Implement an Environmental Management System ISO 14001 v. 2015

Awareness of the importance of our "well-being" is increasingly asserted and assumed by society, which now exerts strong pressure on those who provide goods and services for which it expresses a need or expectation.

A well-preserved environment is one of the key factors underpinning people's well-being. In the same way as the expected quality and safety of the products and services made available to it, society more readily expresses its desire not to contribute, through its choices and decisions, to a significant deterioration in the various indicators relating to its environment.

The negative effects of the development of our societies on the environment are more frequently perceptible and palpable by the population (pollution, global warming, biodiversity, erosion, exceptional climatic phenomena, lack of water, resurgence of particular diseases, etc.). In this field, the demands of the various interested parties are constantly increasing and becoming more global.

The political authorities are helping to establish a framework conducive to most economic players taking this issue into account (regulations, recommendations, opinions, etc.). Over 20 years ago, this political will was also reflected in the publication of standards for quality management (ISO 9001), followed by the environment (ISO 14001), sustainable development (ISO 26000) and soon occupational health and safety (ISO 45001). Today's companies face a triple challenge: offering their customers products, services or activities that are high-quality, environmentally-friendly and safe...

ISO has just completed its work to ensure that future management system standards are drawn up according to an identical structure known as "HLS": High Level Structure (common vocabulary, terms and summary definitions, distribution of requirements). In 2015 and 2016, quality, environment and safety management standards have thus evolved towards harmonized versions that facilitate the integration of different practices into a single management system.

This article deals with the environmental aspect of this issue, and more specifically with how organizations of all sizes and activities can organize themselves to set up a management system that meets, among other things, the requirements of ISO 14001 version 2015.

The aim is to propose a methodical approach to integrating environmental management into the company's effective governance, organization and commercial and industrial strategy, in compliance with the requirements of ISO 14001.

The methodological approach described in this article is aimed at organizations that do not have an environmental management system, but also at organizations that...