ISO 14001, the internationally recognised environmental management system (EMS) standard, is being updated. The revised standard, ISO 14001:2026, is currently in development and is expected to be published in April 2026.
For organisations already certified, this update should be viewed as an evolution of ISO 14001, not a complete overhaul. The changes reflect how environmental management, sustainability, and business resilience have developed in recent years.
Our team of experts are ready to guide your organisation through the changes to the standard, with a range of options to be made available to organisations when the standard is published.
Why is ISO 14001 being updated?
The business environment has changed significantly since the last revision of ISO 14001. Organisations now operate within:
- More complex global supply chains
- Increased climate and sustainability expectations
- Faster-paced and less predictable operating conditions
The ISO 14001:2026 update ensures environmental management systems remain relevant, resilient, and aligned with modern organisational and stakeholder needs.
What are the key ISO 14001:2026 changes?
The Draft International Standard (DIS) introduces a combination of editorial refinements and strengthened requirements. While many updates clarify existing expectations, others reinforce long-term environmental performance.
- Stronger leadership involvement
Top management will now be required to support all relevant roles, not just management roles. This extends expectations around personal involvement, responsibility, and accountability.
- Improved planning and management of change
A new requirement, Planning and managing of changes, has been introduced.
Organisations must determine, plan, and manage changes that affect or could affect the intended outcomes of the environmental management system.
Changes may arise from both internal and external sources.
Additionally, the requirement has shifted from identifying reasonably foreseeable emergency situations to identifying all potential emergency situations.
- Expanded lifecycle perspective
In addition to minor editorial updates, ISO 14001:2026 is expected to require the life cycle perspective (LCP) to be considered when defining the scope of the environmental management system.
This is in addition to the existing requirement to consider LCP for environmental aspects and operational controls and aims to ensure that upstream and downstream impacts the organisation can control/influence are not overlooked.
- Enhanced emergency preparedness
Emergency situations must now be considered not only within environmental aspects but also when identifying risks and opportunities, ensuring all potential scenarios are addressed.
This builds on existing ISO 14001 requirements and strengthens awareness rather than introducing unnecessary complexity.
- Greater focus on performance and effectiveness
Control or influence over outsourced activities is now limited to those relevant to the intended outcomes of the environmental management system. The term “externally provided processes, products or services” is now used. The effectiveness of the environmental management system is now emphasized from the first sentence of the clause.
Key updates include:
• A new requirement that each internal audit must have defined objectives
• More prescriptive information requirements for management review, which now “shall” be included
These changes support continual improvement and meaningful environmental outcomes.
Is now the time to consider temporary or ongoing support for your ISO 14001 Internal Audits? Each year we help thousands of organisations to maintain their ISO Certification with a range of support options designed to maximise the benefit of holding ISO Certification without undue resource constraints.
What does the update mean for organisations holding ISO 14001:2025?
For most organisations already certified to ISO 14001 with a robust Environmental Management System the changes in the new standard are seen as evolutionary. In most cases, there is a three-year window for organisations to successfully transition to a new standard. Some key points from IMSM below:
- ISO 14001:2015 is likely to remain valid for three years following publication of ISO 14001:2026.
- Changes are expected to be evolutionary, not disruptive
- You can begin preparations now by familiarising yourselves with the above changes and contacting IMSM to learn more about our support options.
How can IMSM support organisations with this transition?
For over 30 years, IMSM has been a leading ISO Standards consultancy. In that time we’ve helped tens of thousands of organisations to both adopt ISO for the first time as well as manage the transition process to a new standard.
Whilst the new ISO 14001:2026 is yet to be formally published, IMSM is already preparing a range of options to support new and existing clients alike. We’ll be able to:
- Provide timely updates and information to help understand changes to both ISO 14001 & ISO 9001.
- When published, we can provide a fully managed transition process – we’ll help by updating your documentation, providing additional instruction and leaving you with the right information to successfully recertify to ISO 14001:2026.
- For organisations with in-house expertise, we can provide a Gap Analysis to the new standard and leave you with helpful guidance and templates to manage your own ISO 14001:2026 transition.
- Many organisations use ISO Standard transitions or updates as an opportunity to simplify their Management System or to bring in IMSM to provide support and advice.
Don’t currently hold ISO 14001?
ISO 14001 is the global standard for environmental management systems, helping organisations identify, manage, monitor, and improve their environmental performance.
An effective ISO 14001 EMS supports organisations to:
- Reduce environmental impact
- Meet legal and regulatory requirements
- Improve environmental performance
- Demonstrate commitment to sustainability
In recent years, ISO 14001 has become one of the most requested certifications by a range of supply chain businesses as well as local and national governments. With a greater focus on ESG and Environmental Reporting, ISO 14001 is a cost effective and robust way to prove your organisation considers its environmental impact and has demonstrable steps in place to manage it.
Learn more about ISO 14001 certification and consultancy services and how IMSM supports organisations at every stage.
If you would like to discuss the ISO 14001 update or your future transition, speak to IMSM today.
