may be deemed an interested party by providing examples in accordance with ISO 9001.
Life cycle viewpoint: To offer more instructions on how to apply a life cycle perspective, a NOTE has been added to Clause 6.1.2 (environmental issues).
Updated planning structure: “Risks and Opportunities” is now the new term for Clause 6.1.4 (planning action), and “Planning Actions” is being considered as a new Clause 6.1.5.
“Planning and Managing Changes” is a new Clause 6.3 that has been established. It highlights the importance of organised change management in environmental management systems.
Enhanced operational controls: The requirement that organisations control or influence externally offered processes, products, or services that are pertinent to their environmental management system is now expressly stated in Clause 8.1 (operational planning and control). Within the EMS, the nature and scope of this control must be precisely specified.
Reorganisation of clause 9.3 (management review): To improve clarity and structure, clause 9.3 has been divided into three subclasses: 9.3.1 General, 9.3.2 Management Review Inputs, and 9.3.3 Management Review Outputs.
Revision of the Improvement Section: As part of the streamlining process, Clause 10.1 (General) under Section 10 (Improvement) has been removed.
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