ISO DIS 14005

Description / Abstract: This International Standard provides guidance on a phased approach to establish, implement, maintain and improve an environmental management system (EMS), that organizations, including small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), can adopt to enhance their environmental performance.

The phased approach, described in this International Standard, provides flexibility that allows organizations to develop their EMS at their own pace, over a number of phases, according to their own circumstances. Each phase consists of six incremental stages. The outcome with respect to EMS maturity after completion of a phase can be characterized using the five-level maturity matrix provided in Annex A.

This International Standard is applicable to any organization, including small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), regardless of current environmental management performance, the nature of the activities undertaken or the location at which they occur.

By using this International Standard an organization will be able to develop a system that ultimately satisfies the requirements of ISO 14001.

The guidance does not cover those elements of specific systems that go beyond ISO 14001 and it is not intended to provide interpretations of the requirements of ISO 14001.