4. Features of ISO 14001-2015

The standard is prescriptive: it is not a guide, but imposes requirements that must be met in order to comply. For example, it requires the determination of significant environmental aspects, but leaves it to the organization to define and present a method for this determination.

The standard is evolutionary (requiring evolution): it is based on the Deming cycle (PDCA) and on the principle of continuous improvement of the management system.

The standard defines the management system and not the environmental performance: it does not set numerical values to be respected, which are the domain of regulations, but only requirements for actions to be implemented. As a result, two certified organizations may have very different environmental performances; however, they will both have a system that guarantees...