EN ISO 14004:2010

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-december-2010
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Environmental management systems - General guidelines on principles, systems and
support techniques (ISO 14004:2004)
Umweltmanagementsysteme - Allgemeiner Leitfaden über Grundsätze, Systeme und
unterstützende Methoden (ISO 14004:2004)
Systèmes de management environnemental - Lignes directrices générales concernant
les principes, les systèmes et les techniques de mise en oeuvre (ISO 14004:2004)
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN ISO 14004:2010
ICS:
13.020.10 Ravnanje z okoljem Environmental management
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

EUROPEAN STANDARD
EN ISO 14004
NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
May 2010
ICS 13.020.10
English Version
Environmental management systems - General guidelines on
principles, systems and support techniques (ISO 14004:2004)
Systèmes de management environnemental - Lignes Umweltmanagementsysteme - Allgemeiner Leitfaden über
directrices générales concernant les principes, les Grundsätze, Systeme und unterstützende Methoden (ISO
systèmes et les techniques de mise en oeuvre (ISO 14004:2004)
14004:2004)
This European Standard was approved by CEN on 23 April 2010.

CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this European
Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration. Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references concerning such national
standards may be obtained on application to the CEN Management Centre or to any CEN member.

This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made by translation
under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the CEN Management Centre has the same status as the
official versions.
CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia,
Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland,
Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and United Kingdom.

EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION

EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG

Management Centre: Avenue Marnix 17, B-1000 Brussels
© 2010 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. EN ISO 14004:2010: E
worldwide for CEN national Members.

Contents Page
Foreword .3

Foreword
The text of ISO 14004:2004 has been prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 207 “Environmental
management” of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and has been taken over as EN ISO
14004:2010.
This European Standard shall be given the status of a national standard, either by publication of an identical
text or by endorsement, at the latest by November 2010, and conflicting national standards shall be withdrawn
at the latest by November 2010.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of patent
rights. CEN [and/or CENELEC] shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
According to the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations, the national standards organizations of the following
countries are bound to implement this European Standard: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech
Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia,
Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain,
Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.
Endorsement notice
The text of ISO 14004:2004 has been approved by CEN as a EN ISO 14004:2010 without any modification.

INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 14004
Second edition
2004-11-15
Environmental management systems —
General guidelines on principles, systems
and support techniques
Systèmes de management environnemental — Lignes directrices
générales concernant les principes, les systèmes et les techniques de
mise en œuvre
Reference number
ISO 14004:2004(E)
©
ISO 2004
ISO 14004:2004(E)
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ISO 14004:2004(E)
Contents Page
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
4 Environmental management system elements . 5
4.1 General . 5
4.2 Environmental policy . 8
4.3 Planning . 10
4.4 Implementation and operation . 19
4.5 Checking . 28
4.6 Management review . 32
Annex A (informative) Examples of correspondence between environmental management system
elements . 34
Bibliography . 39
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ISO 14004:2004(E)
Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards bodies
(ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out through ISO
technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical committee has been
established has the right to be represented on that committee. International organizations, governmental and
non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work. ISO collaborates closely with the International
Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of electrotechnical standardization.
International Standards are drafted in accordance with the rules given in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.
The main task of technical committees is to prepare International Standards. Draft International Standards
adopted by the technical committees are circulated to the member bodies for voting. Publication as an
International Standard requires approval by at least 75 % of the member bodies casting a vote.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of patent
rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
ISO 14004 was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 207, Environmental management, Subcommittee
SC 1, Environmental management systems.
This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition (ISO 14004:1996), which has been technically
revised.
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ISO 14004:2004(E)
Introduction
As concern grows for continually improving the quality of the environment, organizations of all types and sizes
are increasingly turning their attention to the environmental impacts of their activities, products and services.
The environmental performance of an organization is of importance to internal and external interested parties.
Achieving sound environmental performance requires organizational commitment to a systematic approach and
to continual improvement of an environmental management system (EMS).
The general purpose of this International Standard is to provide assistance to organizations that wish to
implement or improve an environmental management system and thereby improve their environmental
performance. This International Standard is consistent with the concept of sustainable development and
compatible with diverse cultural, social and organizational frameworks and systems of management.
This International Standard can be used by organizations of all types, sizes and levels of maturity, and in all
sectors and geographic locations. The special needs of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are
incorporated, and this International Standard accommodates their needs and promotes their use of an
environmental management system.
This International Standard is part of the series of environmental management standards established by
ISO/TC207. In this series, only ISO14001 contains requirements that may be objectively audited for
certification/registration purposes or for self-declaration purposes. This International Standard includes
examples, descriptions and options that aid both in the implementation of an environmental management
system and in strengthening its relation to the overall management of an organization. While the guidelines in
this International Standard are consistent with the ISO 14001 environmental management system model, they
are not intended to provide interpretations of the requirements of ISO 14001. For ease of use, the subclauses
of Clause 4 of ISO 14001 have the same numbering as in ISO 14004. However, the latter has extra subclauses
(e.g. 4.3.1.1 or 4.3.3.3), where detailed or additional guidance for an effective environmental management
system implementation is considered useful. Apart from this International Standard and ISO 14001, there are
numerous other environmental management standards in the series of International Standards established by
ISO/TC 207. A reference to and description of these International Standards can be found in the ISO publication
The ISO 14000 Family of International Standards.
This International Standard describes the elements of an environmental management system and provides
organizations with guidance on how to establish, implement, maintain or improve an environmental
management system. Such a system can substantially enhance an organization's ability to anticipate, identify
and manage its interactions with the environment, meet its environmental objectives and ensure ongoing
compliance with applicable legal requirements and with other requirements to which the organization
subscribes.
Examples and approaches are presented throughout this International Standard for illustrative purposes. They
are not intended to represent the only possibilities, nor are they necessarily suitable for every organization. In
designing and implementing or improving an environmental management system, organizations should select
approaches that are appropriate to their own circumstances. Environmental management is an integral part of
an organization's overall management system. The design of an environmental management system is an
ongoing and interactive process. The structure, responsibilities, practices, procedures, processes and
resources for implementing environmental policies, objectives and targets can be coordinated with existing
efforts in other areas (e.g. operations, finance, quality, occupational health and safety).
For ease of reading and understanding this International Standard, practical help and general guidance have
been separated out and are shown as boxed text.
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ISO 14004:2004(E)
Key tasks for managers establishing, implementing, maintaining or improving an environmental management
system include the need to
— recognize that environmental management is among the highest organizational priorities,
— establish and maintain communication and constructive relations with internal and external interested
parties,
— identify the environmental aspects of the organization's activities, products and services,
— identify the legal requirements and other requirements to which the organization subscribes, that relate to
the organization's environmental aspects,
— ensure the commitment of management and all persons working for or on behalf of the organization to the
protection of the environment, with clear assignment of accountability and responsibility,
— encourage environmental planning throughout the product or service life cycle,
— establish a process for achieving environmental objectives and targets,
— provide appropriate and sufficient resources, including training, to comply with applicable legal
requirements and with other requirements to which the organization subscribes, and to achieve
environmental objectives and targets on an ongoing basis,
— evaluate environmental performance against the organization's environmental policy, objectives and targets
and seek improvement where appropriate,
— establish a management process to audit and review the environmental management system and to identify
opportunities for improvement of the system and resulting environmental performance, and
— encourage contractors and suppliers to establish an environmental management system.
Organizations may use this International Standard, or related ISO documents, in various ways, including
— as guidance to establish, implement, maintain or improve its environmental management system, knowing
that this International Standard is not intended for self-declaration or other conformity assessment
purposes, and
— in support of the implementation or improvement of its environmental management system.
The choice will depend on factors such as
— an organization's goals,
— the maturity of an organization's management systems (i.e. whether the organization has a management
system in place that is capable of supporting the inclusion of environmental concerns),
— possible advantages and disadvantages, as determined by such factors as an organization's current and
desired market position, reputation, external relations and the views of interested parties, and
— the size of an organization.
An effective environmental management system helps an organization to avoid, reduce or control the adverse
environmental impacts of its activities, products and services, achieve compliance with applicable legal and
requirements and with other requirements to which the organization subscribes and assist in continually
improving environmental performance.
Having an environmental management system can help an organization assure interested parties that
— a management commitment exists to meet the provisions of its policy, objectives, and targets,
— emphasis is placed on prevention,
— evidence of reasonable care and regulatory compliance can be provided, and
— the system's design incorporates the process of continual improvement.
Economic benefits can be gained from implementing an environmental management system. An organization
whose management system incorporates an environmental management system has a framework to balance
and integrate economic and environmental interests. Economic benefits can also be identified to demonstrate
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to interested parties the value to the organization of sound environmental management. It also provides the
organization with the opportunity to link environmental objectives and targets with specific financial outcomes
and thus to ensure that resources are made available where they provide the most benefit in both financial and
environmental terms. An organization that has implemented an environmental management system can
achieve significant competitive advantages.
In addition to improved environmental performance, the potential benefits associated with an effective
environmental management system include
— assuring customers of commitment to demonstrable environmental management,
— maintaining good public/community relations,
— satisfying investor criteria and improving access to capital,
— obtaining insurance at reasonable cost,
— enhancing image and market share,
— improving cost control,
— reducing incidents that result in liability,
— conserving input materials and energy,
— facilitating the attainment of permits and authorizations and meeting their requirements,
— promoting environmental awareness among suppliers, contractors and all persons working for or on behalf
of the organization,
— fostering development and sharing of solutions to environmental problems, and
— improving industry-government relations.
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.
viii
INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO 14004:2004(E)
Environmental management systems — General guidelines on
principles, systems and support techniques
1Scope
This International Standard provides guidance on the establishment, implementation, maintenance and
improvement of an environmental management system and its coordination with other management systems.
NOTE While the system is not intended to manage occupational health and safety issues, they may be included when an
organization seeks to implement an integrated environmental and occupational health and safety management system.
The guidelines in this International Standard are applicable to any organization, regardless of its size, type,
location or level of maturity.
While the guidelines in this International Standard are consistent with the ISO14001 environmental
management system model, they are not intended to provide interpretations of the requirements of ISO 14001.
2 Normative references
No normative references are cited. This clause is included in order to retain clause numbering identical with the
previous edition (ISO 14004:1996).
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.
3.1
auditor
person with the competence to conduct an audit
[ISO 9000:2000, 3.9.9]
3.2
continual improvement
recurring process of enhancing the environmental management system (3.9) in order to achieve
improvements in overall environmental performance (3.11) consistent with the organization's (3.20)
environmental policy (3.13)
NOTE The process need not take place in all areas of activity simultaneously.
[ISO 14001:2004, 3.2]
3.3
correction
action taken to eliminate a detected nonconformity (3.18)
NOTE Adapted from ISO 9000:2000, 3.6.6.
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3.4
corrective action
action to eliminate the cause of a detected nonconformity (3.18)
[ISO 14001:2004, 3.3]
3.5
document
information and its supporting medium
NOTE 1 The medium can be paper, magnetic, electronic or optical computer disc, photograph or master sample, or a
combination thereof.
NOTE 2 Adapted from ISO 9000:2000, 3.7.2.
[ISO 14001:2004, 3.4]
3.6
environment
surroundings in which an organization (3.20) operates, including air, water, land, natural resources, flora,
fauna, humans, and their interrelation
NOTE Surroundings in this context extend from within an organization (3.20) to the global system.
[ISO 14001:2004, 3.5]
3.7
environmental aspect
element of an organization's (3.20) activities or products or services that can interact with the environment
(3.6)
NOTE A significant environmental aspect has or can have a significant environmental impact (3.8).
[ISO 14001:2004, 3.6]
3.8
environmental impact
any change to the environment (3.6), whether adverse or beneficial, wholly or partially resulting from an
organization's (3.20) environmental aspects (3.7)
[ISO 14001:2004, 3.7]
3.9
environmental management system
EMS
part of an organization's (3.20) management system used to develop and implement its environmental policy
(3.13) and manage its environmental aspects (3.7)
NOTE 1 A management system is a set of interrelated elements used to establish policy and objectives and to achieve
those objectives.
NOTE2 A management system includes organizational structure, planning activities, responsibilities, practices,
procedures (3.23), processes and resources.
[ISO 14001:2004, 3.8]
3.10
environmental objective
overall environmental goal, consistent with the environmental policy (3.13), that an organization (3.20) sets
itself to achieve
[ISO 14001:2004, 3.9]
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3.11
environmental performance
measurable results of an organization's (3.20) management of its environmental aspects (3.7)
NOTE In the context of environmental management systems (3.9), results can be measured against the organization's
(3.20) environmental policy (3.13), environmental objectives (3.10), environmental targets (3.14) and other
environmental performance requirements.
[ISO 14001:2004, 3.10]
3.12
environmental performance indicator
EPI
specific expression that provides information about an organization's (3.20) environmental performance
(3.11)
[ISO 14031:1999, 2.10]
3.13
environmental policy
overall intentions and direction of an organization (3.20) related to its environmental performance (3.11) as
formally expressed by top management
NOTE The environmental policy provides a framework for action and for the setting of environmental objectives (3.10)
and environmental targets (3.14).
[ISO 14001:2004, 3.11]
3.14
environmental target
detailed performance requirement, applicable to the organization (3.20) or parts thereof, that arises from the
environmental objectives (3.10) and that needs to be set and met in order to achieve those objectives
[ISO 14001:2004, 3.12]
3.15
interested party
person or group concerned with or affected by the environmental performance (3.11) of an organization
(3.20)
[ISO 14001:2004, 3.13]
3.16
internal audit
systematic, independent and documented process for obtaining audit evidence and evaluating it objectively to
determine the extent to which the environmental management system audit criteria set by the organization
(3.20) are fulfilled
NOTE In many cases, particularly in smaller organizations, independence can be demonstrated by the freedom from
responsibility for the activity being audited.
[ISO 14001:2004, 3.14]
3.17
management performance indicator
MPI
environmental performance indicator (3.12) that provides information about the management efforts to
influence an organization's (3.20) environmental performance (3.11)
[ISO 14031:1999, 2.10.1]
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3.18
nonconformity
non-fulfilment of a requirement
[ISO 9000:2000, 3.6.2]
3.19
operational performance indicator
OPI
environmental performance indicator (3.12) that provides information about the environmental
performance (3.11) of an organization's (3.20) operations
[ISO 14031:1999, 2.10.2]
3.20
organization
company, corporation, firm, enterprise, authority or institution, or part or combination thereof, whether
incorporated or not, public or private, that has its own functions and administration
NOTE For organizations with more than one operating unit, a single operating unit may be defined as an organization.
[ISO 14001:2004, 3.16]
3.21
preventive action
action to eliminate the cause of a potential nonconformity (3.18)
[ISO 14001:2004, 3.17]
3.22
prevention of pollution
use of processes, practices, techniques, materials, products, services or energy to avoid, reduce or control
(separately or in combination) the creation, emission, or discharge of any type of pollutant or waste, in order to
reduce adverse environmental impacts (3.8)
NOTE Prevention of pollution can include source reduction or elimination, process, product or service changes, efficient
use of resources, material and energy substitution, reuse, recovery, recycling, reclamation and treatment.
[ISO 14001:2004, 3.18]
3.23
procedure
specified way to carry out an activity or a process
NOTE 1 Procedures can be documented or not.
NOTE 2 Adapted from ISO 9000:2000, 3.4.5.
[ISO 14001:2004, 3.19]
3.24
record
document (3.5) stating results achieved or providing evidence of activities performed
NOTE Adapted from ISO 9000:2000, 3.7.6.
[ISO 14001:2004, 3.20]
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4 Environmental management system elements
4.1 General
4.1.1 The environmental management system model
The environmental management system detailed in this International Standard follows a “Plan-Do-Check-Act”
(PDCA) management model. The environmental management system model and the ongoing process of
continual improvement are illustrated in Figure 1. For more information on the PDCA model, see Practical
help — The environmental management system model.
Figure 1 — Environmental management system model for this International Standard
An environmental management system is best viewed as an organizing framework that should be continually
monitored and periodically reviewed to provide effective direction for an organization's environmental
management in response to changing internal and external factors. All levels in the organization should accept
responsibility for working to achieve environmental improvements, as applicable.
When first establishing an environmental management system an organization should begin where there is
obvious benefit, for example by focusing on immediate cost savings or regulatory compliance mainly related to
its significant environmental aspects. As the environmental management system takes shape, procedures,
programmes and technologies can be put in place to further improve environmental performance. As the
environmental management system matures, environmental considerations can be integrated into all business
decisions.
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Practical help — The environmental management system model
PDCA is an ongoing, iterative process that enables an organization to establish, implement and maintain its
environmental policy (see 4.2) based on top management's leadership and commitment to the environmental
management system (see 4.1.2). After the organization has evaluated its current position in relation to the
environment (see 4.1.4,) the steps of this ongoing process are the following:
a) Plan: establish an ongoing planning process (see 4.3) that enables the organization to
1) identify environmental aspects and associated environmental impacts (see 4.3.1),
2) identify and monitor applicable legal requirements and other requirements to which the organization
subscribes, and set internal performance criteria where appropriate (see 4.3.2),
3) set environmental objectives and targets and formulate programme(s) to achieve them (see 4.3.3.1
and 4.3.3.2), and
4) develop and use performance indicators (see 4.3.3.3).
b) Do: implement and operate the environmental management system (see 4.4)
1) create management structures, assign roles and responsibilities with sufficient authority,
2) provide adequate resources (see 4.4.1),
3) train persons working for or on behalf of the organization and ensure their awareness and competence
(see 4.4.2),
4) establish processes for internal and external communication (see 4.4.3),
5) establish and maintain documentation (see 4.4.4),
6) establish and implement document control(s) (see 4.4.5),
7) establish and maintain operational control(s) (see 4.4.6), and
8) ensure emergency preparedness and response (see 4.4.7).
c) Check: assess environmental management system processes (see 4.5)
1) conduct ongoing monitoring and measurement (see 4.5.1),
2) evaluate status of compliance (see 4.5.2),
3) identify nonconformity and take corrective and preventive actions (see 4.5.3),
4) manage records (see 4.5.4), and
5) conduct periodic internal audits (see 4.5.5).
d) Act: review and take action to improve the environmental management system (see 4.6)
1) conduct management reviews of the environmental management system at appropriate intervals (see
4.6.1), and
2) identify areas for improvement (see 4.6.2).
This ongoing process enables the organization to continually improve its environmental management system
and its overall environmental performance.
4.1.2 Top management commitment and leadership
To ensure success, an early step in establishing or improving an environmental management system involves
obtaining commitment from the top management of the organization to improve the environmental management
of its activities, products and services. The ongoing commitment and leadership of the top management are
crucial. Identifying the benefits that an environmental management system can bring, as well as the challenges
that an environmental management system can avoid, may help to secure top management's commitment and
leadership.
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4.1.3 Scope of the environmental management system
Top management need to define the scope of the organization's environmental management system. That is,
top management should determine the boundaries of the organization to which the environmental management
system applies. Once the scope of the environmental management system has been defined, all activities,
products and services of the organization that are within the defined scope should be included in the
environmental management system.
4.1.4 Initial environmental review
An organization with no existing environmental management system should assess its current position with
regard to the environment by means of a review. The aim of this review should be to consider the environmental
aspects of the organization's activities, products and services as a basis for establishing its environmental
management system.
Organizations with an existing environmental management system may not need to undertake such a review,
although such a review could assist them in improving their environmental management system.
The review should cover the following four key areas:
a) identification of environmental aspects, including those associated with normal operating conditions,
abnormal conditions including start-up and shut-down, and emergency situations and accidents;
b) identification of applicable legal requirements and other requirements to which the organization subscribes;
c) examination of existing environmental management practices and procedures, including those associated
with procurement and contracting activities;
d) evaluation of previous emergency situations and accidents.
The review can also include additional considerations, such as
— an evaluation of performance compared with applicable internal criteria, external standards, regulations,
codes of practice and sets of principles and guidelines,
— opportunities for competitive advantage, including cost reduction opportunities,
— the views of interested parties, and
— other organizational systems that can enable or impede environmental performance.
The results of the review can be used to assist the organization in setting the scope of its environmental
management system, developing or enhancing its environmental policy, setting of its environmental objectives
and targets, and determining the effectiveness of its approach to maintaining compliance with applicable legal
requirements and other requirements to which the organization subscribes.
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ISO 14004:2004(E)
Practical help — Initial environmental review
Methods that can be used to examine existing environmental management practices and procedures include
a) interviews with persons previously or currently working for or on behalf of the organization to determine the
scope of the organization's past and current activities, products and services,
b) evaluation of internal and external communications that have taken place with the organization's interested
parties, including complaints, matters related to applicable legal requirements or other requirements to
which the organizations subscribes, past environmental or related incidents and accidents,
c) gathering information related to current management practices, such as
1) process controls on purchasing hazardous chemicals,
2) the storage and handling of chemicals (e.g. secondary containment; housekeeping, storage of
incompatible chemicals),
3) controls on fugitive emissions,
4) waste disposal methods,
5) emergency preparedness and response equipment,
6) use of resources (e.g. use of office lights after working hours),
7) vegetation and habitat protection during construction,
8) temporal changes in processes (e.g. changes to crop rotation patterns affecting fertilizer discharges to
water),
9) environmental training programmes,
10) review and approval process for operational control procedures, and
11) completeness of monitoring records and/or ease in retrieving historical records.
The review can be conducted using checklists, process flowcharts, interviews, direct inspection and past and
current measurements, results of previous audits or other reviews depending on the nature of the
organization's activities, products and services. The results of the review should be documented so that it can
be used to contribute to setting the scope and establishing or enhancing the organization's environmental
management system, including its environmental policy.
4.2 Environmental policy
An environmental policy establishes the principles of action for an organization. It sets the level of environmental
responsibility and performance required of the organization, against which all subsequent actions will be
judged. The policy should be appropriate to the environmental impacts of the organization's activities, products
and services (within the defined scope of the environmental management system) and should guide the setting
of objectives and targets.
A growing number of international organizations, including government, industry associations and citizens'
groups, have developed guiding principles. Such guiding principles help organizations to define the overall
scope of their commitment to the environment. They also help to give different organizations a common set of
values. Guiding principles such as these can assist an organization in developing its policy, which can be as
individual as the organization for which it is developed. The responsibility for setting environmental policy rests
with an organization's top management. The environmental policy can be included in or linked with other policy
documents of the organization. The organization's management is responsible for implementing the policy and
for providing input to the formulation and modification of the policy. The policy should be communicated to all
persons working for or on behalf of the organization. In addition, the policy should be made available to the
public (see 4.4.3.2 for a discussion of external communication methods).
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In developing its environmental policy, an organization should consider
a) its mission, vision, core values and beliefs;
b) coordination with other organizational policies (e.g. quality, occupational health and safety);
c) the requirements of, and communication with, interested parties;
d) guiding principles;
e) specific local or regional conditions;
f) its commitments to prevention of pollution and continual improvement;
g) its commitment to comply with legal requirements and other requirements to which the organization
subscribes.
Practical help — Environmental policy
The environmental policy should recognize that all activities, products and services within the defined scope of
an organization's environmental management system can cause impacts on the environment.
The issues addressed in the policy therefore depend on the nature of the organization. The policy should state
commitments to, among other things,
a) comply with or exceed applicable legal requirements and other requirements to which the organization
subscribes which relate to its environmental aspects,
b) prevent pollution, (see Practical help — Prevention of pollution), and
c) achieve continual improvement through the development of environmental performance evaluation
procedures and associated indicators.
The policy might also include other commitments to
d) minimize any significant adverse environmental impacts of new developments through the use of
integrated environmental management procedures and planning,
e) design products taking into account environmental aspects, and
f) set an example of leadership in the field of environmental management.
Practical help — Prevention of pollution
Prevention of pollution can be incorporated into the design and development of new products and services, as
well as into the development of associated processes. Such strategies can, for example, help an organization
to conserve resources and reduce waste and emissions associated with products and services. (Guidance on
product design concepts and practices can be found in ISO/TR 14062.)
Source reduction can often be the most effective practice because it has the double benefit of avoiding the
generation of waste and emissions and simultaneously saving resources. However, prevention of pollution
through source reduction may not be practicable in some circumstances and for some organizations. The
organization should consider using a hierarchy of approaches for prevention of pollution. Such a hierarchy
should give preference to preventing pollution at its source, and can be structured as follows:
a) source reduction or elimination (including environmentally sound design and development, material
substitution, process, product or technology changes and efficient use and conservation of energy and
material resources);
b) internal reuse or recycling (reuse or recycling of materials within the process or facility);
c) external reuse or recycling (transfer of materials offsite for reuse or recycling);
d) recovery and treatment (recovery from waste streams on or offsite, treatment of emissions, and releases
on wastes on or offsite to reduce their environmental impacts);
e) control mechanisms, such as incineration or controlled disposal, where permissible. However, the
organization should use methods such as these only after other options have been considered.
©
ISO 2004 – All rights reserved 9

ISO 14004:2004(E)
4.3 Planning
General guidance — Planning
Planning is critical to the fulfilment of an organization's environmental policy and the establishment,
implementation, and maintenance of its environmental management system. An organization should have a
planning process that includes the following elements:
a) identification of environmental aspects and the determination of those which are significant;
b) identification of applicable legal requirements and other requirements to which the organization
subscribes;
c) setting of internal performance criteria where appropriate;
d) setting of objectives and targets and establishment of programme(s) to achieve them.
Such a planning process can help an organization focus its resources on those areas that are most important
to achievement of its goals. Information generated by the planning process can also be used in the
establishment and improvement of other parts of the environmental management system, such as training,
operational control and monitoring and measurement.
Planning is an ongoing process. It is used both to establish and implement elements of the environmental
management system and to maintain and improve them, based on changing circumstances and inputs and
outputs of the environmental management system itself. As part of the planning process, an organization
should consider how it would measure and evaluate its performance in meeting its policy commitments,
objectives and targets, and other performance criteria. One approach that can be useful is to establish
performance indicators during the planning process.
NOTE See subclauses 4.3.3.3 and 4.5.1 and ISO 14031 for guidance on performance indicators and evaluation.
4.3.1 Environmental aspects
4.3.1.1 Overview
An effective environmental management system begins with understanding how an organization can interact
with the environment (see 4.3.1.2). The elements of an organization's activities, products and services that can
interact with the environment are called environmental aspects. Examples include a discharge, an emission,
consumption or reuse of a material, or generation of noise. An organization implementing an environmental
management system should identify the environmental aspects it can control and those that it can influence
(see 4.3.1.3).
Changes to the environment, either adverse or beneficial, that result wholly or partially from environmental
aspects are called environmental impacts. Examples of adverse impacts include pollution of air, and depletion
of natural resources. Examples of beneficial impacts include improved water or soil quality. The relationship
between environmental aspects and associated impacts is one of cause and effect. An organization should
have an understanding of those asp
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