Prepare for the new edition of ISO 14001 – what changes can be expected?
A new edition of the international standard for environmental management is expected in March/April 2026. The revised version introduces clearer requirements related to climate and environmental issues, a more comprehensive life cycle perspective, and strengthened accountability for top management.
In the development of the new edition, the overall structure of the standard has been updated. The structure and terminology have been aligned with ISO’s harmonized framework for management system standards, making requirements and concepts more consistent and easier to understand, and facilitating integration with other management system standards.
Expanded requirements related to environmental and climate considerations
The new edition of ISO 14001 incorporates the 2024 climate change amendment directly into the requirements. At the same time, the understanding of what constitutes environmental conditions has been broadened. Organizations are no longer expected to consider only local pollution, but also climate change, biodiversity, resource use and the condition of ecosystems.
Annex A provides additional guidance explaining how these factors both affect and are affected by the organization’s activities. This helps organizations understand environmental and climate issues in a broader context.
New requirements for change management and leadership responsibility
ISO 14001:2026 introduces a clear and specific requirement for planning and controlling changes. Organizations will need to manage changes that could affect environmental objectives or processes and ensure that such changes are carried out in a controlled and systematic manner.
The role and accountability of top management are further clarified in the new edition. Requirements related to the evaluation of the environmental management system (EMS) are strengthened, and it is explicitly stated that top management is accountable for the effectiveness of the EMS and the environmental performance achieved. At the same time, the importance of continual improvement is reinforced: organizations are expected to proactively identify opportunities for improvement and implement corrective actions commensurate with their environmental impacts.
A strengthened life cycle perspective
The life cycle perspective, which has always been part of environmental management, is now more clearly articulated and more comprehensive. Organizations are required to consider environmental impacts throughout the value chain – from design and development to procurement, use and end-of-life treatment of products.
The requirement that previously applied to outsourced processes has been extended to cover all externally provided processes, products and services. This means organizations will need improved oversight of their external providers and to assess environmental impacts throughout the supply chain.
The objective is to support a more holistic understanding of environmental challenges and to strengthen efforts related to the circular economy and sustainable supply chains. This expansion makes the EMS an even more important tool for addressing both risks and opportunities across the entire life cycle of products and services.
Greater emphasis on communication and interested parties
The new edition places increased emphasis on communication and the management of interested parties. Organizations are expected to give greater consideration to external expectations, such as requirements for reporting on COâ‚‚ emissions, biodiversity and resource use, and to ensure that communication regarding environmental matters is clear, reliable and transparent.
Annex A has been expanded with new examples and guidance to support external communication. This will help organizations understand how environmental management can be integrated with other management systems and core business processes.
What do the changes mean for organizations?
When ISO 14001:2026 is published in March/April, organizations should expect:
- More extensive requirements for documented information, particularly in relation to changes, risks and communication
- Clearer accountability for top management to actively integrate environmental management into business strategy
- A broader approach to climate change, biodiversity and environmental impacts throughout the value chain
- Increased expectations regarding transparency and external reporting
Stay ahead of the changes to ISO 14001
Obtain the draft
Purchase the draft of the new edition and start preparing now for the upcoming changes to ISO 14001 in 2026. The draft is available for single purchase only, either as Read online or Printed and bound. The draft cannot be included in a subscription.
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Training
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