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October 31, 2017
The ISO 14001:2015 standard is significantly different from the 14001:2004 standard in many ways, and the requirements of the environmental policy is one of these differences. Despite the environmental policy being one of the mandatory requirements of the EMS (Environmental Management System), clause 5.2 of the standard does leave some room for interpretation. At the same time, it also gives direction on what an environmental policy should contain and what it should provide for an organization. So, what exactly needs to be considered and included, and how detailed does the policy itself need to be?
Our previous article How to write an ISO 14001 Environmental Policy examined the basics of how to write a policy. While this is still extremely relevant, there are some changes we should consider when writing the policy itself. Meeting legislation, setting objectives and ensuring continual improvement are all still mentioned, however there are certain other elements you must ensure that the policy now captures:
So, are there any other requirements that we will need to consider in respect of the content of the environmental policy?
Section 5.2 gives pointers on the policy, but does not specify all requirements. The clause regarding leadership suggests that the environmental policy must be aligned with the strategic direction of the organization; in other words, your environmental policy and its activities must be part of the organization’s overall vision and direction. The section suggests that your policy should provide a framework for setting out environmental objectives. It should also provide a commitment to the protection of the environment and the prevention of pollution, which is unique to the 14001:2015 standard. Compliance obligations and continual improvement must also be considered in this section. Again, how detailed you make this in your environmental policy will largely depend on the size and scope of your activities, as well as the possible resulting impacts. For example, I work with an organization that manufactures technology products that have longer lifecycles and are designed to be more easily recycled than market competition. In this case, that one statement in the environmental policy illustrates that the strategic direction of the organization and its environmental objectives are one and the same.
It is the job of each organization, and the leaders who communicate the environmental policy, to ensure that the level of detail for all these elements meets the needs of the organization, its customers, and any other interested parties. The level of detail you require will be heavily affected by the size of your organization, the scope of your activities, the size of your potential impacts and your interested parties. Consider what an external party viewing your environmental policy would think of the content. If you feel that there is no real value in a piece of information, then it may be better to place it elsewhere. Keep the level of detail relevant to the sector you operate in, ensure that this will promote confidence within your interested parties, and meet the terms of the standard. Remember: your environmental policy is an advertisement for your business. Treat it as an opportunity to showcase your company and its environmental principles.
Use this free online training ISO 14001:2015 Foundations Course to learn about the purpose and content of the EMS policy.