Attention to all companies that are ISO 9001 certified! It is crucial to familiarise yourself with the latest amendment to the ISO 9001:2015 standard, which came into effect on February 22, 2024. This update aims to incorporate climate change considerations into organisational management systems. Let’s explore into the details of how this amendment impacts both current and future certifications to ISO 9001:2015.
Understanding the ISO 9001:2015 Amendment
The 2024 amendment marks the first modification to the ISO 9001 standard since its publication in 2015. It introduces two additions to the standard within clause 4:
- Clause 4.1:
Organisations are now obligated to evaluate the relevance of climate change within their operations under the section titled “Understanding the organization and its context.” The following statement has been added at the end of clause 4.1:
“The organisation must determine whether climate change is a relevant issue.”
- Clause 4.2:
A note has been included in clause 4.2, specifying that while no new requirements have been introduced, “relevant interested parties can have requirements related to climate change.” The note reads as follows:
“NOTE: Relevant interested parties can have requirements related to climate change.”
It is important to note that this amendment not only affects ISO 9001 but also extends to 30 other management system standards. Notable examples include ISO 14001, ISO 27001, and ISO 45001, which are widely recognized worldwide.
How Does the ISO 9001:2015 Amendment Impact You?
Fortunately, obtaining a new certification is not necessary due to this amendment. The primary action required is for organizations to determine the relevance of climate change to their quality management system (QMS) and demonstrate that this issue has been taken into account when reviewing internal and external factors.
If climate change is deemed relevant to the QMS, it should be treated like other external factors and included in the risk evaluation process.
As stated in a joint statement by the International Accreditation Forum (IAF) and ISO: “The overall intent of the requirements for clauses 4.1 and 4.2 remain unchanged; these clauses already include the need for the organization to consider all internal and external issues that can impact the effectiveness of their management system.” Thus, although not explicitly mentioned in the previous standard, organizations should have already considered climate change as part of their assessment of external factors.
Changes to Your Documentation
It is essential to understand that this recent amendment is merely a minor addition to the extensive list of requirements in the ISO 9001 standard. It does not alter the existing requirements’ intent. However, auditors may request evidence that organizations have considered the issue of climate change. To provide this evidence, we recommend the following actions:
- Update your procedures:
Enhance the procedure that covers the requirements of clause 4.1 by including climate change as one of the considerations for external factors.
- Update your forms:
If you utilise forms that address clause 4.1 and prompt you with a list of potential external factors, incorporate climate change into the list.
Organisations should already have established procedures to adequately address all relevant external issues, including climate change. Therefore, no additional measures are necessary to specifically address this amendment.
Considering Climate Change
When assessing climate change as part of the external factors impacting your organisation, it is crucial to consider both direct and indirect implications. In addition to immediate consequences such as changing weather patterns, rising temperatures, and fluctuating water levels, organisations must also consider the broader effects of climate change. These effects may encompass regulatory requirements, such as emission limits, the introduction of new technologies, shifts in consumer behaviour and preferences, and the potential disruptions to supply chains due to extreme weather events, resource shortages, and changing consumer demands. Furthermore, organisations should be aware that climate change can influence consumer and investor behaviour.
Conclusion
The recent amendment to the ISO 9001:2015 standard emphasises the growing significance of integrating climate change considerations into organisational management systems. While this amendment does not necessitate obtaining a new certification, it does require organisations to evaluate the relevance of climate change to their quality management systems and demonstrate this consideration in their documentation.
