ISO 14001 is now on its 3rd revision which brings major changes to the structure and the content of the standard. The most significant changes are the following:
· Increased importance of environmental management as part of strategic planning of the organization
· Greater emphasis on the understanding of the organization and its content, but also the expectations of interested parties
· Greater emphasis on leadership
· Encouraging preventive initiatives to protect the environment, such as the sustainable use of natural resources and climate change mitigation
· Require identification of risks associated with threats and opportunities
· Life cycle considerations when environmental aspects are addressed
· Establishment of a communication strategy
For the implementation of the new standard, a 3 year transition period has been defined, after the publication date (9-15-2015). Following 9-15-2018 no certificates issued according to ISO 14001:2004 will be valid.