Many people are curious about how the new ISO 14001:2015 compares to the current standard ISO

14001:2004. Perry
Johnson Registrars has created this table to give insight into the similarities and differences with the new High Level
Structure format. Just from looking there seems to be a plethora of changes with the new proposed standard, but ISO
14001:2015 just divides the context into extra subcategories with more descriptions than ISO 14001:2004.

ISO 14001:2015 vs. ISO 14001:2004 A Side-by-Side Comparison

DIS 14001:2015

ISO 14001:2004
1
2
3
4
4.1
4.2

1
2
3
4
4
4

4.3

4.1

4.4
5
5.1
5.2
5.3

4.1
4.4
4.4.1
4.2
4.4.2

General Requirements
Implementation and Operation
Resources, Roles, Responsibility and Authority
Environmental Policy
Competence, Training and Awareness

6
6.1

4.3
4.3.1

Planning
Environmental Aspects

6.1.1
6.1.2
6.1.3
6.1.4
6.1.5
6.2

4.3.1
4.3.1
4.3.2
4.3.3
4.3.3

Environmental Aspects
Environmental Aspects
Legal and other requirements
N/A
Objectives, Targets and Programs
Objectives, Targets and Programs

6.2.1
6.2.2

4.3.3
4.3.3

Objectives, Targets and Programs

Objectives, Targets and Programs

7
7.1
7.2

4.5
4.5
4.5

Awareness
Communication
General
Internal Communication
External Communication
Documented Information
General
Creating and Updating
Control of Documented Information
Operation
Operational Planning and Control
Emergency Preparedness and Response
Performance Evaluation
Monitoring, Measurement, Analysis and Evaluation
General
Evaluation of Compliance
Internal Audit
Management Review
Improvement
Nonconformity and Corrective Action

7.3
7.4
7.4.1
7.4.2
7.4.3
7.5
7.5.1
7.5.2
7.5.3
8
8.1
8.2
9
9.1
9.1.1
9.1.2
9.2
9.3
10
10.1

4.5.3
4.4.3
4.4.3
4.4.3
4.4.3
4.4.4
4.4.4
4.4.5
4.5.4
4.4.6
4.4.6
4.4.7
4.5
4.5.1
4.5.1
4.5.2
4.5.5
4.6
4.6
4.5.3

Continual Improvement

10.2

4.6

Scope
Normative References
Terms and Definitions
Context of Organization
Understanding the Organization and its Context
Understanding the Needs and Expectations of
Interested Parties
Determining the Scope of the Environmental
Management System
Environmental Management System
Leadership
Leadership and Commitment
Environmental Policy
Organizational Roles, Responsibilities and
Authorities
Planning
Actions to Address Risk Associated with Threats and
Opportunities
General
Significant Environmental Aspects
Compliance Obligations
Risks Associated with Threats and Opportunities
Planning to Take Action
Environmental Objectives and planning to Achieve
them
Environmental Objectives
Planning Actions to Achieve Environmental
Objectives
Support
Resources
Competence

Scope
Normative References
Terms and Definitions
Environmental Management System Requirements
Environmental Management System Requirements
Environmental Management System Requirements
General Requirements

Checking
Checking
Nonconformity, Corrective Action and Preventative
Action
Checking
Communication
Communication
Communication
Communication
Documentation
Documentation
Control of Documents
Control of records
Operational Control
Operational Control
Emergency Preparedness and Response
Checking
Monitoring and Measurement
Monitoring and Measurement
Evaluation of Compliance
internal Audits
Management Review
Management Review
Nonconformity, Corrective Action and Preventative
Action
Management Review