ISO 14001 draft revisions approved, as Certification top 300,000

Revisions to ISO 14001 have moved into the final stages after 92% of member bodies of the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) approved the draft.
The revised standard aims to align environmental management systems more closely with an organisation’s strategy. It places greater emphasis on reducing environmental impacts across the whole life-cycle of products and services including supply chains and in the development and use of products and services. 
The new standard will also require organisations to consider impacts from a changing environment and provide a framework for organisations to manage the risks and maximise opportunities from trends such as scarcity of natural resources and climate change. 
Martin Baxter, executive director of policy and engagement at IEMA said the draft changes fully reflected members’ views. The next meeting of the international working group drafting the standard will be held in February 2015 in Tokyo to consider the comments and produce the final version.  
The ISO said it expects the new standard to be published by the end of 2015.

ISO 14001 certifications top 300,000

The latest data from International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) on the uptake of 14001 reveals that the number of certificates issued worldwide in 2013 exceeded 300,000 for the first time.

The rising popularity of 14001 comes ahead of the expected implementation next year of the new version of the global standard for environment management systems (EMS).

IEMA can report that the figures it has seen from ISO show a global year-on-year increase globally of almost 17,000 certificates between 2012 and 2013, from 284,654 to 301,647.

The UK is fourth in the league table of nations with the most number of certificates, just behind China, Italy and Japan. The UK was fifth in 2012. There was an increase of 996 14001 certificates in the UK between 2012 and 2013.

Martin Baxter, IEMA’s executive director, policy and engagement and the UK’s appointed expert to the 14001 revision working group, commented: “It’s fantastic to see that the total number of ISO 14001 certificates has not only continued to grow year-on-year, but that the total figure has reached a real milestone of over 300,000 certificates worldwide. With less than one year to go before the new version of the standard is expected to be implemented, I expect to see a continued trajectory of growth.”

Proposed changes to 14001 include: a better understanding of the context of the organisation when establishing the scope of the EMS and a clearer definition of the role and responsibilities of top management.

News of the almost 6% rise in 14001 certifications in 2013 came as Baxter presented details of the revised standard at IEMA’s EMS national forum. Delegates benefited from gaining insight on the changes and details on the opportunities arising from the new requirements

If you need some support implementing ISO 14001 or are looking at how to make the transition to the new standard next year, CRS offer a range of course and consultancy support; For more information on our range of services contact Ros Stacey on ROS.STACEY@CRSRISK.COM or 01283 509175.

Source: Environmentalist