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Include continuous improvement of environmental performance in the environmental policy.


CONTROL ID
14994
CONTROL TYPE
Establish/Maintain Documentation
CLASSIFICATION
Preventive

SUPPORTING AND SUPPORTED CONTROLS



This Control directly supports the implied Control(s):
  • Establish, implement, and maintain an environmental policy., CC ID: 14947

There are no implementation support Controls.


SELECTED AUTHORITY DOCUMENTS COMPLIED WITH



  • includes a commitment to continual improvement of the environmental management system to enhance environmental performance. (§ 5.2 ¶ 1 e), ISO 14001:2015 - Environmental management systems — Requirements with guidance for use, Third Edition)
  • The environmental policy should be specific to the organization and appropriate to the organization's purpose and the context in which it operates, including the nature and scale of the organization's environmental impacts that result from its activities, products and services. The environmental pol… (5.2 ¶ 2, ISO 14004:2016, Environmental management systems — General guidelines on implementation, Third Edition)
  • enhance environmental performance; (7.3 ¶ 2 Bullet 1, ISO 14004:2016, Environmental management systems — General guidelines on implementation, Third Edition)
  • The environmental policy establishes the strategic direction of an organization with respect to environmental management and performance, thus policy commitments are the foundation for the organization's EMS. Top management of an organization should establish the environmental policy and formally co… (§ 5.2 ¶ 2, ISO 14005:2019, Environmental management systems — Guidelines for a flexible approach to phased implementation, Second Edition)
  • Act: Take actions to continually improve. (§ 5.1 ¶ 6 Bullet 4, ISO 14005:2019, Environmental management systems — Guidelines for a flexible approach to phased implementation, Second Edition)
  • Continual improvement is key to an effective EMS to ensure environmental performance is improved. It can mean achievement of more ambitious environmental objectives or system enhancement. Organizations should strive for improvement, based on the results of the performance evaluation, including the c… (§ 5.6 ¶ 1, ISO 14005:2019, Environmental management systems — Guidelines for a flexible approach to phased implementation, Second Edition)
  • plan and implement EMS improvements to enhance environmental performance; (§ 6.1 ¶ 6 Bullet 5, ISO 14005:2019, Environmental management systems — Guidelines for a flexible approach to phased implementation, Second Edition)
  • select areas for EMS improvement (related to system maturity or scope); (§ 6.1 ¶ 6 Bullet 3, ISO 14005:2019, Environmental management systems — Guidelines for a flexible approach to phased implementation, Second Edition)
  • the periodic assessment of the system's continuing suitability, adequacy and effectiveness, as directed by the organization's top management. (§ 5.5 ¶ 2 Bullet 5, ISO 14005:2019, Environmental management systems — Guidelines for a flexible approach to phased implementation, Second Edition)
  • select EMS improvements and associated environmental objectives; (§ 6.6 ¶ 1 Bullet 1, ISO 14005:2019, Environmental management systems — Guidelines for a flexible approach to phased implementation, Second Edition)
  • Significant environmental aspects, compliance obligations and other relevant issues and requirements, identified as part of an organization's context, can result in risks and opportunities that need to be addressed within the EMS. To do this, an organization should establish environmental objectives… (§ 5.3 ¶ 9, ISO 14005:2019, Environmental management systems — Guidelines for a flexible approach to phased implementation, Second Edition)
  • the delivery of planned internal audit programmes and whether these provide management with relevant information about how well the EMS is performing, including the identification of improvement opportunities, and (§ 5.5 ¶ 2 Bullet 4, ISO 14005:2019, Environmental management systems — Guidelines for a flexible approach to phased implementation, Second Edition)
  • The action plan should be implemented and monitored with regard to timescales, achievement of milestone results and resource use. Appropriate actions should be taken, where necessary, to ensure that the improvement actions progress according to the plan. (§ 6.6 ¶ 2, ISO 14005:2019, Environmental management systems — Guidelines for a flexible approach to phased implementation, Second Edition)