ISO/DIS 14001:2025 Published
ISO/DIS 14001:2025 was published on February 3rd, 2025 and the Final Draft International Standard (FDIS) is soon to be released.
The Draft International Standard (DIS) is a strong indicator of what to expect in the upcoming ISO 14001:2026 standard. Standards evolve through revisions to align with current business practices, societal needs, and emerging business trends and technologies. They also aim to help organizations adopt practices seen in leading, high-performing companies, with a strong focus on Climate Change and Sustainability.
Why the Changes Matter
The updates refine the existing requirements and make them more relevant to current environmental challenges, while emphasizing the roles expected from responsible organizations.
What to Expect Next
The Final Draft International Standard (FDIS) is anticipated soon, with ISO 14001:2026 expected to be published between January and March 2026.
Key Changes in the ISO 14001:2025 Draft International Standard (DIS)
The Draft International Standard (DIS) for ISO 14001:2026 introduces several important changes to Environmental Management System (EMS) requirements. These include a stronger focus on biodiversity, resource availability, and a reinforced life-cycle perspective. Terminology has also been updated — “fulfil” becomes “meet” and “documentation” becomes “records” — to reduce ambiguity in interpretation.
Shift to Harmonized Structure (HS)
The standard continues using the High-Level Structure (HLS) as per Annex SL, providing a common framework for integrating other Management Systems, including ISO 9001 and ISO 45001. This ensures consistency and easier integration for organizations managing multiple standards.
Emphasis on Climate Change
Clause 4.1, “Understanding the organization and its context”, now requires organizations to assess the impacts of climate change, biodiversity, resource availability, and other environmental conditions on their operations. This aligns with the broader global emphasis on Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) factors.
Focus on Leadership and Accountability
The DIS reinforces that top management is accountable for environmental performance, even when responsibilities are delegated. It also broadens the definition of leadership within EMS.
Enhanced Risk-Based Planning
The linkages between environmental aspects, compliance, and risks are clarified, strengthening the risk-based approach to EMS. Organizations are encouraged to not only mitigate risks but also exploit opportunities for improvement.
Extended Operational Controls
The DIS strengthens requirements for controlling outsourced processes, explicitly calling them externally provided processes, products, and services. Organizations must define and demonstrate the type and extent of controls over suppliers and contractors’ environmental performance.
Change Management
A stronger focus on change management has been incorporated, requiring a structured process to plan, communicate, and monitor changes in EMS to minimize environmental impacts.
Expanded Annex A Guidance
Annex A has been expanded to provide clearer guidance, while Annex B from the 2015 version will be removed.
