ISO 14001:2015 is an international standard that specifies the requirements for an Environmental Management System (EMS). It provides a framework for organizations to establish and implement policies, procedures, and controls to manage and improve their environmental performance. The ISO 14001 standard is designed to be applicable to any organization, regardless of its size, type, or nature of activities.

Here are key features and elements of ISO 14001:2015:

1. Environmental Policy:
   • Organizations are required to establish an environmental policy that reflects their commitment to compliance with applicable legal and other requirements, pollution prevention, and continual improvement.
2. Planning:
   • This involves identifying environmental aspects and impacts, legal and other requirements, and determining the scope of the EMS. Organizations need to set environmental objectives and develop plans to achieve them.
3. Implementation and Operation:
   • Implementing the EMS involves establishing roles, responsibilities, and communication procedures. It also includes training employees, establishing document control processes, and maintaining the necessary documentation.
4. Monitoring and Measurement:
   • Organizations need to monitor and measure their environmental performance against the objectives and legal requirements. This involves regular evaluations to ensure compliance and the effectiveness of the EMS.
5. Evaluation of Compliance:
   • Organizations must establish, maintain, and regularly evaluate procedures for periodically assessing compliance with applicable legal requirements and other requirements to which the organization subscribes.
6. Review of the EMS by Top Management:
   • Top management is required to review the EMS at planned intervals to ensure its continuing suitability, adequacy, and effectiveness. This review involves assessing opportunities for improvement and the need for changes to the EMS.
7. Continual Improvement:
   • Organizations are expected to continually improve their environmental performance. This involves identifying opportunities for improvement, addressing non-conformities, and updating the EMS as necessary.
8. Documentation and Record Keeping:
   • ISO 14001:2015 emphasizes the importance of maintaining documentation and records to demonstrate conformity to the standard and the effective operation of the EMS.

It’s important to note that the ISO 14001 standard is periodically revised, and organizations should ensure they are familiar with the latest version and its requirements. As of knowledge cutoff in January 2022, ISO 14001:2015 is the latest version, but it’s advisable to check for any updates or revisions beyond that date.