ISO 14001 Environmental Management System designs the critical requirements to enforce an effective Environmental Management System. These requirements are divided into ten different sections (Section 1 to Section 10) and work on Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) approach.

It is necessary to understand all the sections.

• Section 1 to Section 6 is in the Plan stage.
• Section 7 and Section 8 are in the Do stage.
• Section 9 is in the Check stage.
• Section 10 is in the Act stage.

Section 1: Scope

It marks the Scope of the ISO 14001 Environmental management system. It should meet the organization’s environmental policies and strives to improve the industry’s environmental performance.

Section 2: Normative references

In ISO 14001, there is no normative clause.

Section 3: Terms and Definitions

This clause explains all the terms and definitions related to these four categories:

• Organization and leadership
• Planning
• Support and Operation
• Performance evaluation and Improvement

Section 4: Context of the organization

It deals with identifying all the factors that affect the industry and understanding the requirements of the business. These aspects broadly depend on the size and nature of the organization.

This clause aims to find internal and external factors that affect the industry and enforce best practices for an effective environmental management system.

Section 5: Leadership

It deals with allocating the roles and responsibilities within the organization for an adequate environmental management system. It illustrates the importance of top-level management in executing and improving EMS.

Section 6: Planning

It focuses on examining any risk and opportunity that can impact the industry and formulates strategies to mitigate the risk and reap opportunities. It also analyses the industry’s interaction with the environment and compliance with legal obligations to establish an effective Environmental management system.

Section 7: Support

It addresses the needs and requirements of the management for an effective Environmental system. It promotes the flow of information, documentation and policies to ensure all the employees are well aware of the organization’s objectives.

Section 8: Operation

This Section is related to Section 6 (Planning), which states that the organization should evaluate all the activities hindering the organization’s manufacturing and services. The organization must formulate policies to meet the operational requirement for environmental control and deal with a potential emergency.

Section 9: Performance evaluation

It is crucial to ensure that the organization’s environmental management system is adequate and efficient. It involves monitoring and measuring the organization’s current practices and identifying the areas for advancement.

Section 10: improvement

It ensures the effectiveness of the environmental management system and commits to enhancing required process areas to establish an environmental management system.

Benefits of ISO 14001