ISO 14001 Structure

The ISO 14001 standard is revised by its publisher (the International Organization for Standardization "ISO") approximately every 7 - 9 years. The current version was published on September, 2015; it is called ISO 14001:2015. Here is a summary of the changes in the new ISO 14001:2015 standard compared to the ISO 2004 version:

Structure

The purpose is to simplify the integration of ISO 14001 with other standards. The new framework leads to a new structure of the ISO 14001 standard. The new structure of ISO 14001:2015 requirements:
Section 4: Context of the organization
Section 5: Leadership
Section 6: Planning
Section 7: Support
Section 8: Operation
Section 9: Performance evaluation
Section 10: Improvement
Sections 1-3 remain introductory and explanatory sections (scope, normative references, terms and definitions).

ISO 14001:2015 Revision:

Each revision of the ISO 14001 standard may introduce new or modified requirements and/or a different structure of the standard; sometimes only the wording is updated for the sake of clarity. Previous ISO 14001 versions are: the first revision in 2004. All of these prior versions are obsolete and certifications are no longer valid. Certifications to ISO 14001:2004 expired in September 2018.
Business has changed radically since the last major revision in 2015; technology has changed how we work, geographical boundaries are almost insignificant in today’s global economy, supply chains are increasingly complex and the information available has multiplied exponentially.
One thing remains constant, to be successful, businesses have to adapt to meet the growing needs of customers. ISO was originally written with the customer in mind and that remains the priority for ISO 14001:2015.

What is ISO 14001:2015?

ISO 14001 is defined as the international standard that specifies requirements for an environmental management system (EMS). Organizations use the standard to demonstrate the ability to consistently provide products and services that meet customer and regulatory requirements.

ISO 14001:2015 Revisions - 14001:2004 vs. 14001:2015

The 2015 revision of ISO 14001 introduces a number of changes from previous versions. Identified 10 major areas of impact of the 2015 revision:
• Expansion in EMS coverage and scope
• Required interactions with external parties
• New requirements for leadership engagement
• Expanded legal compliance requirements
• Need for risk-based planning and controls
• New documentation requirements
• Expanded operational control requirements
• Changes in competence and awareness requirements
• Impacts on the internal audit program
• Increased certification costs