Journal Name:
- Journal of Industrial Engineering and Management
| Author Name |
|---|
Abstract (2. Language):
Purpose: ISO 14001 is an International Standard of worldwide acceptance based on the
concept that better environmental performance can be achieved when environmental aspects
are systematically identified and managed giving a major contribution to Sustainability, through
pollution prevention, improved environmental performance and complying with applicable
laws. This paper aims to discuss the Sustainability approach through the use of Environmental
Management Standards (EMS), the results achieved by organizations that implement and certify
those EMS and a special focus on the current process of ISO 14001:2015 revision and the logic
behind it.
Design/methodology/approach: Revisiting the concept of Sustainability, the status of ISO
14001, its application benefits and certification and the revision process of ISO 14001:2015 and
its expected outcomes are discussed.
Findings: This is one of the first attempts to analyze, within the Sustainability framework, the
status of the revision of the future ISO 14001:2015 International Standard that will respond to
the latest trends and is expected to further improve Environmental performance. It will impact
the work of many People and Organizations worldwide, try to responder to both practitioners
and academicians inputs and also ensure it is compatible with other management system
standards such as ISO 9001.
Research limitations/implications: Since the revision standard is not yet finished some
changes might happen and some of the remarks expressed in this paper might not be
consensual within the Environmental Community. In addition, there are still open questions not
yet solved by research that could be revisited when the future ISO 14001:2015 is implemented
and the conclusions should be an incentive for future research work.
Practical implications: There will be a 3 year transition process for the ISO 14001:2015
certification and major benefits like Environmental Management Systems with less emphasis on
documentation and new/reinforced approaches as consideration of organizational context and
(relevant) Stakeholders, risk based thinking, life cycle perspective and more emphasis on
improving environmental performance.
Social implications: The ISO 14001:2015 revision will have major impacts on the more than
300.000 worldwide certified organizations and on the many professionals that work with it.
Originality/value: Although 14001:2015 is not yet finished the author thinks organizations
will have new tools for environment performance enhancement that also try to answer
stakeholders inputs and some of the open research issues concerning EMS implementation,
certification and outcomes. The main question is how far ISO/TC 207 can go without
alienating the "traditional" user. Major changes should include understanding of the
organization’s context in order to better manage risk, emphasis on relevant stakeholders,
leadership to promote environmental management, the introduction of the concept of life
cycle perspective and a shift towards improving environmental performance.
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