ISO 14001:2015 is an international standard that specifies the requirements for an environmental management system (EMS). Like ISO 9001:2015, it is published by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and provides a framework for organizations to effectively manage their environmental responsibilities.

Here are the key aspects of ISO 14001:2015:

 Environmental Policy: Organizations are required to establish an environmental policy that reflects their commitment to environmental protection and compliance with applicable legal and other requirements. This policy should be communicated to all relevant stakeholders.

Planning: ISO 14001:2015 emphasizes the importance of environmental planning. Organizations are required to identify the environmental aspects of their activities, products, and services, as well as assess and prioritize the associated environmental impacts. They must also establish objectives and targets for improving environmental performance.

 Implementation and Operation: Organizations are expected to implement and maintain procedures and processes to control their significant environmental aspects. This includes establishing operational controls, emergency preparedness, and response procedures, as well as ensuring the competence of personnel who work within the scope of the EMS.

Checking and Corrective Action: ISO 14001:2015 requires organizations to monitor, measure, and evaluate their environmental performance regularly. This involves conducting internal audits to ensure compliance with the EMS requirements, as well as taking corrective actions to address nonconformities and prevent recurrence.

 Management Review: Top management is required to review the EMS at planned intervals to ensure its continuing suitability, adequacy, effectiveness, and alignment with the organization’s strategic direction. This includes reviewing environmental performance, the status of objectives and targets, and the results of internal audits and corrective actions.

Continual Improvement: Similar to ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015 emphasizes the importance of continual improvement. Organizations are expected to systematically identify opportunities for improving environmental performance and take appropriate actions to implement these improvements.

 ISO 14001:2015 follows the High-Level Structure (HLS), making it compatible with other ISO management system standards, such as ISO 9001:2015 (quality management) and ISO 45001:2018 (occupational health and safety management)